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Who Is Cedric Price?
His is an English architect, influential teacher and writer. His designs were very unique and brought ideas of utopia. Price was determined his work would “not impose physical or psychological constraints upon its occupants nor reduce them to standards, as did modern architecture.” (MoMA, u.d) Many of his work focused on the users needs and individual freedoms.
The Potteries Thinkbelt project was a conceptual idea that was never built. It was Price’s way of critiquing the traditional system of Universities. The project was to be built in Staffordshire around railways and roads, providing transport links for people between housing and learning areas. It also relies heavily on flexibility and being able to expand its network opposed to a centralised campus. Additionally, it would utilise temporary buildings allowing for experimentation, mobile cars and railway carriages were to be used as teaching units with fold-able furniture.
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Drawings showing carriages as learning units
Price believed that, “education is a flux - it always is- and it is so subject to the effects of changing education, philosophical, sociological and political ideas, as well as economic crises”, hence the need to create adaptable and flexible learning facilities. Such flexibility of learning equipment and methods will allow national students from different fields to participate, creating that inclusivity. Map showing proposed project plans
“When the next round of university building starts, perhaps we should treat education less as a polite cathedral - town amenity.” - Cedric Price
The project was focused on the community as a whole and the users that would be occupying the spaces. For example, due to a large amount of students (20,000) local people would have access to specialised equipment for leisure activities, as well as learning facilities. Price wanted the public to feel invited and welcomed.
How might this influence my work?
After reviewing this case study, there are a few elements that I would like to incorporate into my own design. These are; flexibility, adaptability, involving the local community and taking a human-focus approach.
