Concerns. Birmingham School of Architecture and Design Annual Review 2019-20

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CONCERNS Birmingham School of Architecture and Design Annual Review 2019-20

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Hannah Boland, MArch Architecture, Unit ERA

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BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN ANNUAL REVIEW 2019-20

CONCERNS Cover:

Mayce Aebi

BA (Hons) Architecture

Back:

Frederic Lacaze

BA (Hons) Product Design

Concerns Birmingham School of Architecture and Design Annual Review 2019 - 20 Edited and designed by Tom Tebby Text © Birmingham City University and the authors, 2020 Images © Birmingham City University and the authors, 2020 All rights reserved

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Brutalist Desk Tidies, Isabelle Uner, BA (Hons) Product Design

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Our modus operandi - best defined by the word ‘concerns’ - is centred on inspiring students to tackle specific contemporary design challenges of the world we live in. As a result, through their project brief scenarios and in their written work, our students are encouraged to investigate concerns that are as diverse as their backgrounds, focusing on the everyday; on theory; or current affairs; or other issues with social, cultural and political impact in the world around them.

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Lisa Gakunga, MArch Architecture, Unit Arena

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Contents Introduction Co.LAB Foundation in Architecture and Design BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture MA Landscape Architecture BA (Hons) Architecture (RIBA Pt. I) MArch Architecture (RIBA Pt. II) Pg Dip Architectural Practice (RIBA Pt. III) MA Conservation of The Historic Environment BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design MA Interior Architecture and Design BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design MA Product Design MA Design and Visualisation BA (Hons) Design Management

8 12 22 36 46 62 76 104 108 114 134 146 166 178 190

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Introduction

Welcome to Concerns, our end of year Annual Review which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, celebrating the work of our students under our School wide ethos of design through the scales.

Obviously it’s been a very challenging year and history will look back at 2020 as an unprecedented time when we experienced a devastating global pandemic that sadly took the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across the world and made us re-evaluate how we live our lives and what is important to us. It is against this unique backdrop that our students and staff have embraced the words of the philosopher Plato that necessity is the mother of our invention, and have innovatively completed this academic year with such fortitude.

Our students have been as remarkably resilient as the School’s emblem, the scarab, and have reminded me of a quote from former US President Bill Clinton, “It’s how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit.” They all fought on, despite the immense disappointment being denied those end of course moments that are as tense as they are wonderful, that include their final pin up, Summer Ball, Degree Show, and results day with their friends and tutors. However, I have no doubt that these

experiences will stand them in good stead for their careers ahead when they will represent the values of this amazing School and continue to make us proud.

As ever, the School has been driven by our “what’s next?” attitude. We’ve been developing a number of new courses, including an M.Arch/Part 3 Apprenticeship route, and most notably, BA Design for Future Living in collaboration with TV Architect George Clarke and his educational charity MOBIE. We were delighted to have appointed George as a Visiting Professor in Architecture and Design and enjoy his inaugural Professorial lecture in February.

Long standing staff Professor Mohsen Aboutorabi and Caroline Norman retired after years of great service to the School and University but we were joined by a host of new staff; the new Oscar Naddermier Professor of Architecture Rachel Sara, BA Interior Course Director Chris Maloney, BA Architecture staff Christian Nakarado, Max Wisotsky, Dr Matthew Armitt, and Rebecca Walker, MA Design Management Course Director Dr Mersha Aftab, internationally focused staff Normah Sulaiman, Dr Rasha Sayed, and Bruce Paget, and new members of our admin team Adam Davies and Hannah Spurrell who replaced the wonderful Rebecca Harrison who was promoted to the Deanery. We also

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celebrated promotions for Dr Jemma Browne, Dr Jieling Xiao, Dr Panch Suntharalingam, and most notably Professor Hannah Vowles.

We had the tragic news that former colleague Richard Snell passed away after a short illness. Richard was known to many of us for this work on the Furniture Design course and then as Head of the Department of Fashion, Textiles and Three Dimensional Design at BIAD. Richard will be sadly missed. We were also saddened by the news that Dr Albert Hong, a graduate of the School of Architecture who generously donated $1million to set up the Oscar Naddermier Professor of Architecture post sadly passed away in Singapore.

On a brighter note, I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to the School this year including the core teaching team, our administrative team, visiting tutors, specialist tutors, volunteer critics, workshop staff, colleagues in ADM and across the University, and practices who have worked with us and supported student work placements.

Finally, after 23 years at BCU I am leaving and moving on to a new challenge. I feel incredibly proud to have led this School for over 9 years, a School I studied at, and to have helped transform it to where it is today with a clear

identity, a fantastic sense of community, a talented and energetic staff team, a School that attracts, nurtures, and produces a diverse body of talented students, and a reputation for being a School that the city of Birmingham and its practices can be proud of. I’d like to express my thanks to my loyal staff team past and present, visiting tutors, external examiners, practices, businesses and collaborators, and the hundreds and hundreds of students past and present who’ve been part of this amazing journey. Thank you all, it’s been a blast!

I hope you enjoy this review of this unusual year and the School looks forward to celebrating with you in person in our indomitable fashion next year.

Professor Kevin W Singh Head of Birmingham School of Architecture and Design (2011-2020)

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Top:Conceptual collage from Autonomy, Complicity & Ascension; Below: Video excerpt from La Cucina Futurista, Palate group

Co.LAB - Collaborative Practice

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Co\\aborative Lab:oratory FIND US ONLINE W:

birmingham-colab.org

FB:

facebook.com/birmingham.colab

TW: @bham_colab IG: @birmingham_co.lab

ELECTIVE PROJECTS Knowledge Exchange partner: Various SME’s in the region Connected Chelmsley partner: B37 Project La Cucina Futurista partner: Kaye Winwood Projects Autonomy, Complicity and ascension partner: Kate deRight Earth Summit partner: BSoAD Design Mentoring partner: St. Edmunds School Forensic Architypes partner: BA Criminology Future Workplace. partner: STEAMhouse Hall of Innovation partner: Marywood School of Architecture Langley Hall Park partner: Solihull MBC Abiotic Gardens partner: Marshalls Shadown & Light for Diwali Mela partner: Art in the Heart CIC

The Birmingham School of Architecture and Design occupies a distinctive territory between the study and practices of the creative arts with the built environment professions. Links with the professional context and are reinforced through alumni, renowned tutors, events and live research projects. Equally, the School’s position within ADM means that students and staff are well connected to the creative scene of the city.

Co\\aborative Lab:oratory is an inter-disciplinary design & research initiative within the school that seeks to directly engage students and staff with this dynamic context. We focus on ‘liveness’, or a relevancy, to current issues surrounding design and architecture with external collaborators to deliver outcomes across a range of scales and formats.

This year, Co.LAB set up experimental projects with prominent arts organisations and practitioners in the city to develop new strategies in collaborative practice.

There has been a focus on transdisciplinary creative processes - exploring the relationship between art and architecture, mentoring and consultation with non design-based stakeholders, and developing new lifestyle products based on material exploration.

The final outcomes of each project were impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown before students could finish their final assignments. However, Co.Lab demonstrated its ability to innovate and adapt quickly using online conferencing software and collaborative workflow apps to keep the group dynamics going and a testament to the students’ commitment to their education and external partners.

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Co.LAB - Collaborative Practice

Circular graphs and soft mapping, Environment and Ecology group, Connected Chelmsley

Co.LAB - Collaborative Practice

Product development for Hall of Innovation

Conceptual development, Langley Hall Park

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Co.LAB - Collaborative Practice

Caption

Audience view of the installation at BEASTdome and outline drawings, Autonomy, Complicity & Ascension

Digital security interface, Urban Vigilante group, Forensic [Archi]types

Co.LAB - Collaborative Practice

Survey analysis , sustainability in design curriculum, Earth Summit group

Aerial view of rooftop garden design, Abiotic Gardens

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Co.LAB - Collaborative Practice

Cafe/lobby visuals and furniture design for STEAMhouse Phase 2, Future Workspace

Lectures and classroom demonstrations at St. Edmunds Academy, for Design Studio Mentoring

Co.LAB - Collaborative Practice

Students undertaking food experimentation with Kaye Winwood, La Cucina Futurista

Happiness report for Knowledge Exchange

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Co.LAB - Collaborative Practice

Waving Light group for Diwali Mela project

Poster for the Diwali Mela project

Chasing Shadow group for Diwali Mela project

Co.LAB - Collaborative Practice

Steven Zhe Zhu, Cucina Futurista [winner of the European Product Design Award

Christos Ververis, Cucina Futurista Project

Wendy Yanling Wen, Cucina Futurista Project

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Leigh Davies & Kieran Latham, MArch Architecture, Unit Modern Gazetteer

Foundation in Architecture and Design

DESIGN THROUGH THE SCALES Foundation in Architecture and Design Landscape Architecture Architecture Interior Architecture and Design Product and Furniture Design Design and Visualisation Design Management

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Foundation in Architecture and Design

Kyle Brady - Pavilion Project

Foundation in Architecture and Design

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Foundation in Architecture and Design

Tutors: Myles Cummings Tom Tebby Anastasia Luban David Baldock Max Wisotsky Dawn Parke Oliver Chapman Kathryn Jones Wayne Pottinger Natalie Cole

Design is both noun and verb; so design can be a thing eg. a beautiful vase design, or it can be an act / process eg. I am going to design a house. The Foundation in Architecture and Design course is also essentially two things; firstly, a base from which to build through an introductory grounding in the key skills, processes and principles of design. Secondly, a transformative process, through which you will begin to unlock your full creative potential as a designer a problem solver and decision maker.

