Alexander Weedon, Ravensbourne
ARTS THREAD takes a look at what was on show at Free Range at London’s Truman Brewery during Interiors & Architecture week in July.
There was some real variation on display from Ravensbourne, from hotel nests to a Detox Inn in South Peckham. We were impressed with the final major project from Alexander Weedon entitled ‘INHABICULTURE’. We first noticed his work at New Designers and on both occasions he came across as very professional and a credit to the course and Ravensbourne. He has had a hectic few weeks since his original show and already he is receiving interest from industry. Alexander says INHABICULTURE addresses the positives and negatives that large scale agriculture brings about locally, nationally and globally’.
Helen Keeves, Ravensbourne
Here we were also inspired by the work of Helen Keeves, and her innovative proposal, ‘The Aviary’. Helen likens her concept within the skeletal structure of Union Wharf to how a bird constructs a home within its natural environment. The Aviary is intended to be a self-supporting structure for ‘Urban Nomads’ within the selected site. Issues of sustainability are addressed including how Helen considered the positioning of the nests, based on an ‘Algorithmic Centroid Branching System’ ensuring the distribution of heat. The artists in residence units located on the first floor are aptly described as ‘Birdboxes’.
Sarah Crawford, Amanda Sexton, Nikita Butler, Leeds Metropolitan University
The sun was shining on Leeds Metropolitan’s impressive array of models amongst a studio style environment. We loved Nikita Butler’s ‘Walk This Way Orienteering and Walking Centre’ conversion of a Grade II listed disused Corn Mill, placed at the entrance of the university’s partially turfed enclosure. Nikita explained that she had to downsize her presentation sheets from the original degree show format but the results were impressive nevertheless.
Sarah Crawford, Leeds Metropolitan University
The work of Sarah Crawford, Interior Architecture Graduate, caught our eye. Her Green Holme Community proposal demonstrated how a self-sufficient community could be achieved within a 19th Century Cotton Mill close to Hebden Bridge.
A project that embraces all aspects of maintaining a sustainable lifestyle, Sarah’s also drew inspiration from the original function of the building. She says her ‘design approach is linked to the history of the building, inspired by 19th Century dress patterns’. The Mill House building is intentionally placed at the centre of the community surrounded by woodland interspersed with self-sufficient homes.
Ozlem Duztepe, Middlesex University
If you were looking for professional presentation then Middlesex were certainly up there, demonstrating that its graduates have got what it takes to compete with the best. First up was the work of Ozlem Duztepe demonstrating her innovative display methods and attention to detail.
She presented her Contemporary Dance School proposal, attributing much of her attention to detail to the experiences she had had whilst working within two busy architecture and design practices on her placement year. She was also able to gain a valuable insight into selecting suitable materials ‘fit for the purpose’ and the opportunity to greatly improve her Vectorworks skills.
Aishanie Marwah, Middlesex University
We loved how Aishanie Marwah describes using innovative ‘layering of fractal patterns’ within this concept, translating them into design elements including perforated partition walling. Aishanie has cleverly played around with scale and magnification within ‘The Fractalab’, a collaborative arts and events venue.
Charlotte Wilson, Leeds Metropolitan University
Focusing on a combination of using an historic site together with a challenging landscape, Charlotte Wilson proposed an interesting concept using a disused RAF bunker as her starting point. Her ‘Women and War Museum’ has been sympathetically designed on the cliffside location of Bempton, East Yorkshire. The new proposal for the site comprises of four main elements relating to an often difficult and sensitive topic.
The area dedicated to ‘The Past’ includes a narrative and reference to a timeline and sense of absence, ‘The Present’ relates to the role women have had in war since 2000, ‘A Viewing Platform’ is a dedicated area for reflection and remembrance and the final area within the museum is dedicated to ‘The Future’.
Tommy Lee, Cardiff University
On a similar theme, Tommy Lee from Cardiff University also had an interesting proposal for a vast aircraft hangar at RAF Upper Heyford in the Cotswold countryside. ‘Future / M.A.D.’ is Tommy’s ‘Cold War Vision of Modernity: From Utopia to Apocalypse’. His inspiration for this project was the 2008 ‘Cold War Modern’ temporary exhibition of cultural artefacts on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
He has deliberately chosen a Cold War nuclear bomber base, one of the best preserved in the world, to ‘re-plan, re-arrange and re-contextualise’ the exhibition. He continues by saying ‘the Cold War was a competition in both technology and culture and, as such, my scheme aims to present the extreme creative and destructive endeavours of that generation’.
Caroline Gaywood, Cardiff University
The reference to remembrance and commemoration was also the topic of research for another 1st class honours Cardiff Interior Architect graduate, Caroline Gaywood. The Pillgwenlly Crematorium occupies an Old Malt house and is intended to embrace all faiths, transforming and challenging the current perceptions of existing crematoriums. Caroline describes one of the important features within this brief, at the heart of the building, the partial ceiling structure, as ‘A connection to the sky and the elements is maintained throughout enhancing the spaces both physically and spiritually’.
Rania Noumaan & Vanessa Bronzina, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee
Dundee’s Riverside Water Museum was the result of a final year collaborative project from Rania Noumaan and Vanessa Bronzina. The graduates had worked as a team on previous projects and after spending a placement opportunity together in the Netherlands in 2009 it seemed like a natural progression.
HKU in Utrecht had accepted their applications, as part of the Erasmus exchange and whilst there, they were inspired to begin research into water technology and floating architectural structures. They stayed in contact with Waterstudio in the Netherlands to assist in technical support for their floating museum project. The natural site location for the project was the River Tay in Dundee as the museum conveys the important issues and characteristics of the River.
Alexander Weedon: alexander.weedon.3@googlemail.com
Helen Keeves: helenkeeves@gmail.com
Nikita Butler: nikita_butler@hotmail.co.uk
Sarah Crawford: sarah.elise87@hotmail.com
Ozlem Duztepe: enquiries@mdx.ac.uk
Aishanie Marwah: aishanie@gmail.com
Charlotte Wilson: charlotte.wilson.design@gmail.com
Tommy Lee: contact@tommyjay.co.uk
Caroline Gaywood: caroline.f.g@hotmail.co.uk
Rania Noumaan & Vanessa Bronzina: me_we_design@hotmail.co.uk
