Student project - Finalist in the Northern Design Competition 2009
Architecture Centre in Holbeck
This project responds to the need for new dedicated premises for RIBA, RIBA Competitions office and a host of exhibition and archive facilities.
It was influenced by a number of factors, chief amongst these was a sense of lost industrial heritage which was so important to the development of Leeds as a major British city and the subsequent sanitisation of the area to make way for various creative businesses and non-contextual residential development. Another important factor was the lack of development of this site over the past 150 years, in part due to proximity to the Hol-beck and its high flood risk.
The project supposes that the site was once used as a dumping ground for waste machinary and material, devolving in time to a few remaining uprights, the forgotten remnants of the mulitude of factories and other industry surrounding the site. The new interventions take the form of container-like structures, constructed from recycled materials, RSJ's, sheet metal etc and finished internally in a simple manner with found materials, plywood in most cases.
The modules sit within the 'nest' of the old scrap material in an almost temporary manner, as if the modules could be removed and the site would soon revert to its previous purpose. Circulation and services such as electricity, water and ventilation are all external, which when combined with the raised modules helps to reinforce a feeling of 'lightness of touch'The modules, circulation and routes through the site are arranged in a similar manner to the courtyard and arch precedent found in the immediate area, reinforcing the contextual nature of the scheme. A landscaped area provides places for people to sit, play, converse and walk and also increases the amount of safe, clean and overlooked green space in the area, with canvas sun shades and soft planting (ferns, grasses and trees). It also provides space for visiting architectural shows and exhibitions.
Facilities:Micro exibition spaceRIBA BookshopReception areaRIBA Library and ?Cuthbert Broderick? ArchiveCafe/Restaurant/BarElevating viewing lanternMajor exhibition spaceRIBA Competitions exhibition space / delivery areaLecture and confernece roomRIBA Competitions officeRIBA regional officeHot desking suite Communal meeting roomLandscaped courtyard area