The Foundation course has been designed to provide students with the opportunity to experiment and develop creative expression across a range of complementary art and design skills and processes which maximize opportunities for creative exploration. It provides a supported learning environment to explore conceptual ideas through mapping and modelling and development to more detailed design. Work is assessed through mini design-focused projects and a major final project in your chosen design discipline pathway.

Through a range of project briefs and using various differing media you will draw / paint / plan / model / sculpt / photograph / film / animate / make / break / build / write / present / analyse / critique and discuss. You will also develop your software skills and explore computer-aided design (CAD), modelling and presentation techniques. Whatever the media, you will learn the process of turning thoughts into material form and in so doing build confidence as a designer.

Throughout, you will be supported through a structured dialogue with your tutors, practitioners, theorists and specialists. You will be encouraged to reflect on your process and progress and mentored in the preparation of a design portfolio and your choice of pathway for further study.

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Foundation in Architecture and Design

Bauhaus Ballet

Finally, the course considers themes of context, culture, and contemporary living, with the aim of giving students the confidence and ability to meet the challenges of becoming a designer in the 21st century. You will have the opportunity to undertake site and study trips to visit notable exhibitions/museums and galleries, and to meet and interact with professional practitioners from a range of disciplines. This will enable your decision on choice of pathway for further study (architecture / landscape / interior / product) ensuring it comes from a place of clarity and with the solid grounding (foundation) required from which you can grow as a professional designer.

I am aware that for many students entering the course,

this will be your first experience of higher education, and with it the many challenges and opportunities this presents. I believe the Foundation Course is structured in such a way as to enable you to comfortably adapt to the rigors of University study in creative and nurturing environment, but at the same time you will find the course engaging, exciting and testing in its own right.

Ultimately, I hope that you will also feel a sense of ownership and pride in making your time here the stepping-stone to future studies and employment in your chosen design profession.

Myles Cummings Course Director Foundation in Architecture and Design

Foundation in Architecture and Design

Building Touchscapes

Spacecraft Project - Ready for take-off!

Spacecraft Project

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Foundation in Architecture and Design

Framed Views

Exploration 1: Framed Views. Ferdosi Miah

Exploration 2: Touchscapes

Exploration 2: Touchscapes

Exploration 2: Touchscapes

Exploration 2: Touchscapes

Foundation in Architecture and Design

Exploration 3: Sonic Storyboard

Exploration 3: Sonic Storyboard

Exploration 3: Sonic Storyboard

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Foundation in Architecture and Design

Exploration 4: Smellscapes

Exploration5: Exploration Finale

Exploration5: Exploration Finale

Exploration5: Exploration Finale

Exploration5: Exploration Finale

Foundation in Architecture and Design

Spacecraft Project

Spacecraft Project

Spacecraft Project

Spacecraft Project

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Foundation in Architecture and Design

Fawad Hussain - Landscape Project

Damour Davichinci - Pavilion Project

Foundation in Architecture and Design

Naomi Nyembo - Place, Space and Object Project

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Foundation in Architecture and Design

AliArat - Pavillion Project

Nadine Burke - Interior Architecture Project

Foundation in Architecture and Design

Bazgha Asim - Pavilion Project

Musherraf Zubbair - Pavilion Project

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BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture

Abigail Jasvinder-Baines - The B: Urban Project – the new ‘urban’ way of life.

BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture

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BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture

Tutors: Core LA team

Lucas Hughes Eccles Ng Dawn Parke School of Architecture and Design

Dr Matthew Jones Tom Tebby Jason Taylor Studio Assistants

Daniela Teleku Lydia Glanville Kika Vernon Yuting Sun Visiting Tutors:

John Newman Claire Hunt Paj Valley Rebecca Skeffington Sam Roberts

BA Landscape Architecture Alumni 2017-20

Each project here, explores a unique challenge that faces our spatial environment, considering both nature and human centric perspectives.

As our societies and ecologies strain from the global threats of growing population, pressure on resources, and climate change; we explore ways to better safeguard our shared future. The role of the Landscape Architect in this time has never been more important.

As a team we believe in innovation across the many facets of the discipline, seeing theoryand practice as one and the same. We encourage our students to test boundaries, leading through their personal exploration, experiment and design application-led approaches.

The work here, therefore celebrates the variety and dynamism of the current Landscape Architecture discipline. The speculative projects illustrated have embraced the themes of community, health and wellbeing, future living and sustainable landscapes.

Students have risen to these challenges and provide great hope for our future.

The final year Landscape Architecture students have been exploring integrated ways to drive design in ways that are critical and practical, that have a theoretical foudantion and real-world practice application. They have debated our most pressing contemporary topics, have explored collaborative ways of working and experimented with their own unique responses through highly iterative and reflective design process.

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BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture

Sam Brittain - The Precious Ground at Didcot Power Station

Before commencing year 3, students are tasked with defining a subject of personal, particular interest related to important issues in contemporary landscape architecture theory and practice. Students’ research projects and theoretical explorations underpined their choice of site and inspired each design ideation. These concepts and strategies were rigorously tested and applied across the scales from regional, site and design detailing.

Initially, students develop a broad idea for their own research opportunity and design project site options.

They considered how ideas work both in theory and practice. These are ideas that connect their increasingly in-depth research (the questioning) to their

increasingly dynamic practice (the doing). Students innovated their own process, through experimentation and consideration of how to disseminate with a wider audience. They analysed the site at a large scale, understanding layers of physical and socio-cultural conditions to form strategic frameworks for their design. They compared and contrasted their own values and perspectives with those of likely project stakeholders.

To create a vision for their site this year’s students were asked to create a concept through a kind of storytelling about the place, something meaningful about the site that would engage and inspire a future generation of visitors, which might take on multiple lenses of critical analysis; from the scientific to the artistic. They combined the abstract with the pragmatic, testing the

BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture

boundaries and the scope of landscape architecture.

They defined the practical elements of their sites and imbued them with layers of meaning, intertwining both tangible and intangible aspects of the place, for example: • How would this place be experienced as a sequence of spaces? • What should the place reveal or hide of its social, cultural and historic roots? • How would the design impact on sensory human experience?

Taking this forward, these ideas were refined and tested against a variety of needs relating to the site, with a desire to maximise the value based on a range of appropriate attributes.

Sites were designed with dynamic experiences

Guoqing Zhang - Beijing Migrant Urban Village

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and functions, each underpinned by the conceptual framework defined earlier. Designs were realised in increasing detail, toward the human scale and the realworld experience of the end user. In the final stage of this process, students demonstrated how the material composition of their project would be realised.

This included both the biotic and abiotic components of the soft green planting with the hard-constructed elements. Drawings and specifications were also included which could be taken by a contractor to move the project from its theoretical origins into a real-world physical outcome.

Students will take these ideas, values and skills with them into their future careers in the landscape architecture profession.

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BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture

Roberto Alicò - Beormingas Urbs Viridis

BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture

Suleman Akhtar - Energising Walsall

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BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture

Yuanyuan Xia - Euston Station Park

Mingzhu Liu - a Human strategy for Huimin Street, Xi‘an

Karishma Keshwala - Rejuvenating Uppingham Road, Leicester

BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture

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Lan Xiong - Redevelopment of Birmingham Flower Market

Reuben McCalla - One Love, Marina Bay, Kingston

Robert Evans - Reconnecting Westside, Wolverhampton

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BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture

Harry Silcock - Leeds=United

BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture

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John Clay

MA Landscape Architecture

MA Landscape Architecture

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MA Landscape Architecture

Tutors: Russell Good Dr. Sandra Costa Prof. Kathryn Moore Ula Maria Rob Colbourne Joelle Darby Danielle Jeynes Dawn Parke Lucas Hughes Katriona Byrne Jason Taylor Studio Assistants: Anastasiya Luban Kika Vernon Ying Sun Daniella Teleku

Awards: Matthew Alebon, Landscape Institute John Knight Best MA Student Portfolio Lucie Titchmarsh, Pegasus Landscape Planning Russell Green, MA Studentship Award

Please join us to celebrate the talent of our students and their exciting and innovative creations. We could not feel prouder of the achievements of this hardworking community who relentlessly responded to the additional challenges posed by a time of unprecedented uncertainty, revealing their confidence, professionalism and resilience.

The MA Landscape Architecture at BSoAD is one of the most innovative and forward thinking in the country. At its heart are the design studios with ambitious projects that respond to current global issues and real-life scenarios that relate to communities, landscapes and our environment. These have provided opportunities for rigorous design enquiry and in-depth exploration of visions and concepts.

We showcase a sample of students’ socially responsive and imaginative Projects addressing current and global debates driven by nature and man-made ecosystems.

They have taken part in a process of intensive research with ingenuity and critical mind and explore the interstices and opportunities for change and the holistic role of design and of landscape architects in addressing climate change, water, biodiversity and food sovereignty.

We wish our students well in their future journeys and careers.

