Burnout Magazine Issue 1 - Lancaster University School of Architecture

01 So for our readers who dont already know, how did you get into architecture?

So, the weird thing is I actually never had an intention to study architecture. I’d always decided I was going to study engineering. As a consequence, I studied maths, further maths and physics A levels and they were probably my worst subjects. It was actually my best friend who challenged this: I’d been talking about design and architecture and being really passionate about it, and he asked me, wouldn’t you rather spend 7 years studying something you’re really interested in rather than three years studying something that it doesn’t sound like you’re interested in at all. And I thought **** he’s right! I literally crossed out engineering and replaced with architecture. It was the best decision ever.

02 Which would be your favorite period of architecture past, present or in the future, maybe to live through?

I certainly think the Georgian Period was super interesting. There is something about these past periods where architects had such confidence that their approach was the one ‘true way’ of doing things and that there was no other way of doing it. So probably the time when the profession was mostly unified, was the Georgian. Although, I think actually, if I had to go for any time, I would actually go for the future because it is unknown. I truly think that we’re going to be developing extraterrestrial architecture at some point for example, constructing dwellings on Mars, so I would like I’d like to be a Martian architect.

03 Quite different question: Lion or Shark, which one would you prefer to fight?

Well, I’ve heard that you can actually punch a shark in the nose and I’ve no idea what your tactic against a lion would be. So, I think I’d go for punching the shark in the nose. I don’t know what you do about lions except for run as fast as you can or try and climb up a tree or something.

04 You’ve done a lot with space syntax analysis. How do I explain it to my Nana?

Oh God, it’s hard! I’ve spent so much time trying to explain [to people] even what the word space syntax means. So the way I explain it is that most people know language has both syntax and grammar and syntax is to do with the rules of combination of words into larger sentences that are meaningful. In space syntax, we take the idea of a sentence in language but instead of thinking about words and how words fit together, you think about spaces and the relationship between spaces. Depending on the pattern that those spaces make, the different ways that they combine, they convey different meanings and this is how we understand spaces [in buildings or cities] in the same way that we understand a sentence when we hear it because of the order in which the words are arranged. I don’t know whether that would help your Nana understand it. I’ve still totally failed to explain it to my mum, by the way!

05 And what do you think the next big challenge for architects is?

I think it’s huge at the moment I do really passionately believe that the profession is in the middle of the biggest change that possibly it has ever had. The trouble is, there’s just so many things that need addressing: the climate crisis being just one; toxic problems in profession. I think what architects do is so important, so valuable, so world changing, and yet we do this amazing stuff but, in an environment, where we are actually not very nice to ourselves. So, there’s huge problems in the profession: addressing the climate crisis, dealing with the housing crisis? Issues around representation within the profession (most architects are white, male, upper class, privately educated). It’s very clear to me that we need much more diversity around, class, ethnicity, gender, everything.

I think you can do it. It’s a little late for my generation, now it’s your generation that have got to go out there and change the world! So, no pressure!

ADVICE FOR

we asked students?

What advice would you give to Architecture Freshers?

We surveyed the Architecture students of Lancaster University, and found a number of great responses and advice to take into your first year of study.

Starting Architecture at any University can be a daunting task. Whether its the workload, learning so many new things at once, or simply that you are struggling to settle into university life at Lancaster, these are some top tips for you.

Be open minded and have a personal curiosity in Architecture and the world around you and you ll do great

“ “

?

We would encourage any first year, starting on the course, to breathe and not to worry, it is a very supportive course and there will surely be help

Avoid all nighters at all cost

provided if you make it known you are struggling. The proffesors, your classmates, as well as the academic family program are there to support you. We would also encourage healthy eating, fitness and getting plenty of sleep. Most of all, be confident in yourself and your work, and you cant go wrong.

NEWCOMERS

If you are good at drawing, make sure you utilise it

BAIL RIGG PREHISTORIC TOPRESENT

The land on which the present Bailrigg House sits has a documented history reaching back hundreds of years before the University’s inception. It supported a vast range of activities from livestock grazing to outdoor sports, many of which have continued to this day just outside of the estate’s boundary.

