We are delighted to welcome our first guest blog, someone who has become an enormous, supporter, critical friend and I might even suggest a patron of Studio B.a.d. Andrew is a hugely talented architect and photographer documenting Southsea in all its glory!

 

 

 

 

 

Challenging times for us all & opportunities for extended photography trips have been very limited, so naturally this has led me to look a little closer to home. I’m lucky enough to work in a studio within a few hundred metres of a wonderful Victorian Park as well as some of the city’s finest modern architecture.

 

I’ve been trying to reflect photographically on how different things have felt, how we’ve had to adapt to a ‘new normal’ over the past few months; so most of my photography has been quick phone photos on the way in or home from work reflecting on distance & isolation, but also the peace of a city with (virtually) no traffic & how quickly the Solent has become very clear, how vibrant all the leaves look without the coating of pollution that usually dulls the edge of an urban spring.

 

For this first image I’ve chosen one taken with my phone, rather than any more sophisticated photographic equipment; low point of view, converted to monochrome in the phone & cropped slightly, no filter.

 

The (enormous) puddle in this empty carpark gave not only a great reflection but also the hint of transparency, ambiguity & layering that is so attractive to architects; the lack of cars reminded me of what this complex must have felt like after it was completed in the 1970s & it’s the only time I’ve seen the puddle so clear.

 

Andrew Malbon

@fivearchitects

https://www.instagram.com/fivearchitects/?hl=en

M I X E D   U S E    D E V E L O P M E N T

 

Studio – B.a.d where appointed by GO SOUTHAMPTON in Dec 2019 to undertake a strategic  over view of No 2 Ogle road, the brief being to look at a whole host of mixed uses, from co working, café, tourist Information , cultural and arts venue, retail and a space for the GO Southampton team.

 

The design strategy has been to review and respond to  the existing conditions, which currently exist within the existing building and the wider context of the Marlands shopping center and the frontage to Ogle Road.

 

The challenge has been to look at a number of design ideas that can maximize these existing conditions and exploit the potential for future uses and current use strategy.

 

A series of potential development options have been carefully created, considered and presented in this document,  looking at the various uses identified in the client brief, that sit comfortably in this context. But also to create a strategic method that can allow for the various spaces to adapt depending on the potential uses

These options seek to address the building that’s sandwiched between existing uses within the Marlands shopping center. The response has been to the existing building but also the current urban situation, we have taken our ques from some of the current thinking around developing flexible, meanwhile interiors that allow for a whole host of uses within open plan spaces. But also the introduction of the horizontal linear pod structures, give a sense of rationality and organization and separation between daily key uses and circulation,  that attempt  to add a new contemporary insertion into these spaces. The proposal to add mezzanine’s and cut through the existing floors, enables us to exploit the possibility of drawing daylight and visual connection between, basement, ground and first floor. This is important to create some connection between floors, so that the building does to appear cellular in its verticality

 

The various opportunities illustrated also seek to place great importance on the quality of space and light with the various options. The varying sectional images seek to  illustrate that these options have been carefully considered with the use of natural light that responds to each floors original  aspect.

Key to the success of this building will be to achieve a flexible plan arrangement and this is something we have strived to achieve, in the various options.

 

The various proposals at all levels, seek to engage with a series of new proposed uses, that might begin speculate on the potential uses of the coming year’s.. So key to this is thinking carefully where stair cores are located as this is critical to making each floor operate on its own merits, but also across the whole building vertically, so this frees up the larger floor plan arrangement.

The options presented are seen as a starting point to create something simple and sympathetic to the existing context of this building. The proposals, seek to speculate on what might happen, with a view to drawing in key stakeholders and end uses as per the ideas explored as part of the client engagement and briefing.

So on Tuesday 07 April we along with GO Southampton delivered our third in the series of Urban Lecture. Now that life has changed somewhat we did not want the barrier of been confined to our homes to limit our ability to continue  the debate around Urban City living and the future of public realm in Southampton.

On Tuesday evening with the expert help of Gemma at GO Southampton we switched to Zoom and and 35 people join us. We had three key lecturers this month, Clare Diaper of October Books, Prof Lorraine Farrelly Head of School at the new Reading school of Architecture and Founder of Allies + Morrison Bob Allies, delivered a deeply inspiring set of talks. Clare discussed the impact of Social influence and community driven projects in Southampton, focusing on October books. Lorraine discussed how in creating change in City conditions a distinct narrative was imperative and how Urban rooms can be a huge catalyst for change. Bob Allies discussed three core Allies + Morrison projects and how these where seen as Catalytic – Organic and Curated within Urban conditions in London. If you missed the lecture it was recorded and will be online shortly at Go Southampton. Next month we discuss the curated City on Tuesday MAY 5.

On Tuesday 03 March we delivered our 2nd Urban Lecture in collaboration with GO Southampton – ‘City as Urban Room’ at the Barclays Eagle LAB with the expert input of Rupert Cook Director of Architecture PLB and Piers Taylor of Invisible Studio. Rupert delivered a deeply rich insight into his family ties to Southampton and an insight into the design process for the recent Sports building for Solent University, which draws on the rich Urban grain of previous City layouts. Piers gave a wonderfully inspiring talk reviewing city life and what constitutes a truly sustainable city, way of life and home, whilst drawing on and using examples of his own social architecture and Urban rooms.

I would like to thank Barclays Eagle Lab, for throwing open their doors and organising the evening and to Rupert + Piers for their hugely inspiring talks.

On Thursday 12 March we where invited to the screening of Invisible studios new film ‘ Practice’ created and delivered by Laura Mark and Jim Stephenson which is a wonderful insight into Piers Taylor’s thinking, practice and methodology as new way to practice. The link is below, so when you have a moment take a look.

https://vimeo.com/394381124

Architects have welcomed calls by Historic England to slash VAT on retrofit, but warn that barriers to reusing buildings still remain. Richard Waite reports in the Architects Journal.

We gave our thoughts on how reuse, and re imagining existing buildings needs to be assisted with joined up thinking by government agencies.

COMMENTS

Darren Bray, director, Studio B.A.D Architects

Those of us who feel passionate about reuse and reimagining existing buildings for our clients in light of the climate change emergency face challenges each week on a whole range of projects, from existing churches and banks to former civic buildings. The current challenges around VAT and listed status make projects difficult to manage and deliver.

On many of these projects, budgets and timescales are the greatest barrier to unlocking potential and adding value for clients. Faced with 20 per cent VAT and, in some cases, difficult listed statuses to navigate on existing buildings we are trying to reuse and upgrade, it gives little scope to deliver both a retrofit solution with an inspiring reimagined piece of interior or architecture.

There needs to be some serious collective joined-up thinking and approach by both the government and Historic England. This would enable clients and architects to take the retrofit route as a first option. Otherwise the industry will continue to ignore and demolish much of the existing building stock.

 

https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/retrofirst-is-the-heritage-sector-adapting-to-reuse/10046473.article?blocktitle=more-on-retrofirst&contentID=24767