Archinect - University of Lincoln, UK

Let myself introduce... myself

2006-09-27T17:14:39-04:00

Well...

Its been a long time since I posted last, too long if I must say, and to be honest its just down to pure lazyness.

But once again with renewed energy and the start of my third year studying architecture part-time I feel that I should at least stick my neck out above all the newbies and make myself known as one of the 'old guard' of the Archinect school blog project.

I'm going to re-introduce myself, mainly to the new contributors but also to the past readers and new readers that lurk on this website when we all know that we should really be getting on with those details and not surfing the internet, seeing what journeys Oana has been on, or what youtube clips Vado is posting on Thread Central.

Ok...

Me...

Well I'm 24, and I am a fully qualified Architectural Technologist. I work full time in practice for a firm of Architects in Peterborough, UK, and I'm studying my BA(Hons) Architecture at the Lincoln School of Architecture part-time. Part time meaning getting one da...

Envelopment and parasitic buildings

2006-03-18T16:14:27-05:00

Final project this year is for a Community Media Centre on a small car park in Lincoln. The site is fairly constrained both in plan and by other buildings which restrict its massing somewhat. Here are some photomontaged panoramas the site.

Once again we have to try and generate our schemes using alternative methods of analysis, and after a week of scratching my head and stopping and starting with ideas, I went back to my studio lecturer for some guidance. Being the only part-timer in my cohort who attended this week, i found myself having a good discussion with him, and after we threw a few ideas around, i have some ideas which i'm now going to progress into. Basically there are two main element:

The first idea is of people disappearing into the building. Instead of users just entering into the building via a door or something solid, the users will walk into the building and as they enter sort of pixelate and merge with the entity that is the building.

The second element of ...

Its all gone a bit Swiss Chalet...

2006-03-18T15:37:18-05:00

Second project of the year had its final review a couple of weeks ago, it went fairly well for all the part-timers involved. The reviewing lecturer say that I'm 'in the zone' whatever the zone is supposed to mean. I think I'm actually starting to understand what is required of me now, i won't say that its clicked... but I'm getting there, I feel i'm at a good point now. I've just posted the word from presentation boards and some images for now.

Hull house project...

Brief
To design a family house on a site in Hull, UK.

Site
A public pathway connecting two areas of housing in Hull. Used by pedestrians, cyclists and dog walkers alike. The site runs parallel to the pathway on its south side, and a railway embankment on its north side.

Canopy
A public walkway flanked by trees, vegetation and hard landscaping. All working together to create a physical canopy over the path and its user. This canopy gives different feeling to the users as they walk along the site, fluctuating as you ...

This Lady is Not For Turning

2006-02-08T12:27:23-05:00

This will be of no relevance to any of you other than my peers who read this.

Here you go guys and gals

Sketching

2006-01-29T17:07:49-05:00

Its funny, years ago when I was a secondary school I could draw quite well. I got an A in GCSE Art and most of my work was hand sketches, I can't paint to save my life. After that I didn't really do much drawing and sketching, my A-level subjects were all non-artistic. Maths, Physics, Computing. My skill diminished, I went nearly five years without really lifting pencil to paper.

In my first year of studying, i had to find that skill again, and it was hard work, I knew I could do it, but it was getting back into the swing of things again. It would take me two or three attempts to get a sketch looking how I wanted. Perspectives always used to give me a problem, I found myself creating a 3D model and sketching over the wireframe, a technique that many people use and most probably swear by. But not a technique i'm happy with.

Just lately though I've found that I've got my ability back, I can now consistently produce decent sketches (that I'm happy with). I'm happy now, sketc...

So what was your first built project..?

2006-01-18T18:12:00-05:00

I seem to remember seeing a thread in the discussions about when was your first ever built project...

In my last post I eluded to some news, which i couldn't tell you about till its fiinalised. Well now its a lot clearer and now I can.