The name ‘Bailrigg’ has two possible meanings – either a living space or something that is adjacent to a ridge or boundary –and originates in the Old Norse language, suggesting that the area dates to the Scandinavian colonisation of the tenth and twelfth centuries. The city itself, however, is documented to have existed since at least the Roman times when a garrison on the hill by the Lune river had been established. The site was rough grazing land until 1809, when a wealthy local, Joshua Hinde, dramatically re-shaped the land by adding rectangular fields onto the former moor. He planted a belt of forest in 1833 which can still be seen today – reaching from LICA to the chaplaincy. By 1841, inheritor William Treasure Redmayne had plans to convert the fields of Bailrigg into a sporting estate, planting further woodland as cover for game hunting – most of which remains present still.

Between 1899 and 1902, local businessman Herbert Storey built Bailrigg House where he lived until his death in 1933. He commissioned the architects Woolfall and Eccles of Liverpool to design it and later hired the famous local landscape architect Thomas Mawson to complete work on its gardens after re-orienting the land. An ornamental pond and pleasure gardens were constructed in a style typical of an Edwardian county house and a fishing lake was also installed (now Lake Carter).

Bailrigg House is designed in the arts and crafts style - with Tudor Revival elements such as exterior half timbering and interior panelling - a style popular in country estates at the time. Currently grade II listed, it is known for its elaborate hand-carved motifs set within an attractive antique façade and picturesque west terrace with woodland surroundings. Perhaps this is what makes it so appealing for staff, students and visitors alike.

Dom Fisher

LANCASTER CASTLE FROM THE GROUND UP

The Castle in 1778

The Shire Hall

View of the Courtyard from the Gatehouse

Part of the present structure has a history of at least six hundred years – the whole site being added to over the centuries - although the hill on which it sits has been the site of a defensive fort since the occupation of the Romans.

Walking up the cobbled hill towards the castle’s main entrance allows for a striking view of the second oldest surviving part of the estate, the gatehouse, for which construction began in 1402. The large central tower behind - the keepis thought to have been added by David I of Scotland in the mid-12th century. On closer inspection, the stone used to construct the keep is more loosely cut and weathered in appearance when compared to much of its surroundings, while small windows with iron bars litter the façade, suggesting a different period of construction. Some may be able to notice small differences in the architectural style here as well.

In the decades leading up to the Civil War, the castle was strengthened several times and the notorious Pendle witches trial took place shortly before this, in 1612.

It was during this war where the castle suffered further structural damage and subsequent repairs were undertaken including the demolition of much of the Well Tower.

In the last two decades of the eighteenth century, architect Thomas Harrison was commissioned to rebuild the county gaol after a long period of unsanitary conditions experienced by prisoners which sparked a review by reformer John Howard.

Under Harrison’s watch, the Gaoler’s House was constructed in 1788 in a Gothic style. The Shire Hall and Crown Court were completed in the following decade, and in 1802 Joseph Gandy was commissioned to complete the interiors of both sections.

No further major construction projects were launched until a wholesale renovation of all areas accessible from the courtyard was launched in 2013. The latest phase, started in late 2017 and completed in late 2019 has opened the former prison kitchen yard, which notably includes a teaching space leased by the University.

Dom Fisher

Set only a few hundred metres from the city centre, Lancaster Castle’s historical aspect is perhaps just as intriguing as that of its architecture

Deyan Sudjic Interview

01 For our readers who may not be familiar with who you are and what your background is, could you give a quick introduction about yourself? and as a follow up, how would you define your job?

I guess one of the privileges of life is not to actually have to define yourself as what you do, but to keep your options open, and I studied architecture as a student a long time ago, but actually what architecture does, is give you a range of options about what you do with what you’ve been taught.

For me, it’s always been talking about architecture and cities for other people, who are NOT architects. And try to make the subject open to the public.

02 Obviously, you have ended up not practising as an architect, but what was it that initially drew you to studying Architecture at University in the first place?

