Scott Burnham, my new found architectural hero.....

Discovered this guy the other day - http://scottburnham.com/bio/. He describes himself as:


'a social entrepreneur, creative strategist, creative director and writer dedicated to reprogramming our relationships with design and the city, working with a number of cities, institutions and publications worldwide.' 


As I have mentioned before, I am very interested in this idea of  making the city more playful - Scott being the creator of 'Urban Play' for Droog Design. http://scottburnham.com/urbanplay/. Photos below.

'Droog Design and I assembled a team of some of the most innovative designers and architects from around the world to create 12 newly designed interventions, tools, toys and objects that are temporarily placed along a route on the central IJ-riverfront in Amsterdam. Reversing the traditional approach to urban design, in which objects and areas are created explicitly to discourage public interaction and intervention, this collection of objects were created to encourage interaction and physical engagement by the public. Urban Play poses the question that we hear so much about the “creative city”, but when to we actually get to see it in action?'

Candy Canon

I recently kitted myself out with a Canon EOS 550D as present  before I started university. Having bought a case and spare battery I thought I had everything I needed....CLEARLY I was wrong!

My kinda competition: Volkswagon's: 'The Fun Theory'

Volkswagen recently set up a design competition to design a product that through using fun, helped to changed peoples behavior for the better. I have always been a firm believer in using fun as tool for engaging with people - expect my entry next year!

                                 piano stairs

competition website     http://www.thefuntheory.com/

Steven Lawrence Foundation Mentoring

I'm not sure if I mentioned in the past my link with the Stephen Lawrence foundation or not, so today, having yesterday been to view the 'One and Eight' Steven Lawrence Foundation Bursuary program exhibition, seems like a good time to mention it. For two years now I have been a mentor to an architecture student from a disadvantage London background. As an architecture student myself that has made lots of mistakes along the way, I felt I could pass on my knowledge, both theoretical and practical to another student. Through the Stephen Lawrence Center, I was paired with one of their bursary students, and now regularly meet up him to discuss his work, attend exhibitions and talks of use, and generally ensure his architectural and personal well being.  It is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. Sadly the scheme is not running this year as funds have been cut, but it will resume next year. For now however you can see some of the work produced by the bursary students at the following exhibition:

http://stephenlawrence.org.uk/one-and-eight-an-exhibition-celebrating-the-work-of-bursary-students

No one puts Teddy in the corner.....

I have recently started studying for my Post Graduate Diploma of Architecture at The University for the Creative Arts, Canterbury. Our first project was a design competition set in the Market Square in Dover. Our task was to design a fountain cover to protect the existing fountain from damage during both public events, during which the square was used to screen public events (olympics, wimbedon etc) , and  during cold winter months. My design consisted of a creating a giant pink teddy bean bag (see pictures below) which would provide a comfortable place to relax for all. See details of my entry below.

Design Synopsis:

Centred around Dover Councils desire to create the feeling of a ‘Living Room’ within Market Square, Nounours ( French for teddy bear) is aimed at creating a comfortable and homely space within the centre of the city. Questioning ideas of what defines public and private space, the installation allows the use to engage in behaviour only previously undertaken within the home- allowing them to lie down and ‘snuggle up’ to watch the Big Screen. In addition, the installation allows for new types of activity in the space such as book readings, and open air cinema events- the position of the bear being able to be changed accordingly. The design is both playful and purposeful- fitting in with MUF’s three principles for development in Dover, as outlined in their document in 2009, and in addition with the Dover Museum’s year long exhibition entitled ‘Our Childhood Past.’ What’s more....it’s a whole lot of fun

Details for the winning design will be on Dover Councils website early next year........ http://www.dover.gov.uk/

The Klassnik Corporation

Been meaning to flag up this company for a while - The Klassnik Corporation.  I met Tomas Klassnik at a crit I went to watch at London Metropolitan unversity the other day. They describe themselves as 'a London based interdisciplinary design practice focused on architectural research'.   For me their work ticks all the boxes - both fun and functional. I particularly like the Bunk Bed Bus Stops - what Londoner wouldnt?