Sandra Costa Course Director MA Landscape Architecture

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MA Landscape Architecture

Hannah Whitfield

MA Landscape Architecture (conversion year) Our 2-year Conversion Masters provide a great opportunity for those who want a career change to become a Landscape Architect. The first year is a transformative process that encourages exchanging of skills and ideas, understanding of the foundation principles of the profession, and an opportunity to develop a range of skills that facilitate the design of complex landscapes with thoughtful solutions. During the first year, students are encouraged to undertake a journey into design exploration and creative thinking.

Designed Ecologies explores ecologies as a process driven philosophy that can be used to enhance value of the environment. The brief is underpinned by ideas of sustainability, therapeutic recreation and design interventions that improve the way habitats can be enjoyed all year round. Designed Geographies invited students to rethink the concept of “garden cities� and reimagine the garden city of the 21st century which meets the needs of the environment and of a contemporary society. The site, River Rea, is a construct that is disconnected from the city spatial structure due to its incised relationship with the ground.

Contour modelling

MA Landscape Architecture

Will Emberton

Jennifer Birch

Will Emberton

Daniel Shaw

Hannah Whitfield

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MA Landscape Architecture

Film and photography workshop

MA Landscape Architecture The extraordinary projects we showcase in this CONCERNS reveal ambitious designs that foresee the future of landscapes through the lens of Climate Change, Health and Wellbeing, Food Production, and Landscape Infrastructure, considering visions to the West Midlands National Park. Over the duration of 1 year, or 2 years if part-time, students are encouraged to develop their individual interests and take advantage of synergies and existing skills to develop their creativity and critical thinking on the complexities associated with the range of scales that the landscape architect.

This year we have pushed forward the use of drone technology, photography and photogrammetry for landscape survey and 3D visualisation of the surveyed terrain. This was an excellent way to survey areas that are normally difficult to reach such as the Mawddach Estuary, in Fairbourne. Our full day filming workshop was another highlight of the year with students integrating the skills acquired immediately into user experience and site survey to capture sense of place for the Co.Lab projects.

Estuary Drone Survey, Fairbourne

MA Landscape Architecture

Visions: West Midlands National Park Tutors: Kathryn Moore, Danielle Jeynes, Joelle Darby Inspired by the imminent arrival of HS2, the West Midlands National Park proposal seeks to establish a new kind of National Park for the West Midlands.

This immense rolling landscape, the crucible of the industrial revolution, the nexus of the UK’s major agricultural regions, with its complex infrastructure of canals, highways and byways married to some of the most beautiful, forgotten areas in Britain awaits a reimagining for millions of people.

Active Urban Landscapes Tutors: Russell Good, Sandra Costa Co.Lab challenged the students to endeavour redesign urban spaces to be civic active places and to encourage play, physical activity and healthy behaviour change.

Russell Green, Maryam Gohari, Shuchen Zhang, Chenyu Zhang, Nicholas Chandler (Active Urban Landscapes)

Lydia Glanville (Visions: West Midlands National Park)

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MA Landscape Architecture

The Thesis Design Project provides a forum for investigating Climate Change and encourages students to question and push the boundaries of contemporary design thinking. The macro-scale and planning intervention form the starting point of this project and requires students to consider the various landscape relationships, holistically and strategically, in space and time. This moves on to articulate the design vision at the human scale and using the materiality expressed in Landscape Architecture.

Tutors: Russell Good, Sandra Costa, Rob Colbourne Fairbourne 2070 – Climate Change in Transit Climate change will nudge the bar continuously upwards for extreme weather events. Storm water will bring alive river valleys and flood plains and coastal landscapes transition to the tempo of active froth and frenzy of wild seas. Fairbourne investigates the

Connie Cliff

potential of Landscape Architecture to experiment with design led solutions for its climate change refugees, harnessing the power of designed geologies and ecologies imagineered in 2070.

Productive landscapes in a changing world “Cities, like people, are what they eat.� (Carolyn Steel).

This studio investigates climate change through the lenses of productive urban landscapes. It invites students to explore networks, notions and relationships between food and cities in order to reimagine the paradigm shift of current food production and consumption models, and propel the position of circular economies, ecosystems and resilience in this process.

Birmingham, culturally diverse and young is an ideal ground for this debate and to address issues such as poor health and poor food habits, diets, deprivation and segregation, climate and food sustainability.

MA Landscape Architecture

Xuechun Zheng

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MA Landscape Architecture

Matthew Alebon

MA Landscape Architecture

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MA Landscape Architecture

Shuchen Zhang

Henry Knight

Henry Knight

Xuechun Zheng

MA Landscape Architecture

Iain Candlish

Iain Candlish

Xuechun Zheng

Russell Green

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MA Landscape Architecture

Charlotte Williams

Jiayin Shi

Sona Maresova

Shuchen Zhang

Jiayin Shi

MA Landscape Architecture

Alexander Haylor

Chenyu Zhang

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Russell Green

MA Landscape Architecture

MA Landscape Architecture

Lucie Titchmarsh

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BA (Hons) Architecture

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Museum of Future Fossils - Exploded Axo

ploded axonometric drawing

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BA (Hons) Architecture

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BA (Hons) Architecture RIBA Part I

Tutors: Year 1 Victoria Farrow Ollie Chapman Miles Weber Thomas Trail Helen Chapman Year 2 Max Wisotsky Matthew Armitt Joan Chapman Year 3 Beatriz Gomez-Martin Christian Nakarado Matthew Jones Ian Shepherd Juliet Sakyi Ansar Holly Doron Rob Anable Paul Wakelam Matthew Hayes Tom Tebby

We began the new academic year with mobilising agendas and clear themes for Year 1, 2 and 3: Principles - Process – Exploration. These themes would shape our starting studios and focus our attention on a complexity appropriate to each level of the course towards the latter part of 2019. From the beginning of 2020 across the year groups we looked to explore a wide range of projects, from small popup structures, to dwellings, urban infills, a range of residential buildings and dwelling spaces, public buildings and mixed use developments located in Birmingham and Nottingham. We saw a rich variety of investigations across the course, nurtured by collaborative practice and professional practice, two important strands, which feature heavily both inside and out of the classroom. The academic year concluded with modules in Design Resolution 1, 2 and 3 to evidence the students best work in final project outputs.

Year 1 allows new students to gently embark on their journey into architectural education by learning and discovering its basic principles. Beginning with the module Design Apparatus, the first year students completed many exciting exercises and small projects to discover new design and communication techniques.

Building skills and knowledge in hand-drawing, sketching, orthographics, model-making, ComputerAided-Design (CAD) in two and three dimensions, material crafts, plaster casting, video and rendering the students used these tools to analyse famous Precedent studies and built confidence in representing their ideas and their understanding of architectural conventions.

The group gathered a range of different presentation and representation techniques through workshops and class exercises. Documenting this journey together with their design development process online via Mahara and also through digital booklets provided the group a good

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BA (Hons) Architecture

‘Sequel’ by Thomas Rowntree, Year 3/UNIT 2

foundation for portfolios and helped students embed good practice for the future. The quality of the students work was commended by external examiners once again this year, who described the work as “phenomenal for first year level”. The students’ presentations were also complimented widely on Twitter and Instagram @ bcu_des1gn Projects in Year 1 are intertwined with classes and workshops in Structures, environment and technical studies and History of Architecture and Design, with studio projects absorbing this knowledge and application. The teaching and learning pattern repeats itself at Year 2 and Year 3 where students are encouraged to feel confident having already practised similar ways of working in the previous years. As each student moves steadily through each stage of their course, building upon previously established ideals that continue to be reinforced and stretched.

With new confidence, Year 2 students embraced the architectural design process. Students are exposed to real life practice scenarios, which are enriched by their time spent in work placements and modules such as Co.LAB, which provides a vehicle for collaboration

and experimentation. As a lively and active part of the year the cohort gained better understanding of their place within the world of architecture. In addition to CoLAB, the second year students engaged in an exciting live project working in teams for the Impact Hub. The students collaborated in to design, present and build models, which was then presented and critiqued by architects. This was a new project to Year 2, which required consideration of environmental design, structures, costing analysis, technical expertise as well as a high degree of professionalism, which created a further solid stepping stone towards Year 3. Year 2 also hosted the students work placements, which culminated in March with a Pecha Kucha and a celebration of the Praxis work, where both Year 1 and Year 2 students engaged in discussions about professional practice and work placements.

In the Final Year, the course required more independence from students. The suite of modules included cultural context, technology and design studio, allowing students to discover their own values, set agendas and put forward more complex design proposals both conceptually and technically. The new design studio units encouraged production and the

BA (Hons) Architecture

exploration of architectural schemes, which have been detailed to an appropriate level for Year 3 students.

Preparing the cohort further for professional practice following their experiences in Year 2, Year 3 promotes creative thinking, furthering confidences and constructs an environment for decision-making. This year we landed in Digbeth, Birmingham for the Year 3 site where students laid down their proposals following agendas informed by the 3 independent studios. Project development was supported by workshops in cv writing, creating and designing business cards, social media accounts and tips to help students gain a profile in the “real world” before leaving the university.

excellent efforts of both the cohort and staff in such challenging circumstances that have faced us this year.

