Finished Model.

Some photos of the model I made as part of a contextual project to design an art-house cinema at a site in Lincoln. Its made of mountboard and to a 1:100 scale. For an idea of its size, the board basing the model is A1. 

Final Exhibition

The final exhibition is the most talked about event within the school of architecture at Lincoln. It showcases the best work from students of all years and I was lucky enough to be invited alongside a few other students from my year to pin-up in the first year section. I'm especially proud of this because only a dozen students were invited from a year of around 80.

After spending the last few days helping put work up, I can say the 1st Year display is looking very good and gives a clear impression of what projects to expect and the type of work generated when starting the degree.   

The official opening for the Exhibition is 1st June and will remain pinned up for several weeks on the 3rd floor of the award-winning Architecture building. Lincoln's school is known for its more artistic approach towards architecture (rather than a technical one), so the event promises to be colourful and inspirational. 

New Art Building

The University of Lincoln is ever expanding and evolving into a campus that would be the envy of any. From its beginnings less than 20 years ago on the south of Brayford Wharf, the campus has grown into a showcase of contemporary architecture that brings new life into the lower city. In 2011, the Engineering Hub was opened as the newest addition and opposite that, the land is being cleared for the University's newest project. It was announced this month that an Art and Design building is to be built adjacent to the Architecture building. As with its neighbour it appears to be in a Modernist inspired style that claims to incorporate a mix of nature and brutalism.

The idea is to bring the Art department into the heart of the campus alongside Architecture; where as before the department was scattered in ad-hoc buildings east of High Street (some 15 minutes walk away). The building promises large studios, galleries and Mac suites to cater its Fine Art, Graphics, Illustration, Design and other art-based students. 

“The new art and design building will have a high spec finish, but be industrial in feel, with exposed bricks and timber boarding that can be used to exhibit student work. It will be light and airy creating a welcoming space for students, staff and visitors." 

Ieuan Owen, Deputy Vice Chancellor, UoL.

The University claim that construction will begin in the summer months and be completed by around the same time in 2013. I think its amazing to watch an institution you're a part of prosper with infrastructure, just as I watched Kegs build its new art department last year. In many ways its why I chose to study at Lincoln because its obvious that the University is on its way to bigger things and to me there's an air of anticipation and optimism here, whist I think its much harder to feel inspired when trapped in the spent office blocks that De Montfort seemed to offer its students.

Linking Lincoln

The train-line that cuts through lower Lincoln has become a nuisance for motorists and pedestrians. It cuts through the heart of the university, blocking free circulation through the campus, and intercepts two of the cities major north/south roads. The current way of negotiating the tracks is a set of level crossing barriers but Network Rail are not finding this ideal. This year they have announced plans to construct foot bridges on these roads to ease congestion and improve safety.

One developer that has come forward with a design has ignited excitement throughout the city:

Inside this building runs an escalator to ferry pedestrians across the lines whilst the design allows room for new retail; killing two birds with one stone in this area of Lincoln that has lacked the prosperity seen elsewhere. When I heard the proposal I was quite surprised as me and a friend from university have often discussed solutions to the issue. Our idea was a little more far-fetched: in putting the train line in an underground tunnel as it enters the city- completely liberating movement and development. The escalator project is estimated to cost £3.8 million and take approximately 3 years if Network Rail approve the idea.   

 

Bouncy Henge

Jeremy Deller, a Turner Prize winner, has created an inflatable replica of Stonehenge in preparation for the London Olympics. The artist hopes to inject the Olympics with humour and heritage. It is an interactive piece and people are encouraged to bounce on it so it promises to attract attention and excitement.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17777997

Danesgate Site-Study

The humble-looking car park in the photograph below has been the focus of my attention for several weeks now. Not for its current purpose, but because it stands on the site where I have been briefed to design an art-house cinema as part of a contextual project. The site is in Lincoln in the centre of the cultural hub in Danesgate (just off Steep Hill), and was one of three options students could individually choose for the project.

The site visit was an early part of the project and there was no protocol for how we should go about it. I decided to work in a group with two others also working with this site and we started planning how to make the best assessment of the space. This is a crucial part of a contextual project as it is important for any building to fit into its surroundings with harmony and avoid any 'international style'. The key aspects we considered (and should always be considered), were- history, climate, geometry, materials, views, surrounding buildings, local culture, local people and function for a building in this location. We carried out research and tests into all these and then had to go through the awkward task of measuring out the site by hand. All stressful work but its amazing how much information can be gathered for such small, quiet bit of land.

Above: Fellow site-visitors with the neighbouring Collection Museum in the background.

Mini-Max - Perspective drawings

A few drawings I put towards my presentation for the building I designed in a 'mini-max' project. Mini-max is short for minimum space, maximum desirability. The building I have drawn below had to be designed by scratch as part of a solo project. (by the way it is built into a cave if it isn't immediately obvious).