Architecture is about this very optimistic idea that what you do with your pencil, or computer, can change things to make everybody’s life a little bit better. That you may shift things to make things easier or more open…so there is something very idealistic about what it is to be an architect, even in a very cynical world.

03 You have worked with a lot of designers and Architects in your career, but who have been the most influential to you personally? and who do you feel luckiest to have met and worked with?

I mean there’s never one person, it’s always been that privilege of meeting interesting people of so many kinds, and the more you do it, the more some of them tend to slip into history. So, knowing Zaha Hadid, or Richard Rogers, or earlier than that, James Stirling and people who are now long gone. Everybody is interesting, and you learn a lot from people.

04 In ‘B is for Bauhaus’ you talk about how design museums are, in a way, filling the void left over from traditional design magazines, and so as somebody who co-founded an Architecture magazine, do you think that we will ever stop printing and reading magazines?

No I don’t actually, museums have resources in the modern world, that magazines don’t necessarily have, to show things, but what’s always struck me is how the magazine always has this continuing appeal, there’s something about creating this product, that you design and package, and that has the smell of paper. It’s become something of a format that every generation is interested in and putting their own impression on that. And, the magazine is a kind of powerful way, without a massive budget, that people can use to make a real strong statement. So, magazine ought to be dead, but if you go into certain magazine stores in Paris or Central London, you will find racks full of people producing different, interesting magazines. It’s like music or writing, it’s a very alive and dynamic form.

05 What would be your advice for students reading this as to how to avoid ‘BurnOut’ in the Architecture course as well as the profession?

To be an architect, you have to be an optimist, you have to look forward, you have to know that there’s always something else that you don’t know, and that’s the OPPOSITE of Burnout.

But can you not become burnt out by becoming too invested in it, is that not a danger?

There is this tradition that architecture is this crazy religion, which involves: never going to bed, never stop working, never have anything else in your life.

So, I guess the advice is, be responsible, don’t be unhealthy and … Read BurnOut Magazine!

FASHION ARCHITECTURE IN

Iam a man who is proud of his manhood, but also of his femininity. In terms of my clothes, I dress very expressively, and slide between masculine and feminine ways of presenting, but I prefer to think that I just wear clothes in general. Since embracing and being proud of what I wear, I have thought about how it will be when I eventually enter the realm of professionalism of a job in architecture. I have done work experience at a few architect’s offices and have found that architects, generally, dress in the way of smart casual, but tend to be quite heteronormative. Recently, I have questioned the ‘traditional way of dressing’ within architecture due to it being a creative subject and the general assumption that within creative fields, people dress more expressively with it being more widely acceptable.

Since entering the profession as a student and talking to other architects who are also currently in the field, I have found that there is a mix of what could be deemed ‘traditional’ ways of dressing and more expressive ways of dressing. This is quite often based on the type of practice you go to. For example, some places prefer the image of someone who is sharply dressed, whereas places may opt for a more casual approach while in the office and dress-up sharper for meetings with a client.

In the EDI (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion) strategy from RIBA in April 2019, it said that the Stonewall LGBT in Britain – Work Report found that one in seven of LGBT+ people felt like they couldn’t be themselves at work. While this number may not solely be down to people feeling unable to express themselves through their clothing, it is still a matter of not

being able to express yourself within your own industry, which within architecture, is important to express yourself and show who you are.

Following the findings on the ways of dressing differing from practice to practice, it infers that people in the architecture profession who dress gender fluidly or in a nonheteronormative fashion need to choose a practice which will support them or be ok with their fashion personality, which isn’t very fair, especially in a profession which is supposed to be ethical and thoughtful of the world we live in.

The main point of writing this is to start a conversation about fashion within architecture to enable non-heteronormative ways of dressing become more mainstream within the profession so that architects of the future can fully be themselves so they can do their best work. While I am aware that the ARB (Architect’s Registration Board) code of conduct, number nine states an architect is expected to “maintain the reputation of architects”, I don’t think that this would link to the clothes an architect wears since the other attributes of an architect stated in the ARB code of conduct are actions or personality traits, not appearance requirements.

