exploration into tapestry

Inspired by Mark Khaisman, I tried out parcel tape on plastic as a new medium for representation, playing with light and transparency.

live project: fish island, hackney wick

As part of a live project to regenerate a terraced house in the cultural area of Hackney Wick, London,  thirty students from Oxford Brookes University spent four weeks designing, fabricating and building installations to accommodate a group of artists into the space.

My group focussed on designing the roof terrace, seating and transforming the adjacent interior space into a cafe area. We based our concept on the tea-making process; the ritual of picking ingredients, brewing, conversation, and story-telling.

The step in the process, of feeding out information, or exhaling, responded to the conditions on our site. A number of air conditioning units surrounded the perimeter of the terrace, which fed out waste energy from the building. We wanted to use this link between inside and outside, to form a spacial relationship between the spaces.

The solution we came up with was 'bubble' inflated by the waste heat coming through the air conditioning units, which houses the storytelling part of the ritual. Working backwards, mint plants and a steaming urn are placed outside the bubble, timber seating and a shoe rack are provided around the perimeter and inside, we hung a sea of space blankets to direct and feed people outside, or seat people in the landscape below, where we fed back the stories that were voiced within the bubble. A mural painted on the exterior wall accentuated the 'exhaling' and 'feeding' nature of our intervention.

digital revolution

Currently exhibiting at the Barbican Centre, Digital Revolution is a visual and interactive display of the history of the developments of technology spanning the last forty-five years, as well as the now of how tech is being integrated into the fabric of our lives.

The exhibition follows the role of technology and its impact across creative disciplines, allowing users to play and interact with artwork, installations and old-fashioned computer games.

It most notably demonstrates that smart technology is no longer limited to machines; virtual experiences now take much more physical dimensions. Systems functioning in our architecture, music experiences, film and fashion, are just the beginning of advancements in these fields.

Whilst the rise of technology from its initial forms has been revolutionary, the rate at which it is developing has become rather steady and predictable. Perhaps it is the designer in me, but very little is surprising anymore. Or it might simply be that what was life-changing forty years ago is merely expected by our express-mode generation?

All in all, Digital Revolution is worth a visit to catch up with design trends and for a thorough and interesting history lesson. Just don't expect to feel like a part of a revolution that isn't.

A version of this article is included in the first issue of OSA, a student-run magazine for the Oxford Brookes School of Architecture.

marhaba marrakech

Marhaba!

This is the first in a series of travel posts documenting my thoughts and experiences traversing Morocco... Two cities, two friends and an eagerness to explore.

Touchdown

On touchdown, a warm welcome greeted us in Marrakech, as the sun kissed our noses and the palms waved us over. If only the entire world was one big Marrakech of a welcoming place. Stepping off the plane, you realise that you are no longer in the lush landscapes of Europe but have now met a climate of dusty sunbaked surroundings. Arid, some might describe it, but I say let's take a moment to check out the architecture...

Airport architecture is funny because it is the first impression foreigners get of the city they are about to meet. Being such, it is the perfect opportunity to understand how the city wants to be perceived...

The extension pictured here at Menara, which is designed by E2A Architecture, stands rooted to Moroccan traditions. Design choices, such as the photovoltaic lights on the roof, double as a means to create shadowy mosaic patterns across the interior surfaces. Screened glass panels create a variable transparency, offering a chance to steal glimpses through to the outside. Touching on Islamic traditions, the structure is geometrically articulated throughout.

Having filled our eyes, we stepped outside to hail a taxi. Or rather get hailed by one. The driver dropped us off in the medina, where our first challenge was to find our riad..!

"I'll show you"

Unless your sixth sense is GPS, or you are a man, strangers in a strange land sometimes resort to asking locals for directions. There are two things that could happen at this point. 

1. a local will point you in the right direction, then offer to show you their pottery or spice shop
2. they will "show you" the way

The first situation can be quite pleasant and interesting, before you have been in several spice shops and can recite all the spices by scent. There is no obligation to buy, but it can be difficult to avoid if, like me, you're susceptible to shopaholism and warm quickly to accommodating strangers.

The second situation requires a bit of caution as, what appears to be a kind gesture, often comes at a price. Depending on your budget, this may or may not matter very much. The best advice here is to be clear up front that you are not prepared to pay for directions; they will likely help you anyway. Of course, we weren't this savvy on arrival in the medina, but never mind, we arrived at our riad eventually...

Riad Itry

Riad Itry is located about a half hour's walk from Djemaa el Fna, the city's central square. A good distance away to allow trekkers to explore the narrow souks and areas a little less touristic and a little more local.

Riads are typical Moroccan houses designed around a central courtyard or garden. Their design in this way serves a purpose to maintain privacy in the household, whilst keeping it shady and cool. The design works well for use as a hostel, gathering like-minded travellers in a central chill-out space that each room has direct visual and vocal access to. Chatting to each other from different floors becomes second nature.

A fountain is the feature of the ground floor, and acts to provide a natural air-conditioning for the space. There are no windows except those facing off into the atrium which allow natural light to enter the rooms, reasserting the importance of privacy in design.

There is definitely a sense of community - I could even say family - here. The friendly and helpful hosts made each return at the end of the day feel like coming back to a home. There is even the added homely touch of having to wait around to use the shower at busy times!

The icing on the cake, the roof terrace is open all day and night, and is perfect for the stargazing or the sun-watching among us. Beaut, isn't it?

Image courtesy of Lindsay Oldham