From the beginning of the course, a high emphasis is placed on students making their own choices. Upon departure from the Birmingham School of Architecture and Design it is important to staff that our students feel “work ready” and set to embark on whatever challenge should present itself when in the world of work. Our degree show in July this year assisted the group in showcasing their best work and helped to spotlight the

Caption

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Caption

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BA (Hons) Architecture

‘Revival’ by Mayce Arebi, Year 3/UNIT 3

BA (Hons) Architecture

‘The Tower of Tales’ by Sophie Roper-Hall, Year3/UNIT 3

‘Crossing the Threshold’ by Laura Viterbo, Year 3/UNIT 3

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BA (Hons) Architecture

‘DIGB[EARTH]’ by Harpinder Sihra, Year 3/UNIT 1

‘An Essay in Brick’ by Ryan Cooksey, Year 3/UNIT 3

BA (Hons) Architecture

‘Syncho[City]’ by Saylah Hussain, Year 3/UNIT 2

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BA (Hons) Architecture

‘Interstice’ by Sehama Nuur, Year 3/UNIT 2

BA (Hons) Architecture

‘Remaking Roofscape’ by Mark Ferreras, Year 3/UNIT 3

‘Symbiosis’ by Alexandra Ayrton, Year3/UNIT 2

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BA (Hons) Architecture

‘Designer Digbeth Outlet’ by Jordan Pardoe, Year3/UNIT 1

‘Duality’ by Jacob Doherty, Year 3/UNIT 2

BA (Hons) Architecture

‘Blurred Boundaries’ by Chiquita Hart, Year 3/UNIT 2

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BA (Hons) Architecture

‘Bricks and Mortar’ by Wiktoria Piotrowska, Year 3/UNIT 1

Lewis Jones, Year 3/UNIT 1

BA (Hons) Architecture

‘Seeing’ by Dea Arimbawa, Year 3/UNIT 2

‘The Obscurity of Women’ by Sadiyah Tijani, Year 3/UNIT 2

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MArch Architecture

Richard MacDonald

MArch Architecture

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MArch Architecture RIBA Part II

Tutors: Unit: ARENA Unit Leader: Alessandro Columbano Unit Tutor: William Gottelier, IF_DO Unit: EXTINCTION REBELLION ARCHITECTURE Unit Leader: Prof. Rachel Sara Unit Tutor: Aine Moriarty, Mitchell Eley Gould Unit: MODERN GAZETTEER Unit Leader: Michael Dring Unit Tutor: Luke Nagle, MW Architects

The MArch is founded on principles of ‘learning through making’ and ‘research by design’, We explore a long tradition of applied arts in Birmingham and the region, of a synergy between art and industry, culture and production, the students work drawing on this heritage and the creative context of the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media, as well as contemporary culture in speculating on future lives. We are interested in making connections within and beyond the academy, of sharing our position as an independent space to think, learn, act and make. We believe that our student’s research and design work has value and impact beyond the course, with relevance to contemporary issues, and opportunities for transdisciplinarity in the creation of traditional and non-traditional forms of knowledge.

Presented in this publication is a selection of student work through the work of our three cross-level design units; Arena, the Modern Gazetteer, and Extinction Rebellion Architecture. This year we include work from our Advanced Praxis module, an innovative new module that integrates a live project brief provided by a local architecture practice with a group design resolved to a detailed technical specification. We hope you enjoy the work of our talented and committed students and all they have achieved in the most difficult of years.

Michael Dring Course Director MArch Architecture

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Unit: ARENA Unit Leader: Alessandro Columbano Unit Tutor: William Gottelier, IF_DO Acknowledgements: Birmingham Opera Company, Nevill Holt Opera, Witherford Watson Mann Architects

Unit: ARENA is named after the BBC TV series that captures the art, design, filmmaking and theatre scene since 1975. We explore the perception of the visual aesthetics of image and sequential space/s within the necessary function architecture needs to provide [camera]. This is in tandem with the political and cultural narratives contained within visual culture today [chapter].

The architectural process used by students is derived from the digital drawing techniques of cinemetrics

by Brian McGrath and Jean Gardener. Camera and projections become instruments for drawing sequences of the imagined and re-imagined stories in spaces and structures. Cinema and scenography as a visual art form takes on an (architectural) sculptural dimension that we can use to design dramatic and evocative environments.

ARENA wraps this in the context of our city, and its creative eco-system, with a mixture of events that enrich its cultural heritage. ARENA explores the typology of a festival – or the city as a festival. This year, we explored Birmingham Opera Company’s world

premier staging of Mittwoch Aus Licht by Karlheinz Stockhausen in 2012. The event remains a renowned cultural moment for the city that was streamed across the world. BOC has been setting a new standard for contemporary interpretations in opera; “The most radical and challenging voice on the UK Opera scene” (The Times). BOC’s work reflects the city we work in with our diverse audiences, artists and the stories that we tell.

Opera as an art form has always embraced innovative formats to depict emerging tastes and tales of our time. However, access to opera is limited and seen as elitist. But it can, and should be, relevant for our time to communicate ‘new narratives and timely topics’ in addition to the classical tales. Our studies have tested power structures and hierarchies that exist in society and the arts sector both here in Birmingham and with the Teatro Fenice in Venice. Design proposals challenge how architecture can contrast against these with transient and permanent performance venues that intersect established or unexpected civic spaces.

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Unit: EXTINCTION REBELLION ARCHITECTURE Unit Leader: Prof. Rachel Sara Unit Tutor: Aine Moriarty, Mitchell Eley Gould Acknowledgements: Birmingham Friends of the Earth, John Christophers (Associated Architects)

Unit: Extinction Rebellion Architecture (ERA) is a studio that takes extinction rebellion’s call to action as its starting point. In a state of climate emergency we cannot simply carry on designing ‘business as usual’ buildings. We need to radically rethink in order to develop a new architecture that does more than merely minimizing environmental impact. We need to rethink what architecture could and should be.

This unit sought to push the boundaries of architectural production to explore architecture that aims to be an active part of the solution to the current climate crisis – a restorative architecture. We developed experiments with new carbon-absorbing materials, designs which restore the environment in a variety of ways including intensifying biodiversity, creating spaces which clean the air, clean water, recycle materials and generate renewable energy, provide intergenerational housing, bring human activity back into the skyscraper, challenge the way we build and more.

Projects are located in a range of sites around Digbeth, Birmingham. The non-masterplan approach

is to propose a series of independent small-scale projects which knit into the existing fabric and act as a catalysers for subsequent incremental change. In the spirit of XR we have worked as a collaborative, participatory and inclusive unit that aimed to be supportive and nurturing.

We began by producing a manifesto for the unit, undertaking research into the most radical emerging responses to the climate emergency, as well as developing an evidence base to identify the most pressing concerns. We exhibited our work at Birmingham Friends of the Earth as well as in a public exhibition at the Custard Factory, Digbeth, in order to respond to our ambition to work with real communities where possible as ‘to be truly visionary we have to root our imagination in our concrete reality while simultaneously imagining possibilities beyond that reality.’[2] 1 Extinction Rebellion (2019) https://rebellion.earth/ the-truth/the-emergency/ [accessed 11.09.19] 2 bel hooks (2014). ‘Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics’, p.110, Routledge.

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Byron Chan

Emran Mayow

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Darius Walton

Hannah Boland

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Jack Shaw

Fatimah Mohammed

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Marcus Smith

Frances Chappelow

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Unit: MODERN GAZETTEER Unit Leader: Michael Dring Unit Tutor: Luke Nagle, MW Architects

The context for our study this year has been Birmingham, specifically the Inner Ring Road.

Conceived in 1917 and constructed between 1954 – 74, the road fundamentally reconfigured the landscape of the city, apparently breaking with tradition in the form and culture of the city.

The earliest impetus for change was one of bringing ‘communal order’ to the city in the wake of uncontrolled expansion, the horrors of WWI and new technologies. Civic improvements were to be achieved through new roads as well as municipal and ceremonial buildings to embellish and extend the historic centre, drawing inspiration from the Viennese Ringstraße around which we based parallel studies. The subsequent period post WWII saw change justified on grounds of bomb damage, of improving social welfare and of eliminating traffic congestion, the road ‘instrumental’ in catalyzing changes of use and promoting new modernist urban typologies and forms borrowed from Europe and North America.

As a ‘city street of novel character, not an urban motorway, not principally a traffic street or a shopping street’, pedestrians were segregated from traffic, literally making new ground for new civic and commercial buildings. The Highgate Initiative (1988) and Big City Plan (2008) identified the ‘concrete collar’ of the road as a restriction to the growth of the city,

and since then key parts have been demolished and reconfigured at Paradise Circus, Mass House and Moor Street with plans for more change.

Students of The Modern Gazetteer entered into a dialogue on topics associated with the spaces and buildings of the ring road/straße, drawing reference from past and present critical voices on the questions of architectural continuity, style and ornament, transport and urbanism, and attitudes to preservation and conservation in the modernist city. Workshops on techniques and methods of recording, collecting and archiving information through photography, modelling, drawing and bricolage guided the creation of a Gazetteer, a shared resource and provocation for our student’s work presented here.