The change needed for more expressive ways of dressing and presenting to be more mainstream within architecture comes from the help of architects already in practise, which currently there are some architects pushing for a more diverse and inclusive future for all, and they are doing a great job of it, but it requires every architect to do this to be able to say that the profession of architecture is inclusive when it comes to fashion.

Giles Bridge

THE GREAT LANCASTER ARCHITECTURAL TREASURE HUNT S

o, I have been tasked with forming a comprehensive list of local landmarks, and ‘diamonds in the rough’ if you will, architectural highlights around Lancaster. And, it was only in sitting down to do this, that the fact became obvious, Lancaster is boring.

01 Lancaster Castle

The town itself, I found to be much like any other historic town in England, quaint but lacking almost all the excitement and diversity of a modern metropolis such as Manchester. So, for those readers seeking all the best architectural spots in and around Lancaster, and for those who are plain curious, this list is for you.

Okay, so I know what you’re thinking, this is hardly a ‘hidden gem’. That much may be true, but it’s definitely a worthwhile place for any architecture student to nosey around in, sketch the Mediaeval detailing and become familiar with the modern renovations such as the cafe. Basically, it should be the first, and hopefully not the last, destination on your list.

02 The Music Room

Second on the list, and just down the road from the castle, is the Music Room. This is a quaint little cafe tucked away, and easy to miss, behind Nami Sushi on Sun Street. It makes the list for its obviously gorgeous classical facade and aesthetics. The coffee isn’t too bad either.

03 Midland Hotel

Admittedly, this one is more of a trek than the first two, but completely worth it for just a glimpse of its Art Deco glory, and just by the Morecambe bay sea front, what more can you ask for?

04 Jubilee Tower

Probably the only actual ‘hidden gem’ on the list, Jubilee Tower looms above the Bowland Trough. The building, if it can be called that, is an example of a ‘folly viewing tower’, the structure looks much older than it is, dating only to 1887. For a stroll in the North Western hillsides with promised views over all of the Lake District, this one is not to be missed.

05 The Maritime Museum

Just past Sainsburys, and not far from Luneside student accommodation, nests this 1764 neo-Classical museum. Palladian in design. The museum hosts an array of fishing vessels, trade artefacts and ship models!

06 Eden North project

To top off the list, I present to you a building which you can’t actually visit… at least until it opens in (fingers crossed) 2024. But that small inconvenience aside, this building should be incredible once complete. Eden North aims to bring up to £200 million a year in tourism to the Morecambe seafront where it is located, just down the road from the Midland Hotel as it happens.

KAT IES

This corner is going to be talking about sustainability: what’s changing higher up in places such as RIBA, smaller practices and the different approaches they are taking to try and tackle the climate, and also exploring anything interesting or relevant that we find in relation to the current climate emergency.

At the time of writing, the UK has just experienced its hottest day on record, with Heathrow breaking 40 degrees Celsius- a first for the UK. This brief but significant heat wave brought to light holes in infrastructure across the country, from roads and train lines buckling to people overheating in their homes because in the UK, houses just aren’t built to deal with temperatures like these.

On a recent holiday to Italy it was seemingly standard that most rooms have individual air conditioning units to combat the heating of the internal space. AC may be what many people in the UK begin to turn to as warmer temperatures persist; most of our houses are designed to retain heat for the colder autumn, winter and spring months. AC cannot be the permanent solution to a warming climate. Air conditioning units are energy intensive and whilst they provide a nice bit of relief on the day, the damage these do en masse to the climate is only further accelerating the climate crisis and global warming. According to a 2019 Guardian article

“The US already uses as much electricity for air conditioning per year as the UK uses in total,” and numbers of air conditioning units around the world are only going to increase as the climate gets warmer, but they in turn are going to have an increasing impact on the warming. This is seemingly a hard loop to break, because if we can’t keep our homes and workplaces cool it is likely we will see a rise in health issues caused by the heat, as glimpsed on this, the hottest day ever in the UK so far.