Way back at the briefing for the Dundee House Project, the lecturer in charge of leading studio, made the announcement that he would put forward the best design in the year, for planning, and hopefully to be built. The studio lecturer does a lot of high quality property development, and the site for the project is in the back yard of his house in Dundee.

Well the good news that he annouced in my final pin-up that he has chosen my design. I shall be working alongside him to develop the design, work with him on the detailed design, and hopefully carry it right through to completion.

Hopefully if all goes to plan he is going to get it published, and accredited to my name.

I'm quite frankly over the moon. This means that my first built project (f...

Update - Dundee house project

2005-11-16T16:38:26-05:00

Well its been a little while since posting any pretty pictures, so I'm going to give you a quick precis of the year so far. The first studio project this year aimed to help us improve our spatial awareness, as well as how we deal with a site given to us. This is the first project.

Dundee house project

The Brief
The brief is to alter or redesign an existing garage structure to provide for a single person dwelling. The existing structure is located in the rear garden of a prestigious Victorian Terrace in the west end of Dundee. The building footprint can be no wider than the existing garage, although it can increase towards the terrace house. However, space for entrance into the garden must be allowed for.

The approach
The general push in the studio was to approach the design of this house using spatial models, tiny 1:100 cardboard models, to allow us to visualise the space available. My first model was knocked together in about 10 minutes but upon showing to my studio lecturer he...

You ain't getting me to apologise

2005-10-27T03:48:34-04:00

OK, I haven't been able to post very regularly so far. I'm not going to apologise about it, I've been busy, what with work, studying and helping to build an extension. Spare time has been few and far between. So I'm going to write a quick update, and its back to work. I've got details to do dammit!

Seriously though, the year had a little shaky start, but it's starting to smooth out, and us part-timers have our teeth into a nice little project. It's for a single person dwelling in Dundee, Scotland. The site is in the back garden of a Victorian terrace house. The house has a garage, which we can adapt, or knock down and build upon the footprint. All in all the site is 4m x 10m.

Our studio lecturers are very keen on the use of spatial models to explore situations and solutions. So presently I have about 8 1:100 models showing the progress of design. I'm quite pleased with myself because I haven't actually touched a computer yet to help design it (apart from researching the ne...

Day Tripper

2005-10-11T17:38:40-04:00

Once again I made the usual new school year resolutions. Post more often, try and make them vaguely interesting, try to improve my speling etc.

Well that went straight out of the window, I'm currently two weeks into my second year as a part timer at Lincoln. Already things are different, new lecturer, totally different approach to teaching, intriguing first project. But already I have that tingly feeling that this year will be a lot harder than year one, and I'm sure that I will have to shake off the the four years of working in practice a lot more vigourously.

I intended to post my tourist images of London from a little day trip I had with my girlfriend a few weeks ago, but unfortunately due to the wonders of technology my broadband connection at home died, and I haven't had time to spare at work to post from there. Luckily said connection is know fixed so I can post away.

First up is the Siza/Souta De Moura 2005 Serpentine Pavilion, I wanted to see this before it was taken ...

Back to School

2005-09-20T03:51:00-04:00

OK, back to study in a weeks time. I've enrolled for my units this coming year. Which will be:

ARK522 Design, Technology & Communication

Unit Synopsis
The aims of this unit are -
- To explore the relationships between design, technology and communication by carrying out a detailed design project
- To introduce specialised architectural CAD packages suitable for generating 3-D visualisations for presentation to clients and as a visual interface to a database for organising the construction and maintenance of a building

Because of the level of detail required, the physical size of the project may be relatively small.

ARK541 Design & Society

Unit Synopsis
This unit introduces theories about interior, architectural and urban space by studying texts that, together, represent a broad range of contemporary thinking. The unit recognises that the role of the designer includes not only the considerations of the formal qualities of the designed object or environment in relation to its imme...

Project - Observatory

2005-09-06T18:14:52-04:00

This was the final project for this year. The project covered two units of the course, a comprehensive design unit, and a technological unit...