In doing so we ask; If architecture can be seen to represent our collective memory and endeavours, and the city is communicative space that tells us about the changing culture and values of society (creativity/participation, emancipation/production etc), what should our attitude be to conservation of twentieth century architecture and urban form? If architecture and construction is a main contributor to global warming, should we as architects pursue originality and novelty that resists change, or should we show greater concern for tradition, continuity and adaptability? Are they exclusive, or is there a middle ground?

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Adam Salton Mayers

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Indraj Bhachu

Holly Astle

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Lottie Barnes

Sandy Webb

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Architectural Tectonics As students resolve a design response in their units, their design development is supported further with exploration in Architectural Tectonics to develop a critical and reflective position on the construction, material and spatial possibilities of architecture. It strengthens the courses ethos on acts of making and to realise how material and context informs architectural language. Students fabricate tectonic elements of their design proposal at a scale that reveals something of the process of manufacture, assembly, and the influence of craft techniques on the wider scheme.

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Advanced Praxis The Advanced Praxis module is tailored to specifically combine complex, synthesised design skills with the collaborative, administrative, legislative and technical challenges of working within a live practice framework.

Student groups develop a detailed architectural design proposal collaboratively, with strategic levels of integrated technical resolution. Students additionally analyse the architect’s responsibility to society, the environment and the profession as they resolve their

Project: Umberslade Farm Praxis Partner: Intervention architecture Tutor: Christian Nakarado

scheme with detailed workshops by leading experts and consultants in the wider construction industry. Here is a selection of work from both the part-time and fulltime groups responding to the project briefs set by the partnering practices, carefully selected to give students different design opportunities; from conservation of historic buildings to rural architecture typologies to module construction.

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Project: Moseley Road Baths Praxis Partner: Donald Insall Associates Tutor: Michael Dring

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Project: Deaf Cultural Centre Praxis Partner: D5 Architects Tutor: Alessandro Columbano

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Project: Reaside Academu Praxis Partner: Associated Architects Tutor: Ian Shepherd

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PG Dip Architectural Practice

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PG Dip Architectural Practice RIBA Part III

Tutors: Ian Shepherd Anthony Clerici Amanda Jones

This professional practice course can be commenced following 24 months’ relevant practice experience and includes personal reflection, a case study, practice and professional examination and an oral exam.

The course duration is two years, however, can be completed within 10 months. Enrolment takes place in the autumn and spring of each year.

The course that prepares students for the exams is delivered through a number of two-day modules at the School, and is delivered by a range of specialist speakers who are expert in their field. The modules are spread over several months and lead to the oral exam in either which can be taken in December or June This fully accredited course covers the criteria set down by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and adopted by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), giving exemption from the RIBA Part III examination. On completion, successful candidates can register with the ARB entitling them to use the title ‘Architect’. They can also apply for chartered membership of the RIBA.

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The course aims to provide education in architectural practice that provide skills, knowledge and understanding that are not only for the purposes of professional qualification but that can be taken forward in to practice to form the basis of life-long learning and professional development.

To achieve this, the course provides students with:

• • • • • •

Knowledge and support for professional experience to enable students to satisfactorily complete the final examination and join the ARB. Ability to act in a professional manner and in accordance with the codes and standards of the profession.

Critical understanding of the requirements of the legal framework for practice, practice management and construction procurement.

Ability to identify good practice and excellence and adopt it in their professional life.

Ability to identify their future learning needs and the opportunities of specialisation and diversification in their careers.

The Course Director will provide guidance and support throughout the course.

Professional Examiners Helen Rea - Glazzard Architects Ltd John Norfolk - Associated Architects Daniel Mulligan - Glen Howells Architects Amanda Harmer - Harmer Fitz Architects Robert Hopkins – AHR Manchester Bob Ghosh - K4 Architects Simon Jesson – Glancy Nicholls Architects Martha McSweeney – McSweeney Architecture Satwinder Samra - University of Sheffield Natalia Maximova – Sheppard Robson Daniel Mulligan – Glenn Howells Architects Lucy Dinnen – Project V Architecture Dhiran Vagdia – Vagdia and Holmes Naomi Fisher – APEC Architects Ltd Tariq Shaikh – Gensler (Birmingham) Laura McMullan – Hayward McMullan Izzy Rhodes – Swain Architecture Brandon Buck – Perkins and Will

External Examiner Orla Hegarty – University College Dublin

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Beyond Graduation Our ‘Beyond Graduation’ programme provides support for those either working in practice or looking for work including those seeking to develop a career outside of architecture. The programme runs at both Post-Part I and Post-Part II levels as a non-credit based course to help support students through their early career choices.

As part of the Beyond Graduation programme, the School provides a Professional Studies Advisor (PSA) to guide students through the process as well as careers support in addition to validating practical experience through the PEDR’s. Students will also continue to be able to access to library facilities and IT resources. The School has a wide network of contacts to help support students into work.

Ian Shepherd - Course Director Anthony Clerici – Visiting Tutor Amanda Jones – Professional Studies Advisor

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MA Conservation of The Historic Environment

MA Conservation of The Historic Environment

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MA Conservation of The Historic Environment

Tutors: Katriona Byrne Tim Lewis, PhD candidate, Guest Lecturer and Visiting Tutor

The postgraduate courses in Conservation of the Historic Environment recruited very well this academic year with students in Year 1, Year 2 and on a thesis-only module.

The course is aimed at mid-career professionals or contractors with a delivery format of Friday and Saturday teaching, so most of the students are in full-time employment. It also attracts people who are changing careers and some newly-graduated students. This leads to a fascinating cross section of skills, interests and professional knowledge. The course fits in well with the expanded Birmingham School of Architecture and Design, with courses in historic landscapes and historic interiors, as well as a strong emphasis on conservation philosophy and understanding the significance of existing buildings and their sustainable futures. The course continues to offer Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for architects, surveyors, engineers, contractors or home owners.

One of the important aspects of the courses is the number of specialist lecturers used to deliver the workshops, all experts in their fields and some at the forefront of new research. Officers from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Trust, Historic England, English Heritage and Historic Environment Scotland were amongst those who gave an insight into the reality of the industry. Site visits and tours were led by conservation architects and conservation officers and demonstrated conservation in practice on the ground.

In Year 1 there were tours of different conservation areas. The course leader brought students around Digbeth to undertake area characterisation; then we

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visited the world-famous Jewellery Quarter with David Mahoney conservation architect and we were guided around the chocolate suburb of Bournville by Andrew Fuller conservation officer, to consider planning and conservation issues.

In Year 2 students learned to assess the defects of buildings and propose remedial measures. Visits were made to Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, known now as the grandfather of the skyscraper, to consider the radical structural solution there by Historic England; and to Christopher Wray’s Emporium with James Phillips and the former Aston Central Fire Station to consider reuse and energy efficiency.

Understanding and improving the financial and environmental sustainability of historic buildings is another important part of the course, and students have been working with Building Preservation Trusts to consider options appraisals for both redundant places of worship and secular buildings. An old cinema and a workingman’s club were considered by the students.

Another is the practical nature of the course, with students getting hands-on experience and understanding of traditional building materials. The knowledge of lime as a mortar, plaster, render or limewash is the cornerstone of working with pre-1919 buildings and structures, and all students have a go at mixing mortars, as well as plastering onto lath, and repointing stonework at Llanymynech Limeworks in North Shropshire.

Many of the practical workshops had to be delivered online over the Summer. There were several highlights to the Year 1 workshops this year, including films of blacksmiths forge-welding, online demonstrations by stonemason Matt Faber and a virtual tour of twentiethcentury buildings in Birmingham city by Joe Holyoak.

For Year 2 students the workshops culminated in an inspirational guide to the Picturesque landscape at Hagley Hall by Joe Hawkins as part of the Estates, Parks and Gardens workshop.

Awards to students included the Twentieth Century Society West Midlands Award given to Sian Bradley and the Milestone Society Award given to Anna Jacka; Anna

MA Conservation of The Historic Environment

Jacka also gained a prestigious Gus Astley Award from the IHBC; Alexa Woodward was given first prize in the Church Project by Camilla Finlay with commendations to Catherine Fenghour and Anna Jacka. Frank Coyne was granted the Donald Insall Award for best Conservation Management Plan and Caitlin Osborne the commended prize under the same award.

Katriona Byrne Course Director MA Conservation of the Historic Environment

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BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

Georgia Ruscoe, Level 5

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Tutors: Kathryn Jones Tony Salmon Andrew Trujillo Christopher Maloney Victoria Paterson Burke Josephine Bridges Korina Zaromytidou Tom Tebby Kirsty Parsons Ashley Wilson Helen Chapman Kate Garthwaite Tony Kerby Richard Douzjian

BA Interior Architecture and Design produces experts in the design and creation of the interior spaces of buildings.

Students engage with every aspect of the broad spectrum this encompasses; from the taste making of two-dimensional reordering of space, through to the sculptural and structural understanding of threedimensional manipulation of space. Our educational principles place emphasis on supporting students to become independent learners that are comfortable and confident in their own design decision-making processes, equipped with the skills to be able to operate autonomously or within a multidisciplinary design team, and who bring their personalities and identities to bear on the challenges they tackle.

Throughout the course students are challenged through a range of experiences that blend academia with the world of practice. Through the variety of these experiences, students are able to take control of the development of their bespoke career trajectories.