The solution may be a change in perspective. To quote Albus Dumbledore “the time may soon come where we have to choose between what is right, and what is easy.” I would argue that air conditioning is the easy option- it is relatively cheap and effective in cooling us down on hot days. The right option is arguably modifying the way houses are built, and retrofitting existing buildings to aim for Passivehaus standards.

This, unfortunately, is much harder and more expensive to achieve when compared to an air conditioning unit. Changing the way houses are built on such a large scale feels near impossible- it is simply too expensive, especially as the cost of living soars. But if we could keep our houses a consistent, comfortable temperature year round using passive heating and cooling methods, we could begin to see some long term benefits for the planet.

In the meantime, what are some methods we can begin using to reduce our energy consumption but keep as cool as possible?

01 Opening strategic windows:

cross ventilation through a room or a house might create some relief from the heat, especially if there is a breeze outside. Try to open windows in the direction of the wind tempt it through the house and keep the air flowing. Opening windows in the evening when it has cooled down is also a good strategy before bedtime, but having windows and doors wide open on a scorching hot day with virtually no breeze may actually make the space warmer still.

02 Keeping curtains closed:

At the same time as wanting windows open, if this means the sun is blaring in, the cooling will probably have less of an effect. Keeping the blind closed, or even investing in something such as an external awning could help keep the sun out.

03 Damp towel:

try hanging a damp towel over an open window to cool down some of the air coming in.

04 Electrical appliances off:

If you are keeping cool inside and watching the TV, or on the computer, the heating from this may increase the internal temperature too. A book or a nap might be a good alternative here if at all possible.

05 Electric Fan:

Whilst this isn’t the most energy efficient solution, many of us need that extra bit of relief. When using one, try directing it upwards so it keeps the cool air- which settles below the hot air- in circulation. Carefully placing a tray of water in front of the fan will disperse cool water particles for extra cooling. Making sure there are no objects obstructing the fan, and only using it when needed will help make it more efficient.

Whilst houses in the UK weren’t built for a hot climate, vernacular architecture in other parts of the world were and some of the methods used hundreds of years ago have a lot of relevance now, if we want to design buildings with lower energy usage and more passive systems. Wind-catchers are seen widely across West Asia and North Africa. They are a device that varies in design, but the main principle is that of ‘catching’ the wind and using it to circulate air through a building, keeping dwellings cool. Different versions of this see the air flow being passed over cool objects for a more intense cooling effect, or towers facing more than one direction in order to increase airflow.

The conclusion reached through this brief exploration of cooling methods is that even though AC feels the most effective to us humans, it is doing, and has the potential for much more harm to the planet in years to come. Natural ventilation methods can be powerful in cooling your home, but ultimately if you have the chance to retrofit or even move house, it is worth reading up on and trying to comply with passivehaus standards to be more comfortable in the warmer years to come.

Katie Philips

Richard Wooldridge Interview

01 For our readers who don’t already know you, and the people joining the course next year, What is HPA Architects all about?

We are a multi-disciplinary firm of Architects in Central Lancaster, we’ve got 8 architects, 2 technologists, planning consultants, heritage consultants. We are generalists but we specialise mostly in leisure, commercial and heritage. And, we try to have fun, build buildings that will still be around in 150 years’ time, create buildings that are affordable and most importantly create buildings that are going to be cheap to run and be energy efficient.

02 And how long have you been there, and what is your role there?

In terms of me, I trained here, I left university in 1998, I met somebody from this area, I was going to go to London, but we decided we wanted to live around here, its where my wife is from.

But yeah, my role in the business mainly is as director, so I kind of view myself as air traffic control, trying to figure out who’s doing what, but my real specialty is both front end design and concept strategy.

03 From what you have seen in Lancaster University, and from your experience at school, how do you feel architectural education has changed over the years?

I think it’s (Lancaster University) is an incredibly supportive environment you’ve got. Everybody seems to take pride in each other’s successes, the tutors are very approachable, and I just get the feeling that the vibe of the place is really positive.