Brief
The brief was to create an observation/information point within a nature reserve which is hidden within the suburbs of Lincoln. The name of the reserve is Swanholme Lakes and it is designated as an SSSI (Site of Specific Scientific Interest). The main theme throughout this project should be the impact, both environmentally (requiring thought about sustainability) and visually...

Initial Concept
Triangular shape developed from the shape of the site and used in elevation to create an inverted three sided pyramid space frame, inside multiple levels create a journey upwards through the structure and lifting the user up above the tree line allowing them to take in the view.

Site Photos

Spatial study - Exploration of spaces within the space frame

Study Model - Exploration of the positioning of facades

Sketch Perspective

Sketch Elevation

...

Project - Modern Living/Gallery and Garden

2005-09-06T17:41:06-04:00

This project was split into two halves. Both halves linked by a given Designer(s) which we had to research heavily...

Our given designers were MVRDV, a trio of Dutch architects who have a unique analyitical approach to design, and who are also not afraid to admit that they do not know everything. If a project requires it, they will ask the people with the best knowledge of a particular area to join the design team.

Part One - Modern Living
The brief for part one of the project was to showcase the methodology and approach of our designers by producing 2 x A1 presentation boards and a 3D exhibition piece.

Our research into MVRDV showed us that MVRDV never do anything in the way you would expect them to. So we decided to take that approach in our exhibition piece. Rather than just having two display boards and a model, we decided to combine all the elements together. Making the model into the display boards and vice versa. The result was pretty good. The piece consists of a wooden...

Project - Romeo & Juliet

2005-09-06T16:50:38-04:00

This project was a very quick one, two/three weeks at the most...

Brief
To start of with we were tasked with watching Franco Zeffirelli's film version of Romeo & Juliet. This film is pretty much true to Shakespeares original, we had to take note of themes running through the storyline, as well as any other observations that we may make.

From this we had to identify what we thought were the three main scenes in the film and create a theatre set that could be used for these scene's...

Unfortunately I do not have any photos of the model I made, but i've got some concept sketches...

The Concept
The concept is that of division, the two houses split by their feud are represented either side of the stage by the two sets of balconies and archways, angled so as to give a false perspective and sense of depth to the stage. These are linked in the centre with a walkway or bridge, flanked by columns, representing the link between the two families... Romeo & Juliet. These two characters even...

Project - Cinema

2005-09-06T16:20:14-04:00

My second project was one that was different to the full time programme...

Brief
Our first task was to research precedent in the form of silent movies, in particular the way that the actors expressed their emotions, without the ability to speak. We were told to watch a Charlie Chaplin movie 'Modern Times' and from this we studied how Chaplain and his co-actors expressed how they were supposed to be feeling by over-acting and over-emphasising their facial and body movements.

This lead to the design brief... 'Design a Cinema that announces that it is a cinema without the use of physical signage'

My design concentrates on the main thing that concerns everyone when they go to see a movie... inside the auditorium, the seating and the screen, this is where they spend the most time during their visit to the cinema.

How to express internally, externally. The stepped boxes of the auditorium reflect the internal stepping of the cinema seating. Creating a physical expression of a cinema ...

Project - Journey

2005-09-06T15:29:57-04:00

OK, one year down in my part time course... it has been very intense, because we've been working at quite a steady pace, and i've had a couple of setbacks including a bout of glandular fever.

We're due to start the next year in a couple of weeks, so I've decided to showcase the projects I've done over the past year...

Journey

This is my very first project. My experience prior to this is three years as an Architectural Technologist, so my mindset at this point was quite technical and my artistic talent hadn't really come out since doing my GCSE's.

This project started with a walk through Lincoln, from the cathedral at the top of the hill to the school of architecture. Along the way we were to document it with 8 sketches of scenarios or locations...

We then had to choose one of these sketches that we felt represented Lincoln the most, and make a series of study models to visualise this... Mine was to represent intersection and tension.

From this we then had to choose a place al...

An Apology...

