Cumbria Connections
My design drive is to create responsively to communities and the environment in order to maximise impact on people. This is shown in my project this year being driven by primary and secondary data collection of the needs of the local people in West cumbria for transport.
Directly responding to the lack of connections between inland towns and the inefficiency of the commuter train on the coast, as well as general patterns in car traffic, migration rates out of Cumbria for employment and low tourism, Cumbria Connections was developed. The three tram routes connect smaller villages to larger towns across the Energy Coast and the well connected city of Carlisle whilst the bike path connects to routes within the Lake District. This project aims to increase reachability of small towns for locals, the coast for tourists and external cities for commuters, which the programme caters for with office spaces and private seating booths integrated into the concourse. The space also features a cafe, changing rooms and ticket and nature route information desks for a range of targeted users.
The tram system uses induction to allow for minimal intervention with the natural land and runs across pre existing flat land paths where the old railway lines were situated. The structure of the hub is a lightweight glulam frame with a CLT roof to miaximise local resources and minimise the foundation costs and impact on the site. A green sloped roof is both usable by cyclists and absorbs and directs rainwater and flooding, whilst naturally insulating the building.
The proposal seeks to gain investment from local governments for its long-term impact on the area as well as North Western railway companies who seek to gain from a lower cost, higher efficiency transport system.
