New Designers 2011: Spatial Design

ARTS THREAD looks at highlights from spatial design graduates exhibiting at New Designers 2011.

Showcasing from Plymouth University, graduate Alasdair Chapman reveals his final project ‘Changing Tides’. The project was designed to provide a refuge for people from the “chaos of urban living”. His designs aim to improve the existing environment whilst not destroying the landscape that they are situated in.

The design reflects the need for humans to identify global issues and react to them positively. It comprises of an urban beachscape which encourages relaxation and a sense of community within a city environment. This reflects his ethos of “enhancing people’s perceptions and understanding of their surroundings”.

Joanna Severin’s project began with the question “How would you create an interior that helps released prisoners not re-offend?”

The project ‘Square 1’ resolves this issue by presenting a support network that aids the rehabilitation of people back into the community. The space offers temporary housing, education and job opportunities and aims to achieve this objective within the timeframe of 6-9 months. This proposal would decrease the cycle of re-offenders, therefore leading to releasing pressure from prison resources.

London Metropolitan University students Monica Islas and Jessica Letourneau’s project ‘Gold with the power to change lives’, involved designing the interior for the Essence pavilion for London Jewellery Week 2011. The aim of their venture was to promote ethically produced jewellery by explaining the journey of gold. They feel that people should be aware of the origins of gold and the importance of buying ethical pieces.

The installation features images of the mining process that takes place to obtain gold. This aims to “increase knowledge through conversation” by encouraging visitors to reflect on the lives of the people involved in mining gold.

Boyeon Park from London Metropolitan University has an interest in pushing experimental style through “simple yet clever” design.  Bold colours and eye catching geometric forms immediately catch the eye of visitors to explore Boyeon’s stand.

‘Dazed and Confused’ accurately reflects the visual style of the magazine around which the bar and lounge is based. The magazine’s core market are creative young people with a keen interest in fashion, music and art, so the space reflects this by promoting new artists and encouraging entertainment.

Jennifer West’s unique style is definitely unmistakable due to her exploration of artistic methods. The De Montfort University graduate aims to bring generations together by breaking down the barriers of designing for certain age groups.

Her ideal for inclusive design consists of the proposed ‘Arc community centre hq’ featuring organic shapes, alongside warm inviting colours. The space aspires to offer a flexible, modern and comfortable facility for all generations.

London Metropolitan’s Yasmin Zielinski aims to design with the user in mind through putting herself ‘in the shoes of others’. The design portrays an alternative fashion store for the company Acne Studios, as well as offering an art gallery.

The intention of the space is for individuals to experience a connection between both elements of art work and the retail function of the space, whilst maintaining the heritage of the brand. The concept was inspired by the traditional library-style ladder, which is a symbol of Acne current retail design.

Bikes can now truly become a social and retail experience for all with Ola’s new concept for a ‘bicycle world’. Ola Rajska from the University of Glamorgan proposes the idea of a unique bicycle workshop where individuals can build, modify, design and store their bikes whilst socialising.

It is a way of bringing all cyclists together in one place in Cardiff, creating a new culture. The visual concept is based upon the movement of speed; this is evident in the circulation and feeling of space within the design.

Danielle Ferguson has been influenced by elements in the environment that shape us as people. Graduating from London Metropolitan University with her project ‘Living Bridge’ she has explored the opportunities that living bridges present to urban communities.

The bridge offers a unique expression of “both physiological and physical connection to the built environment” reconnecting people and allowing them to explore nature within an urban environment. The structure comprises of interlocking platforms that providing areas to enjoy the scenery. A glass shelter rises from the platforms to offer an interior space.

Marias project is inspired by her love of horses, and so she has developed an interior scheme that educates people about the historical importance of horses.

Maria Palmer from Bournemouth University has chosen to convert a church into a museum. The space will be primarily targeted at tourists and aims to both educate and entertain. The space is divided into zones based on famous horses throughout history. It has a range of technology stations including Pods, STS Stations and group activity stations.

Rebecca Groves from the University of Glamorgan has taken a new and fresh look at the public farm. Rebecca, 1st prize winner of the Satellite Browns Challenge, has chosen a former colliery in Wales as the site for her farm; it is open to the public and offers a series of facilities. The main emphasis of the site is to educate as well as providing a space for the community to come together.

Splash Factor-E is the thrilling new extreme sports centre proposal from Nathan Stubbs of the University of Derby. The space would be the first indoor extreme water sports centre in the world, offering the potential for water skiing, wakeboarding, surfing and deep sea diving. The form for the building has been developed through the exploration of the physical properties of water and its changing state from a solid to a liquid.

For her final major project Victoria Coshever from South Essex College has chosen to renovate a secret nuclear bunker into an underground wine bar. The design is sensitive to the original building so that both old and new fit comfortably alongside each other.

One of the most interesting spaces within the design is the ‘on the side bar’, so called because the room has been literally turned on its side, playing with the user’s perceptions. Every aspect of the design can be linked back to a wine bottle, especially the materials, as they are predominately organic.

Kazimieras Tiknius from Cambridge School of Art explores the use of natural materials when designing ‘Norfolk Street Nursery’.

His aim is to provide a healthy environment for children by flooding the space with natural light; this is achieved through the use of skylights. The proposal seeks to be sustainable, using materials that complement this theme. An important aspect of the design is the ‘green roof’ which saves energy and provides thermal insulation.

Joanna Severin
Jessica Letourneau
Jennifer West
Yasmin Zielinski
Ola Rajska
Alasdair Chapman