Comparing it to my time, I was at the Edinburgh college of Art, back then it was quite a mixed bag, you had some tutors who were very aggressive, and you had some very supportive tutors. But I say that to all students coming here (HPA), that don’t panic, at some point it does click, design and Architecture. And school definitely prepares you to be a generalist.

04 The Architecture industry has witnessed an immense increase in its use of, and reliance on, technology, especially over the past 10-20 years, how do you think this has impacted the profession overall?

Yes, it’s changed a lot, and the way we can present stuff has changed, we’re drawing in 3D now, it started as hand drawings, I was then trained in CAD, and now it’s all in 3D. With that said, we do still insist that we work everything out by hand before we go and sit at a computer, because sketching is still much more fluid and much faster.

The theory and basics are still the same, but the way you can now present is much better, and you have to know the theory before you launch yourself into fancy graphics. You need to know what your drawing before you draw it.

05 Architecture is an industry which is massively affected by the changing tides of the economy. What do you think will be the lasting impacts of the pandemic on the industry? And do you think there are opportunities to be gained there?

As a profession I think the future is really positive, I think at the moment, in terms of RIBA stuff is that the government is beginning to realise that we can actually help. They want to improve Britain’s streets, make the place look better, we can do that. They want to make buildings more energy efficient and were all trained in that so we can all help with that.

And I think our stock is rising, and as a result hopefully fees and the profession will be in a better place for you guys coming in than it maybe was when we joined it!

OLI’S TECH TIPS

So you just started Architecture & you want to know how to get the most out of your laptop or computer... but you’re not sure what to look for or where to even start you’ve got your head bamboozled with all the jargon and technical talk.

Apple vs Windows ? Storage & Memory ?

Processor & Graphics Card ?

The first question you should ask yourself is which operating system (OS) your most comfortable with. If this is Microsoft Windows or Apples’ MacOS.

This will make it easier for you to decide which laptop to choose; Both have their pros & cons but with architecture it’s about being as efficient and time saving as possible.

Apple of course is a more closed off & secure ecosystem of computers, tablets and phones and of course utilises the iCloud. This of course benefits security and automatically backing up storage (a must for architecture students).

Secondly the Apple ecosystem allows for the continuity across devices by starting something on an iPad say, and then finishing it up on an iMac.

OLI’S TECH TIPS

Furthermore Apple MacOS devices (iMac/MacBook) are the fastest and most power efficient devices on the market at the moment – this is great for video editing, photoshop, graphic design.

However a few negative of the Apple Ecosystem is the support available by external software. What I mean by this is, When it comes to producing amazing photorealistic renders of your building – MacOS has a limited support of what you can use on it. More 3rd party software is being added all the time but it is slow and often a trial/error basis due to the new releasing of software.

Microsoft’s Windows Operating System on the other hand offers a more universal and comforting approach.

Unlike Apple, where it is a whole laptop, iPad or whatever with the operating system inside ready to go. Windows, is sold as an operating system to companies such as HP, Dell, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer etc.

This then allows aforementioned laptop manufacturers to go and create a wider range of laptops to suit any customer. However; this is where the minefield begins.

For architecture you generally want a high powered laptop. This will have a processor that would for example say i7 or Ryzen 7 or even Ryzen 9.

The memory (don’t get too confused with memory/storage, memory is a vital component but NOT related to storage). Memory you would want 8 GB or 16GB this will give the computer more “thinking power” to complete the task you want it to do.

Storage you would want something with a minimum of 256GB this will be enough to save your reasonably sized files and photos of models or photoshop files. Just note when looking at storage you may see the abbreviation SSD don’t get worried about it, It just means (solid state drive), or in a nutshell digital storage.

Other than that there isn’t much to worry about when choosing a laptop in the Microsoft Windows realm, As all manufacturers: HP, Dell etc, will sell laptops with these specifications.

When it comes to cost your laptop will be expensive but what you get out of it will pay off very quickly; At best you will spend a minimum of £600 and this should see you through your degree & if you choose to do so, your post-graduate degree.

Now the cons for a windows laptops are that they are susceptible to viruses & “hacking” due to the open nature of the operating system (OS).

