In Studio 3.3, our design thesis is focused on proposing a new micro-settlement for Essex. Located in the small hamlet of Mucking, we are tasked to restore the once vibrancy and liveliness of an area which has slowly been fading away. As of today, Mucking is seen as a commuters town with its close proximity to London – Mucking is a hub for those working in the city but have seemingly been priced out. With this new micro settlement, I will be looking to rejuvenate the local area, bringing back the sense of local community that the place once boasted.

The new micro-settlement I am proposing will be centred around the textile manufacturing industry, while also providing on-site temporary housing. From the 17th century, the county of Essex has been the capital for the textile industry. The city of Colchester was world renown for the quality of manufacture, with the city manufacturing textiles to a consistent overseas market. Today, this cultured past has been lost, and it is the exact quality I believe that can be used to restore this site.

Socially and culturally, this proposed micro settlement will act on the forgotten history of the area. The facilities available allow activities such as weekly community groups coming to site for a 1 to 2 week project, manufacturing small items of clothing. Local schools can come to site to practically learn about the history of textile manufacture, being able to see how the clothes are made from soil to product, with the teaching facilities available for workshops.

Environmentally conscious, sustainable design and manufacture are at the heart of the project. Materials used in the manufacture will be grown on site or sourced locally from near by farms, thus cutting down on emissions from transportation. These materials also being compostable, creating a healthy soil-to-soil life-cycle. The waste shiv and fibres from manufacture will be used to make hempcrete, a material which will be used as insulation in the primary structure of the proposed buildings.