Unit A

Unit A is a research-led BSc Architecture Design Studio at the University of East London, lead by Carsten Jungfer and Fernanda Palmieri. We work with live-project situations and connect design learning with research through knowledge exchange between students and external partner organisations. Unit A focuses on social-spatial conditions within contested urban contexts and understands architectural design both as a spatial and strategic response to specific socio-spatial contexts.

26/10/2016

Terry Farrell Industrial Buildings





You will have noticed a range of similar looking industrial buildings with facades that have stepped reflective glazing and brick in the sourrounding area of the Chocolate Factory. The interiors feature a near column free space (for flexibility) and have a surprising section and a spatial quality I didn't expect. The service core is kept to the minimum and is strategically placed. The buildings were designed by Terry Farrell Partnership in the 1980-ties.

20/10/2016

Historic maps

we have uploaded a few historic maps to out unit A dropbox
check them out - it's interesting to look at them trying to figure out what has changed and what features have remained the same....
   

Aerial views ...

here are some links to aerial views, that might be useful in additional to actually having visited site (not a replacement though) when drawing your open space axonometrics to refresh your memory - but be careful: some photos are a little our of date...

if you have a MAC: apple maps does a 3D aerial view, which look a bit wonky like this on the right:


or BING MAPS   Link here
search wood green and zoom in:
top right corner: select option BIRD'S EYE and unselect LABELS (at bottom)
example below:

Software Tutorials on Lynda.com


Via MOODLE you can access for free excellent software tutorials from Lynda.com

How does it work?

1  sign into your Moodle account. 

2 on your Moodle home screen click  LYNDA CAMPUS  (lower right side)

3 login window - use your usual uel log-in details

this is mainly meant for Year 2 students, as progress on your case study buildings is very slow.

We suggest that you (year 2) watch all of the AutoCAD basic drawings skills / AUTOCAD ESSENTIALS  1-10 to get you going making simple 2D line drawings and be able to print. Explore other tools and tutorials afterwards - whatever you really need - search!


later we also recommend to watch tutorials on Adobe Indesign - which you will be using in a few weeks time to create your portfolio and layouting individual sheets.

The Open City, Richard Sennett lecture

Further to your task reading The Open City article by Richard Sennett, here is a link to a lecture he gave on the same topic at Havard Graduate School of Design. (the article can be found here or on our unit A dropbox)

19/10/2016

Tue 18 Oct Lecture on drawing Axonometrics

lecture uploaded to our Unit A dropbox

10/10/2016

Chocolate Factory Open Studios: Fri 11 - Sun 13 Nov 2016


There is an open day event coming up at the Chocolate Factory (which forms part of our study area). Put in your diary. This is a good opportunity to see some of the diversity; there are painters, fashion designers, jewellers, sculptors, ceramists, designer makers, etc.

Chocolate Factory Wood Green N22
Artists Open Studios
Friday 11 November 2016 from 6pm -9pm
Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 November 2016 12pm – 6pm
Admission free. All welcome

N22 artist’s work: www.n22openstudios.com

RIBA Library

In case you want to extend your research of your case study building you could visit the RIBA Library which holds a huge collection of architecture books and drawings.
Access to the library is free. More info see link below.

LINK

Cedric Price exhibition at the AA


Exhibition: CEDRIC PRICE WORKS 1952–2003

The installation tells the story of Cedric Price through interviews with a number of people who were close to him; whilst the book brings together, for the first time, all of Price’s projects, articles and talks – aiming to present his munificence as thinker, philosopher and designer. Price was a student at the AA in the 1950s, established his office in London in 1960 and went on to produce some of the most intensely imaginative and experimental architecture of the latter half of the 20thcentury. His work is central in defining the architectural discourse around the emerging post-war themes of mobility and indeterminacy in design.

Coinciding with the publication of Cedric Price Works 1952-2003: A Forward-minded Retrospective by Samantha Hardingham.

AA School of Architecture
36 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3ES
Front Members' Room
19/9/2016 - 29/10/2016
Monday to Friday 10:00-19:00, Saturday 10:00-17:00

05/10/2016

Open House / Agenda Unit A 2016-17


 “Collective society generates space(s) as a social product” and “different building patterns (e.g. houses) [...] are to be understood as configurations of movement and interaction within space” urbanist Sophie Wolfrum proclaims.

The way we are dwelling in the city today has changed, mostly driven by technological advances, which have contributed to a blurring of distinctions between public and private. Todays’ urban life-styles are merging our everyday activities including living, working, interacting, consuming, etc into an understanding of space that can be characterised by co-existences and simultaneity.

Following recent shifts in the political landscape, there is a sense of suspension of a formerly known order, which has contributed to an increase of uncertainty. Set within this contradicting context of pending and ongoing change, this raises interesting questions about the effects on future demand for new types of civic buildings that sustain Londons’ diversity.

This year we will set out to investigate architectures and spatial conditions that are defined through characteristics of openness.

We will explore new forms of spatial design, organisation and construction that will allow adaptable strategies, co-existences of multiple programmes and increased connectivity to propagate hybrid architectures that are coherent product of London as a collective space of open minded citizens.

Wood Green’s cultural quarter will act as study area for the entire year and will become the testing ground for your architectural interventions. The building briefs will evolve around civic programmes and mixed-use and multiple activities including productive spaces for making, cultural consumption and the spectacle in combination with alternative forms of dwelling.

The design proposals at architectural scale will act as contextual ‘adjustments’ within the urban context dealing with a multiplicity of programmatic, spatial and social scenarios.