This is where I say if you choose to go to any computer shop to buy a laptop or iPad or tablet or whatever.

Please consider buying; either an insurance or tech support plan – they may cost a lot but trust me when it’s 24 hours to go before a deadline and you just spilled coffee over your laptop and you’re panicking – at-least you know you’re laptop will be recovered or somewhat saved!

Oliver Sage

HOW TO SURVIVETHE ARCHITECTURAL CRTT

It’s no secret that architecture crits are the bane of some student’s lives while at architecture school. The race against time to finish your plans or elevations fuelled only by coffee and fear to then stand up in-front of your peers and tutors to present the project you

have either been pouring your heart and soul into; or have been neglecting and wishing it would simply just vanish from your to-do list for the past month. Whichever student you are or will be, I have 3 simple things to remember which will help you thrive, not just survive the crit.

01 Be Confident

Confidence is key. The whole ‘fake it till you make it’, even if you’re so unsure about what you have done, as long as you give a confident pitch, you’ll crush it! You are the one who knows your project best, so let it show and be proud of what you have designed. By being calm and confident you give the people who are listening the faith that this is a successful project, some of your peers may even want to emulate a few of your ideas!

02 Know your key points

People need to follow your design and understand your ideas, so lay it out clearly so they can see the ideas as well as you can. Key points allow you to explain everything that’s necessary and in a logical order for your peers and tutors to follow, and if other points pop into your head, you can add them into the mix. The crit is a great place to practise techniques on how to get your ideas from your head to paper and in an easy-to-follow fashion. This is a vital skill you will need in order to explain your ideas to clients when you’re a qualified architect, but also a transferable skill to so many other disciplines.

03 Don’t take anything personally

Comments and opinions in the crit are only there to help you improve the project to be the best it can be, not to beat you down. The project becomes your baby because you put so much effort in and so comments which seem negative can hurt, but they’re never an attack on you, they’re only suggestions which would level up your project. This point is a difficult one to learn, but the tutors are only there to help you improve, none of them want to be mean or see you fail so enjoy the time you’re given and take on the feedback positively.

To round it all up, a crit is a space where you’re given undivided attention of your tutors and peers to present things you have been working on. Be the star of the show, it’s all yours, for 15 minutes. Once you have done the first few, they become easier, never less stressful, just easier because your ideas and methods of presenting evolve which only make the crit

go smoother. The one thing to remember is that comments and opinions said in the crit are suggestions and sometimes tutors’ opinions may go against one another, which isn’t a problem, you just choose the suggestion you want to run with.

Giles Bridge

Introduction

Nowadays, the role of an architect can at times feel more like an IT technician than a designer. Approaching the many different softwares required of an architect can be an overwhelming experience for new students, The BurnOut team has put together comprehensive roadmap to help demystify where and when

to use different softwares.

SOFTWARE ROADMAP SOFTWARE ROADMAP

01 Moodboard Phase

The first stage of any architectural project is to make a mood board or inspiration wall to draw from. Pinterest is a great resource for image inspiration, and Adobe InDesign can be great to assemble images on.

02 Site Analysis

Google Maps and Google Earth can be essential when doing an analysis of the site, especially if you are unable to visit the site in person. The measuring tool within Google Maps can help clear up any site dimension uncertainties!

03 Concept Design

There are a number of options for approaching Concept Design, Sketchup and Blender can be easy to use and fun for creating digital mass models for example.

AI tools such as Dall-E and Mid Journey can be more cutting edge ways of generating new concepts and ideas. Ultimately, sketching and hand modelling will always be king in concept design however!

04 2D CAD Drawings

At this stage in the process, many people choose to create 2D drawings of their designs, AutoCAD of course remains the obvious choice here, with Sketchup’s ‘Layout’ being a great alternative if you prefer to model in 3D first.

05 3D BIM

BIM or ‘Building Information Modelling’ has quickly taken over the industry, alternative to drawing up your designs in 2D, it may be best to work with Revit or Rhino, with the first being more industry standard, and the latter being the more creative and versatile of the two.