In first year students dove headlong into the field, developing the core skills that will form the building blocks of their design life. Tackling design theory, methodology, and technology. To round out the year, students from First and Second year combined in teams to tackle a live design competition for a new city centre Ruin Bar. In second year students began to define both themselves as designers, as well as their career trajectories. They investigated contemporary design, dissected their design processes, and critiqued the contexts in which they operate. They experimented with varied interdisciplinary design processes, and reflected

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Amsal Hassan, Level 5

on the relative merits of each. Ultimately, they took ownership of their development, identifying and then testing the skills needed to achieve their goals.

In producing store designs for artists the students experienced working for real world clients, and responding to their needs and expectations. In Co.LAB students chose between a range of live projects, research activities, and skills development. While critical awareness of both the profession and practice of the discipline was supported through the school’s strong links to industry, including the work placement scheme.

In Third Year, students brought their skills and experience to bear on a bespoke, research-led design project.

During the first half of the year students produced speculations for the reuse of Moseley Road Baths as a disaster relief centre. In tandem with this design project they undertook self-directed research to produce their critical study. The findings of this study underpinned their Final Major Project, in which they chose the site and defined the programme. This approach led to a huge variety of projects as students explored issues and

concerns close to their heart.

In response to the demands of social distancing students directed an Instagram Takeover to highlight and promote the work of the graduating class. This takeover culminated in the virtual degree show, with people participating from Birmingham to Beijing, and viewers from London to Los Angeles. The scale of participation and engagement allowing friends, family, and employers from across the globe to come together in recognition of the incredible achievements.

Christopher Maloney ARB Course Director BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

Laura McVey, Level 4

Victoria Roelake, Level 5

Emily James, Level 6, Final Major Project

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Hannah Border, Level 6, Final Major Project - Winner of Best Overall Student

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Alice Price, Level 6, Final Major Project - Winner of Best Portfolio

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Catherine Abdelshahid, Level 6, Final Major Project - Winner of the BAA Award for ‘Conceptual Continuity’

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Hadjer Baiai, Level 6, Final Major Project

Valeria Zambrano, Level 6, Final Major Project

Rima Kabakebbji, Level 6, Final Major Project

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Rima Kabakebbji, Level 6, Final Major Project

Valeria Zambrano, Level 6, Final Major Project

Samia Shah, Level 6, Final Major Project

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Kacper Ziarniecki, Level 6, Final Major Project

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Hanya Elsayed, Level 6, Final Major Project

Hanya Elsayed, Level 6, Final Major Project

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Emily James, Level 6, Final Major Project

BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

Kimberley Selvidge, Level 6, Final Major Project

Chloe Harper, Level 6, Final Major Project

Emily James, Level 6, Final Major Project

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Elizabeth Obeng-Botah, Level 6, Final Major Project

Kimberley Selvidge, Level 6, Final Major Project

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Yasmin Gueroui, Level 6, Final Major Project

Maevyn Padua, Level 6, Final Major Project

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Rhiannon Baker Level 6, Final Major Project

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Amy Murphy, Level 6, Final Major Project

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Hanya Elsayed, Level 6, Final Major Project

Elizabeth Obeng-Botah, Level 6, Final Major Project

Rima Kabakebjji, Level 6, Final Major Project

Elizabeth Obeng-Botah, Level 6, Final Major Project

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Hanya Elsayed, Level 6, Final Major Project

Kacper Ziarniecki, Level 6, Final Major Project

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Alexis Beech

MA Interior Architecture and Design

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MA Interior Architecture and Design

Tutors:

Course Introduction

Delia Skinner - Course Director Jason Taylor Dr Jieling Xiao Max Karlsson Wisotsky Ana De Areia Soares Kelly Brookes Miles Weber Victoria Paterson-Burke Bruce Paget Anastasiya Luban Anna Parker Suzanne Barnes

“The only source of knowledge is experience” Albert Einstein.

The MA Interior Architecture and Design programme embraces the truth that designing is a creative adventure. During the last twelve months, the World has shifted to a new pandemic paradigm, presenting the postgraduate students on this creative course, with many unpredictable personal and professional challenges. This experience has seismically altered their perception about their future career paths and acted as a catalyst for new ways of working and Designing Together.

Discourse and debate about ‘heritage’ and ‘experience’ as essential aspects in the creative process, has helped our spatial designers to explore their role as the ‘Choreographer of Sensations’ and prompted these international designers to refine their unique interior design praxes. This year more than ever, these designers have seen ‘Creativity’ as a powerful force for good and have moved towards a new collaborative, globally mindful and conscientious orientation.

For the teaching team, it has been a privilege to work closely with our student colleagues and to witness their resourcefulness, comradery and resilience.

We have seen everyone in the class develop holistic life plans, whilst simultaneously refining their professional practice. By asking “What makes me tick as a Designer?”, “What contribution do I want make in the world?” and “With whom do I want to work?” our students have been able to better define their design ambitions for the future.

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MAIAD class 2019-2020

Generous Support from Our Industry Champions This year, our student colleagues have had the support of a number of industry champions like; Anna Parker (Founding Director at Intervention Architecture), Miles Weber (Founding Director of Miles Weber Architect Ltd), Suzanne Barnes (Founding Partner at Suzanne Barnes Design Partnership) and Alumni - Ana De Areia Soares (Interior Designer at Minima). Their shrewd appreciation of industry and savvy creative practice, being perceived by the postgraduates as both fascinating and inspiring.

Over the course of the year, our core teaching team, has also benefited from the specialist contributions of Max Karlsson Wisotsky, Victoria Paterson-Burke, Bruce Paget and Anastasiya Luban.

Each one of these creative Architects and Designers, being dedicated to coaching, provoking and motivating their tutees towards new understandings and learning experiences. This has helped our students galvanise their design knowledge, creative actions and career plans.

Excellent Student Satisfaction and Employment Levels Students of the MA Interior Architecture and Design programme have reported ‘Excellent’ module appraisals for the seventh year in a row.

They have also achieved an impressive 90% employment rate. These Alumni have let us know that they have secured industry roles as architects, interior designers, business managers and educators.

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Emerald Herrick Doyle

Notably, this year, two of the international postgraduates have secured interior design roles at the award winning and world leading company X-Living.

These two talented designers are currently working in Shanghai with the renown Li Xiang (Frame Magazine’s Designer of the Year in 2018).

These designers extending our supportive network of Alumni which includes Li Xiang, as she herself is a former graduate the Birmingham School of Architecture and Design.

Equally, we are proud to announce that two of our Alumni, have now been awarded their Doctoral Degrees (PhD), Dr Huichao Feng producing a study focusing on the vernacular architecture associated with the matriarchal Mosou community and TEDx speaker; Dr Tamadher Al Fahal, has conducted innovative curatorial research relating to philosophical approaches in contemporary Islamic Design Studies. Over the last five years Tam and Huichao have worked as a Studio Assistants and have been employed by BCU to mentor our student colleagues.

This mentoring has positively influenced the decision of two more recent Alumni; Ana de Areia Soares and Yifeng Liao, to enter the world of academia. Both are preparing to begin their own novel Doctoral Studies.

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Live Project 1 – ‘IA Vegan Ways’ a creative cookery school for Intervention Architecture.

Engagement with well-being & creative industry-based scenarios was a key aspect of this module. Working collaboratively with the award-winning architect Anna Parker, this progressive transdisciplinary design assignment, engaged our students with new thinking about the ‘experience economy’. Students focused on how immersive ‘UX’ user experiences can be choreographed as soft space interventions within architectural settings. By justifying their ‘IA Vegan Ways’ Cookery School concepts for the Birmingham based studio Intervention Architecture, students had to reveal the connections between their research and the sensorial Experiential Design that they were proposing.

These concepts being presented to the client in the context of a professional studio critique.

Huiling Zhang

Live Project 2 – A Diwali MELA Festival Stand to celebrate the ‘Festival of Light’ for ‘Art at the Heart’ CIC’.

This year the Co.LAB Module focused on the blurred boundary between art and design. Our students were asked to create an imaginative Mela Festival Stand.

These concepts being created for Mukesh and Kamaljit Kumar, the Directors of the not for profit organisation; ‘Art at the Heart’ (a community interest company).

In this ‘community meets art’ project, our students were challenged to refine a culture-scape, to reflect the values and principles of the ‘Art at the Heart’ organisation, whilst considering how these interior schemes could be Semiotically encoded, to poetically embody ‘Diwali’ stories, customs and practices. By Designing Together, student teams were challenged to create short animated films about their creative process and their design proposal, which they professionally pitched to the Client at a Pecha Kucha event.

Xiaomin Chen

MA Interior Architecture and Design

Zena Ouyang

Liwei Liu

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Final ‘Signature Projects’ - 2019-2020 In the final trimester of the course, the students engage in the formation of persuasive and graphically ingenious self-directed ‘Signature Projects’ that capture and convey their individual design processes, creativity and astute insights that academically, professionally and creatively test their particular Design Hypothesis.