2005-09-05T04:01:01-04:00

In some of my posts I have made comments about the structuring of my course, its initial disorganisation, reasonings about deadlines, and the occasional comment about my lecturer (none of which were derogatory). These posts were made towards the start of the year, and i'm pleased to say all the issues have been resolved, taken into account, and the reasons behind some decisions are now understood.

Unfortunately, my lecturer has since discovered my blog and read these posts, he has since emailed me and told me that he is disappointed with the fact that i did not speak to him personally about these issues, and that this has changed his opinion about myself as a person, my attitiude to the course and how i felt about the course quality.

I am upset with myself that this has happened, as i respect my lecturer, and I am extremely grateful for the time he has invested in myself and the other students. He is an extremely good lecturer, and I hold in high regard his opinion of myself, and...

Please don't delete me...

2005-07-04T07:34:24-04:00

I am still here honest...

No, to be truthful, the past couple of months have been a bit topsy turvy. The following things happened:

1. I was struck down with glandular fever for three weeks... which meant absolutely no studying or designing or anything was done, the only thing I did was drink very cold drinks, watch television, and not eat a thing. Lost a stone in weight... wonderful.

2. Attendance at university has been on and off, not through skiving, but through total disorganisation. The course leaders decided that they wanted the part timers to submit our years work, at the same time as the full timers, which meant working me arse off the tidy everything up, only to be told that they have decided not to submit our work until mid august.

3. Our lecturer went to nicuragua for a month, leaving us to finalise the design for the observatory project without anyone to turn to if we needed guidance... I sure hope I've gone down the right track.

4. We've decided to complete all ...

Today I am Ill

2005-03-14T06:23:14-05:00

Well today I am ill, stuck down by the lurgy that is going around at the moment. Currently I am off work for today, try halfheartedly to work on our new project.

Our mission this time is to design an observatory within a nature reserve in lincoln. The site is designated an SSSI (site of specific scientific interest) by English Nature, which as I found out yesterday, means that in the real world you can not do anything to it apart from walk around, let alone turn it into a building site. It is designated a SSSI because the habitat is full of rare dragonflies, flora and fauna.

Before we can even think about a design our lecturer has instructed us to research heavily into both the act of observation and the site itself. I am looking forward to getting my teeth into this one, so far I have struggled in my approach to my projects, relying a little too heavily on computers, than the reasoning behind the design. to try and combat this I have bought myself a small A5 sketchpad, whi...

Gallery_Garden Crit

2005-03-03T10:24:37-05:00

Not going to post much this time, I am extremely worn out and mentally tired after this project, so I going to just post some images of the final Gallery/Garden project model and presentation boards. The crit went well, no major problems apart from some issue with my graphical setting out... oh... and that I had slightly ignored some of the brief, which is partly not my fault.
With being part time, we are currently running alongside with the full time students, because we have less time, our lecturer bends and adjusts the brief slightly to suit us, and that got lost in translation. Thats my excuse anyway...

Luckily I have got a weekend off apart from tidying up my lecture notes and organizing my portfolio for a review next wednesday. So some chilling out is in order.

My presentation

Concept Model

Concept model close up

Its a wonderful life

2005-02-21T16:47:21-05:00

I have just discovered that Jelly Babies are an effective form of sustenance when trying to sort out images for your presentation work. Sugary and extremely addictive. Anyone else got particular foodstuffs that help them through the all nighters and the moments of brain disfunction???

Things have been a bit tight with both work commitments and having to redesign my gallery/garden from scratch. Luckily my wonderful lecturer has agreed that we can have an extra week, by moving the final crit back a week. He's such a wonderful little Chilean. Also managed to push back the deadline for an essay a couple of days... I'm really grateful for that, I was getting close to breaking point and I didn't want to crumble this early. Its good to have understanding lecturers...

Anyway back to it, strangely I have to read What is a Designer by Norman Potter, as recently mentioned by drs at Liverpool. What a small world it is...

Toodle pip

This weblog is bought to you in association with Basset...