06 Rendering

Next up is the fun bit, time to take your half-baked floorplans and sections and turn them into photoreal images. We recommend Lumion for beginners, and Vray, Enscape, Twinmotion and Unreal Engine 5 for more advanced rendering.

07 Portfolio Process

After carefully crafting your concept models, technical drawings and final renders, now is the time to do all of the postproduction work, editing and curating in time for your final review. We recommend sticking to the Adobe suite (Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign). Good luck.

Conclusion

Of course, it is important to remember that for all that softwares can aid in the design process, ultimately a building is not a fancy rendering or collage. And so, it is necessary to harness the many software’s as merely another tool in a means to completing a project, and to incorporate these tools alongside traditional sketching and modelling throughout the design process.

Patrick Donnelly

Architecture Society ISSUE 1 // // “Advertisement” //

Who are LSSA?

“It was initiated in the summer of 2021 but not much ground was made. This slight false start in 20212022, however, has given us the chance to learn from our mistakes and build a stronger foundation (pun intended) for future years to grow it even further. We have students from both second and third year who were voted in last June, which should be giving us a great kick start into the new year.“

What are your Plans for the year?

- Socials

- Academic Families

- External Speakers

- Welfare Walks

@Lancsarc on instagram

https://www.instagram.com/Lancsarc/

- Reaching Beyond Architecture

Who are UNA?

“Up North Arts is the creative society and network for students at Lancaster University. We offer life drawing, workshops, artist talks, exhibitions as well as a strong artistic community.”

What are your Plans for the year?

“In February of 2022, our community came together to put on an exhibition at the Storey Gallery titled ‘ADAPTATION’. Artists working throughout Lancashire submitted artworks in a variety of media, resulting in a diverse and cohesive show.”

“In 2023, we plan to work with the Storey Gallery again to put together another exhibition to showcase young artists’ work. Follow our instagram to stay tuned for more information about our upcoming exhibition as well as the open call. “

Design Society

Who are the Design Society?

“The Design society is a brand new society to Lancaster University, we are open to both students studying Design aswell as just any other student who is just generally interested. We focus on all things design, and hope to bring lots of socials and events throughout the year.”

What are your Plans for the year?

@ludesignsociety on instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ludesignsociety/

Fashion Society

“We hope to host many design focused events, collaborating with other societies such as the Architecture society aswell as the Fashion Society. We are also planning trips to various museums and design conferences across the country. We hope to organise a digital fashion show, and host a number of competitions for the students to compete in.”

@lufashionsoc on instagram

@issuefashionsoc on TikTok

https://www.instagram.com/lufashionsoc/

Who are Issue?

“Issue is Lancaster University’s fashion society. We are an all-inclusive team of students, who are looking to connect with others alike, explore the world of fashion business and have lots of fun along the way. We aspire to offer all members the opportunities to express themselves through fashion.”

What are your Plans for the year?

“Our plan for this year is to make ISSUE much more collaborative, sociable and exciting. Hosting a fashion show has been something the society has done for years and this year we want to make it bigger and better than ever! We want to help our members increase their industry connections, get creative, collaborate with others alike and ultimately make lifelong friendships!”

Drawing Prize Winners: (Molly White and Alexander Reade Pictured)

Drawing Prize Winners: (Libby Barnes Pictured)

Essay Prize Winners: (Freya Gallagher Dickens and Arina Grosu Pictured)

Ethics Prize Winners: (Richard Wooldridge and Dom Fisher Pictured)

Detail Prize Winners: (Thomas Banks, Katie Philips, Nadia Sharpe and Ross Bland Pictured)

Detail Prize Winners: (Ana Costa and Nadia Sharpe Pictured)

31 // ISSUE 1 // // Student Voices //

What do you not like about Architectural Education

It is Overwhelmingly Stressful Sometimes

It can be Intense and Long

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What do you like about Architectural Education

The Interactiveness of the Course

The fact that we get to do more practical hands on activities

You get to learn about Societies and Human Behaviour as opposed to just Buildings and Structures

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