The production of a distinctive and creative ‘Practice Portfolio’ has allowed them to showcase their unique design talents and the influence that this has had on others, shifting the perceived boundaries of the interior design profession towards new horizons

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Huan Liao

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Alexis Beech

Danning Du

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Huan Liao

Xia Wang

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Huiling Zhang

Xiaomin Chen

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Jinghan Yu

Yunxia Jiang

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BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Collage of Final Year Projects 2020

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Tutors: Jason Nicholson Natalie Cole Andrew Trujillo Jason Taylor Wayne Pottinger Brian Adams Dean Cain Chris Emmett William Wofford Richard Underhill Malcolm Hastings Nuno Lourinho Studio Mentor – Wendy Wen Studio Assistant – Alice Evans

This is the first graduating year of Product & Furniture Design and what a remarkable year it’s been (and a most unusual one!). One thing I’ve been impressed with, is the resilience and resolve of our students, continuing their studies in an incredibly professional manner and generating truly outstanding work.

Their approach will prove to be an asset for future CV’s and portfolios and it’s certain that employers will be looking for graduates that demonstrated inventiveness, adaptability and initiative whilst making smart design decisions during this period of uncertainty.

With the move to online learning from March, final projects have been developed and realised through a truly innovative use of media. Alongside all of the made objects produced during the year we’ve seen the virtual environment embraced with the generation of sophisticated and extremely well resolved final projects.

The results have been incredible, and this has been an enormously successful end to 3 years hard work with our highest number of first-class honours, with 9 students achieving the highest classification. Our external examiner also commented that the work is of ‘the very highest standard’ and the Product & Furniture Design Course is ‘one of the best IF NOT the best course of its kind in the country’. This is a real testament to the continued hard work and effort of students across the course during this unusually eventful year.

The output this year demonstrates the incredibly high standard of work from our students and the importance of product and furniture design in shaping the future. The course team and I are extremely proud

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BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Charlie Adlem - Chair & Table

of their achievements and wish them every success in the future.

The course team are delighted to know that our students have thoroughly enjoyed their time at BCU. This has been a fantastic year with outstanding achievements from across all years of the course.

Achieving 100% NSS score for the second-year running is testament to the continued hard work and commitment from all staff involved in enhancing the student experience.

First year and design for wildlife First years experienced an intensive ‘skills building’ first semester integrating design principles and processes, material experimentation and cultural and historical studies.

During the second semester, students created innovative designs for bee homes aimed at a high-end market. The project encouraged students to consider the importance of designing products to increase biodiversity in urban areas. With support from the Wildlife Trust, the project explored the habitats, lifecycle and environmental impact of bees with designs that could also be used for research.

The group completed an in-depth research stage followed by designs and prototypes. With the lockdown causing an abrupt halt to all practical work, students continued to create outstanding three-dimensional representations using whatever resources available at home.

We are hoping to continue working with the Wildlife Trust on similar projects in the future to create environmental products that enhance the urban environment.

Jason Nicholson. Course Director

Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers: Organised by the charity Furniture Makers’ Company, The Young Furniture Makers’ Exhibition is an annual one-day event at the Dutch Church in Austin Friars, London, showcasing an impressive level of design talent from across the country. Nina’s desk lamp ‘Lucy’ won first prize in the Young Furniture Makers’ Design category, from more than 150 design entries.

The event is open to all students and gives them an opportunity to network with the members of the industry and other young design makers that are looking to make an impact on the design sector.

BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Students are also invited to join the Young Furniture Makers group which gives them access to events and workshops created especially for them.

During the design process, Nina explored metal and its use as a material in her design. The lamp creates a sense of calmness and ease expressed through the use of 3D printing and minimal use of materials and makes a valuable addition to any home.

Wayne Pottinger level 5 leader

Third year and Birmingham Design Talent Third years continued to develop their individual design approaches through a combination of live/competition projects.

Birmingham Design Talent is a collective of BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design students, who come together to showcase and sell their designs through one-off events and exhibitions.

The group includes those who produce hand-made bespoke items, through to others embracing digital technologies and batch production techniques. What

Huw Roberts - Table Strap

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brings the collective together is their passion for design and the desire to gain valuable experience exhibiting and selling their products.

Their latest event was at Minima, one of Birmingham’s top contemporary design showrooms, where the group showed a range of products by first, second and third year students. The final pieces were created in response to a range of briefs, but all were tasked with developing innovative, well made and saleable objects.

Natalie Cole level 4 tutor

Second year and live project collaborations Second year focused on employability, with modules enhancing industry knowledge and experience.

Live projects, work placement opportunities and collaboration with students from across the faculty helped enhance industry knowledge and experience.

Industry collaborations took place with Create Seating and Signify (Formery Phillips lighting)

Jacob Peters I - Marquetry Cupboard

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BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Frederic Lacaze - Headphones & Mask

Nina Naversnik - Sustainable Lights

Emma Jones - Environmental & Sustainability Balance Game

BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Eboni Molloy - Light drape

Millie Hyde-Jones - Trio

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BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Isabelle Uner - Brutalist Desk Tidies

BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Hanna Rosinska - Friendship Mirrors & Shelves

Emma Jones - Environmental & Sustainability Balance Game

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BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Emma Jones -Environmental & Sustainability Balance Game

Bees, Trees, & Factories is an educational, environmental game for children aged 7-11 years. Inspired by the youth climate strikes and lack of environmental teaching resources available, this game supports teachers and parents in their delivery of environmental education. Bees, Trees, & Factories engages children with a range of environmental topics through a challenging and entertaining balancing game accompanied by colourful, informative, playing cards.�

Emma Jones - Game Cards

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Frederic Lacaze - Headphones and Mask

INTERTUNE are modular headphones that combine PPE with style.

Enjoy a hands-off approach to music with gesture-controlled actions and 500 billion different colour combinations.�

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BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Hanna Rosinska - Mirror

ALIGN My final project was a range created based on an original idea I had for creating a stylish mirror that can store the users cherished items, and can also have notes written on it to encourage families, friends, couples and housemates develop a deeper connection with one another.

Hanna Rosinska - Mirror

Hanna Rosinska - Mirror

BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Millie Hyde-Jones - Trio

Millie Hyde-Jones - Radio

Millie Hyde-Jones Panel

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BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Isabelle Uner - Brut

The BRĂœT collection celebrates the beauty of brutalism. Cast Jesmonite objects mimic the geometry and materiality of brutalist buildings, drawing attention to the current debate on whether these buildings should remain as part of our skylines.

Isabelle Uner - Brutalist Desk Tidy

Isabelle Uner - Brutalist Desk Tidy

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The project on display is the YENZA range. The furniture gives the opportunity to children and their parents to assemble together to form a stronger bond. I wanted the experience of assembling furniture to create memories for families. Achieved through intuitive instructions, an app and playful colours.

Charlie Adlem - Clothes Rack

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BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Nina Naversnik - Stool

Nina Naversnik - Collection

I am currently exploring the principles of the circular economy by looking at food waste as a valuable resource and material. My project recognises design as a form of transformative storytelling that has the power to present an alternative future where the man-made world is a balanced system in which materials constantly flow.

Megg is a collection of objects made of eggshells that was created to start a conversation about #thecirculareconomy and to inspire change.

Nina Naversnik - Clock

Nina Naversnik - Lamp

BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Eboni Molloy - Draped Lights

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BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

MARQ is a contemporary take on a traditional design method called marquetry.

I use quirky designs to give this method a new and modern feel.

Jacob Peters - Marquetry

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Huw Roberts - Schematic drawing

Re-Belt. A table with a leather belt round it’s waist.

Easy to assemble.

Easy on the eye.

Huw Roberts - ReBelt Table

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BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design

Overseas Study Trip Students from across the course spent a week in Lisbon, Portugal. As always on our regular yearly study trips, the students were encouraged take lots of photos, bring their sketchbooks, research the city for other suitable design destinations to visit in their free time, and most importantly use the trip to find potential influences for their future design work.

After arriving in Lisbon and dropping their suitcases of at the Hans Brinker Hostel, the week’s activities began with a visit to the Amoreiras 360 Panaromic view of the city. A great chance for some photographs as the sun set in the distance. This was followed by a free group meal at a local traditional Lisbon restaurant set in an old monastery, which offered a taste of Lisbon culture.

The following days the students were up on their feet to immerse themselves in everything the diverse city of boundless culture and fabled architecture Lisbon had to offer.

The scheduled visits included trips to the Museum of Modern Art, MAAT museum, LX Factory, an eclectic mix, full of unique galleries, shops and street art. Santa Clara also market offered up an opportunity to pick up some intriguing gifts, knick-knacks, or second hand clothes steeped in the Lisbon lifestyle.

Students were able to explore the city in their own time, do a spot of shopping, and take plenty of photos for their Instagram followers. They seemed to love been transported up the steep cobbled climbs on the funicular railway‌that made for great selfies.

As always students love to get around the city, so what better way to do that than rent some electric scooters to whisk themselves around. This ended up being a really fun and surprisingly affordable way to take in the scenery.

LISBON! LISBOA!

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A definite highlight of the trip was a day visit to Sintra (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Starting with rides in tuktuks up the very steep climb to the castle, the students were transported to a truly wonderful place with so much to offer in terms of history, breath taking walks, and amazing sights and scenery. Within the grounds of Sintra’s National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira was particularly interesting with it’s eerie architectural monuments and underground caves….great for more snaps for the memory banks and future design inspiration.

We’ve had some amazing study trips over the past years, but I have a feeling that Lisbon was the students favourite of all time! .