Gallery/Garden

2005-02-21T09:50:35-05:00

I am currently in a state of mental exhaustion, lots to do, so little time to do it. Why oh why did I decide to go part-time. Actually enough of the whining, I'm loving this and I'm not ashamed to admit it...

This week I have been mostly working on the Gallery/Garden Project a very interesting one if I may say so. This is the second attempt as the first one was a load of rubbish, which my lecturer promptly told me so... fiddlesticks.

Anyway this is a brief description of my concept:

Random stone structures rise upward out of the river providing support for the slabs of the gallery. The shapes of the slabs are random to reflect the randomness of the water, all the shapes reflect also the flow of the river. The river starts at a high point with a large first drop, providing the sound and speed of the water (as well as providing energy - hydorelectricity = sustainability), the river then is slowed and goes over a smaller drop, providing a quieter more serene place, a contrast to...

My Claim to Fame (sort of...)

2005-02-14T10:17:30-05:00

I don't know if any of your saw the occurance at IKEA's new store in Edmonton, North London... It was a rather scary situation to say the least.

For those of you who don't check out this link

IKEA Chaos

Anyway, my claim to fame is (no, I wasn't there) I was part of the project team during the construction. The firm of Architects I work for designed the store. My boss and the project architect were at the store at the opening ceremony and said it was a really frightening situation.

Anyway, it just goes to show, what happens to the average human being, when you sell leather sofas for Ã‚Â£45.

MVRDV Modern Living Exhibition

2005-02-10T06:11:40-05:00

In my previous entry I promised some images of our group project that we've just completed. So here they are:

The Brief
Working in a group of four, research the work of a given modern designer (MVRDV). We are interested in the context of "Modern Living". In what ways does the work of your chosen designer tell us something about "Modern Living"? Identify the stories the work can tell. Design and make two exhibition panels and a 3D exhibition piece that communicate the work and the stories to an audience of your peers. The exhibition piece could be, for example, a full-scale replica piece of furniture, a model of a modernist house, an interpretive device or something else agreed with your tutor.

The Result
Our research into MVRDV showed us that MVRDV never do anything in the way you would expect them to. So we decided to take that approach in our exhibition piece. Rather than just having two display boards and a model, we decided to combine all the elements together. Making the m...

MVRDV, staff meetings & CAD

2005-01-31T07:57:15-05:00

Currently working on a project called Gallery & Garden/Modern Living Exhibition. Both are tied into 1 particular Architect(s) work & design philosophy (along with a essay). Our given designer that we had to research was MVRDV, who I thought were a little weird until I looked into them deeper and found they have a really sound design philosphy & approach. We've successfully done the Modern living exhibition. I'm going to post some images soon, along with an explanation. Now we're plowing headlong into the gallery & garden part.

We have to design a gallery and garden which will hold an exhibition on MVRDV's work and is also done in the style of MVRDV. (More images and a better explanation to come in the future)

Spent last Friday at a company staff meeting in London, at a recently completed project the practice has done. Its called Tally Ho (also may be referred to as ArtsDEPOT) and is in North Finchley, London. It's due to be in Building magazine soon. I worked on the proje...

Greetings from Blighty

2005-01-24T03:43:31-05:00

Hey guys its a pleasure to be here.

I've been a fan of the school blogs since the day they started, and now I'm one of the chosen few... I just hope I live up to my predecessors.

I am a fully qualified Architectural Technologist working in the UK for a resonably big company (I may reveal their identity in the future). I decided that I want to become an Architect, and luckily the firm was very supportive and offered to sponsor me.

So I'm currently a first year part time BA(Hons) Architecture student at the University of Lincoln, in the UK. One of an elite group of part time students (there's only three of us). We strive to prove that juggling a full time job and a degree is not easy.

So, hopefully I can fight the student blog corner for old Blighty, beings that most of the posts are from America, or sunnier climes.

Being first year the quality of work is somewhat lacking compared to the rest of you (i'm learning, ok), but in the next week or so I'll post some of my work so fa...