http://www.klassnik.com/

bunk bed bus stops

RIBA Regent Street Windows Project 2011

Just finished a project in May working with Scott Brownrigg helping to create an installation as part of RIBA's Regent Street Windows Project 2011. Hope to work with them again soon. :)

Design Synopsis: Advancements in technologies and communication will have a profound affect on the development of the Cities of Tomorrow. Despite their geographical distances, cities will become increasingly more connected and accessible in everyday life as the result of the ever growing use and impact of the internet on our lives.

Essentially we all live in a giant network of cities, where there are no boundaries. This will create new dimensions to architecture within tomorrow’s world. Reflecting this idea, each pyramid represents a City of Tomorrow; each city is effectively limitless, and forms part of this ever growing global network.

Cities are also symbolic of the manmade world, but it is a world which is gradually being destroyed by those who have created it. With the issues surrounding global warming becoming more evident in our lives, the dangers associated with excessive UV light as a result of ozone depletion will need to be addressed further. The coloured light from the pyramids represents these UV light issues, these will continue to cast themselves upon us as we live in our Cities of Tomorrow.

for further details see: http://www.ribablogs.com/?tag=regent-street-windows-project

Thornhill School

Just found out that a building I helped design while working for WHAT_architecture has been given the go ahead. An article on the piece was featured in the February issue of the AJ -

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/what-reveals-thornhill-outerspace-scheme/8610792.article

We ♥ the Suburbs - Cluny Summer Pavillion

I recently got involved in building a summer pavilion alongside two fellow University of Sheffield Graduates Melanie Bax and Sarah Considine. The Pavilion was part of a project entitled We ♥ the Suburbs, dedicated to celebrating the Suburbs, understanding some of its often neglected issues and using design as a tool to tackle them. With the help of volunteers like myself, Sarah and Melanie created a temporary pavilion space in which to hold summer events in the Cluny Estate, South End. Events will be taking place in the pavilion throughout the summer. See the website for details.

For more information see the website http://weheartthesuburbs.blogspot.com/

Bartlett School Summer Show 2011

This Summer I spent much time attending various end of year shows around the country, both out of interest and in an attempt to make my mind up about which university to attend for my Part II. Of all the shows I attended I was most impressed by the work of the Bartlett, which I felt this year was particularly diverse and showed a great range of ideas and skills. Heres one of my favourites:

you&mearchitecture

Just discovered youandmearhitecture - liking their work a lot. A fairly new practice of two members, both having both graduated from the RCA, they describe themselves as a 'London based design platform....(who) makes things - a postcard, a book, a house, a city, using playful, challenging and inclusive methologies.'

www.youandmearchitecture.com

They recently held an exhibition entitled 'Hatitecture' in which they challenged various up-and-coming artists and architects to come up with London inspired hats as part of London Design Week 2010. Here's a photo of all the entries....

Lego Love - Cowley St Laurence School

As a child I always had a love for Lego - constantly driving my mother crazy building the same house over and over again (an architect from a young age!), yet, I can safely say I found someone more crazy then me! Over the past two months I have been helping to build a Lego facade for an extension to a school in Hillingdon, London. 

Here is a small scale (almost) project bravely showing how classic and overworked programs can result in a landmark for the immediate community (most known as the home of Heathrow Airport).

The main concept of the school is the massive lego facade which gives a playful character and unique identity to the project.It is not a big surprise that earned the “Guinness World Record for the largest on-ste interlocking Lego build”

“The use of Lego was empowering in the sense that it allowed maximum public participation and facilitated the design process—as a building material implicit to child’s play that is both fun and educational,” says What_architecture director Anthony Hoete.

For me details on this project please follow the link to the article in the AJ education supplement
http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/whatarchitecture-unwraps-lego-clad-school/8608380.article