Richard Underhill Level 6 leader

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Zhe Zhu

MA Product and Furniture Design

MA Product and Furniture Design

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MA Product and Furniture Design

Tutors Nuno Lourinho Wayne Pottinger Alice May Visiting Lecturers Dean Cain Evy Dutheil Studio Assistant Camille Cosson Ana Soares

Welcome to the MA Product and Furniture Design at Birmingham School of Architecture and Design. Looking back, the 2019 – 2020 academic year allowed us to achieve the most coherent and successful academic results. All students completed the MA course with a Merit or Distinction award. This was only possible as we continue to develop a studio culture. Our students are encouraged to develop autonomous practice and to liaise with both tutors and their colleagues in a professional environment.

Also, we have continued to engage with external partners and provide ‘real’ collaborations with our MA Product and Furniture Design students. In particular, it is worth highlighting the Co.LAB project developed with the artist and researcher Kaye Winwood, which focused on a sensorial approach to food and dining experiences building on the project developed last year.

The projects developed this year continue to explore how theory can inform real-world practice and also how studying people and products can lead to new knowledge. By focusing on student professional development, the course has encouraged and enabled ‘us’ to take part in the debate and analysis to create new concept proposals. This year, our students have pursued design proposals that customize furniture, take on sustainable living practices, or are involved with innovative user interactions, among others.

As in previous years, our students have experimented with a diverse design culture that embraces different design perspectives and identities. We not only celebrate the diversity of our students but also encourage sharing personal design practices. Students have embraced Birmingham City University values and enhanced our School’s unique geographical culture. In short, that means contributing to the design field in an international level while embracing both the heritage and cutting-age local expertise. There is no doubt that our students’ achievements have made us proud and we are looking forward to build upon this year experiences. Last, the fact that one of our students won two European Design Awards can only attest our successful course.

Nuno Lourinho, Course Director

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Zhe Zhu

Zhe Zhu

MA Product and Furniture Design

MA Product and Furniture Design

Boyu Yin

Boyu Yin

Boyu Yin

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MA Product and Furniture Design

Christos Ververis

Christos Ververis

Christos Ververis

MA Product and Furniture Design

Alistair King

Alistair King

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Wenquian Xie

MA Product and Furniture Design

MA Product and Furniture Design

Boyu Yin

Boyu Yin

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Yanling Wen

Yanling Wen

MA Product and Furniture Design

MA Product and Furniture Design

Alistair King

Alistair King

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MA Product and Furniture Design

Wenquian Xie

Zhe Zhu

Zhe Zhu

Zhe Zhu

MA Product and Furniture Design

Christos Ververis

Christos Ververis

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MA Design and Visualisation

Lasercut Lampshade Project - Ye Feng

Lasercut Lampshade Project - Ye Feng

Lasercut Lampshade Project - Yu Hong (Ruby)

Lasercut Lampshade Project - Jiaqin Xi (Jessie)

MA Design and Visualisation

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MA Design and Visualisation

Tutors:

MA Design and Visualisation AY 2019-20

Dr Panch Suntharalingam Adelle Webster

Design and Visualisation plays a key role in many of today’s businesses and organisations. From designing complex animations, brand identity, 3D products, virtual interiors, landscape, architectural visualisation and new conceptual designs, employers are increasingly seeking graduates with creativity, software and knowledge-based transferable skills.

Students on this course further develop their skills and competencies as 3D design visualisers with a deeper understanding of the design process. They are taught how to make important and critical decisions, how to devise visualisation strategies, design methods for research and how to apply these transferable skills across a wide range of disciplines.

All students on the course are able to individualise their programme of study from a chosen variety of cross-disciplinary MA modules and learn how to apply design visualisation techniques and strategies to areas such as product design, interior design, graphic design and various other cognate disciplines.

Students have the opportunity to engage with projects with industry, which offers unique opportunities to experience working on real projects for real clients within the curriculum. Students learn how to place appropriate emphasis on the process of research, design development, demonstrating visual aptitude in the final outcome. Importance is also placed not only on the design quality, but also on engagement practice, creative participation and how the design is developed and supported by the business case and contemporary research practice.

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MA Design and Visualisation

Lasercut Lampshade Project - Ruochen Wang (Roy)

Lasercut Lampshade Project - Ruochen Wang (Roy)

The course provides the framework for reviewing, reflecting, analysing and critiquing existing designs and techniques that equips our graduates with a solid understanding of design visualisation, as well as how to apply different visualisation techniques for specific situations.

Students study in our exciting city centre campus Parkside Building, a five-floor building with space studios and social space for students and staff to engage in creative debates and exchange of ideas.

On completion of the course, students are able to evaluate, choose and apply relevant theories, concepts and techniques to the solution of design problem and the knowledge that underpins it. This knowledge and transferable skills helps our graduates succeed in a competitive industry.

The course that our students study on has the following characteristics:Contemporary, relevant and cutting-edge curriculum exposing students to a variety of new technologies.

Engaging study sessions that ensure students learn a range of vital skills required for various design problem-solving situations.

Excellent links with industry and employers.

Our graduates move on to successful careers where they can apply their knowledge and ‘Toolbox’ of skills.

Our campus is based in the centre of a vibrant cosmopolitan city.

Dr Panch Suntharalingam Course Director MA Design and Visualisation

MA Design and Visualisation

Competition - Ye Feng

Competition - Ye Feng

Competition - Ye Feng

Competition - Ye Feng

Competition - Jiaqin Xi (Jessie)

Competition - Jiaqin Xi (Jessie)

Competition - Jiaqin Xi (Jessie)

Competition - Jiaqin Xi (Jessie)

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MA Design and Visualisation

Competition - Shunhai Li (Sean)

Competition - Shunhai Li (Sean)

Competition - Shunhai Li (Sean)

MA Design and Visualisation

Competition - Yun Ying Hsieh (Caroline)

Yun Ying Hsieh (Caroline)

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MA Design and Visualisation

Male Grooming Salon - Rohan Panchal

Male Grooming Salon - Ye Feng

Male Grooming Salon - Shunhai Li (Sean)

Male Grooming Salon - Zifeng Ou (Hugo)

MA Design and Visualisation

Mobile Dental Clinic - Shunhai Li (Sean)

Mobile Dental Clinic - Xinyu Xu (Lyle)

Mobile Dental Clinic - Ye Feng

Male Grooming Salon - Ye Feng

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MA Design and Visualisation

Major Project- YJiaqin Xi (Jessie)

Major Project - Haoyu Jiang (Jane)

MA Design and Visualisation

Major Project - Kaiwen Wang (Kevin)

Major Project - Shunhai Li (Sean)

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MA Design and Visualisation

Major Project - Xinyu Xu (Lyle)

Major Project - Ye Feng

MA Design and Visualisation

Major Project - Yu Hong (Ruby)

Major Project - Zifeng Ou (Hugo)

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BA Design Management

Live Client Brief: Exploring design concepts to improve mobility in Birmingham.

BA Design Management

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BA (Hons) Design Management Level 6

Tutors: Nicholas Irvin, Course Director Dr Mersha Aftab

This Level 6 opportunity allows students to ‘explore’ and ‘develop’ as individuals, whilst working collaboratively within their design specialisms and towards their personal goals and ambitions.

Following its first year, the BA (Hons) Design Management Level 6 Top-Up course provided a range of experiences, designed to challenge the students from an academic, creative and professional perspective.

The course has taken students on a personal journey, developing empathy for themselves, whilst considering concepts and recommendations for the end user and the client. Design Management encourages students to take ownership and build on the skills and knowledge acquired, in order to become effective within their own design focus/professional design specialism.

One of the most significant and noticeable outcomes has been the development in ‘confidence’ and this has been demonstrated throughout the modules. Students have identified their own research aims and developed detailed written/visual reports, produced and delivered visual presentations and exhibitions, with the aim of being able to professionally communicate an effective response to an audience.

This year has been challenging for the students, particularly accessing primary research data, conducting interviews and experimenting with technology within industry. However, students have been proactive during the analysis of studies and have worked innovatively to demonstrate visual proposals and strategies based on the evidence.

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BA Design Management

Design Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation: ‘Team Presentations’ to a client.

The course has an emphasis on professional development planning throughout the academic year and students are encouraged to record experiences and explore further skills and knowledge which connect to their specialism.

BA Design Management

Team A: Immani Bailey, Hamed Arab Choobdar, Claudia Beaumont and Iram Aslam:

A user journey showing a continuous flow of all concepts to the client.

A design approach using the Design Council’s Double Diamond model.

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Team B: Hermione Archer, Lauren Hamilton, Michelle Brown and Shinobu Gahan.

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BA Design Management

BA Design Management

Shinobu Gahan, Iram Aslam, Michelle Brown and Hermione Archer.

Design Project Management and Implementation

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BA Design Management

Michelle Brown

Hamed Arab Choobdar, Process Mapping Jewellery Manufacturing using CAD/CAM.

These experiences are closely connected to the Graduate+ Awards Scheme and students also have the opportunity to gain access to a business mentor using Careers+ to develop their professional skills in industry.

Students are encouraged to connect the skills, knowledge and professionalism and move to the Masters in Design Management course or into employment.

BA Design Management

Imaani Bailey, Design Major Project

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visit us at www.bcu.ac.uk/architecture-and-design

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Frederic Lacaze, BA (Hons) Product Design