Urbanism
Environment
Design

info@urbed.coop

We continued our relationship with Sheffield university over the past year running two projects with 3rd Year architecture students. The first project explored the the notion of refuge within Newcaste. The second project looked at stratagies of re-use for Spode works in Stoke Town.

The briefs are included below.

Semester 1:

Refuge n. 1 Shelter from the pursuit, danger, or trouble. 2 Pursuit or place etc. offering this

(Oxford English Dictionary) 

"The precarious nature of society is no-longer that of the unemployed or the abandoned, but of that of individuals socially alone.”

Paul Virili

We will explore the idea of what it is to feel ‘safe’ and how the notion of ‘refuge’ manifests itself within people and places.

Refuge has been traditionally been linked to people living on fringes of society (e.g. save houses for women suffering domestic abuse, homeless shelters etc). However we all feel threats (e.g. risk of failure, loneliness, lack of fulfilment, crime) in our lives that lead us to seek refuge in different ways (e.g. in the pub, with a loved one, a bar of chocolate etc).

What makes us feel safe? How much of this is to do with perceptions and how much does it relate to our physical surroundings?

This project will look at the relationship between these two themes, focussing on the production of a ‘haven’, which provides a feeling and place of safety.

This project will be based in Grainger Town, the historic heart of Newcastle upon Tyne. The area is based around classical streets built by Richard Grainger in the 1830's and 1840's. 40% of buildings in the area are listed as being of historical and architectural importance. We will look beyond these classical facades and take shelter with the urban blocks situated behind. 

Participating Students:

Corina Angheloiu Holly Baldwin Sam Bennett Joseph Crawford James Dacre Alice Gibson Calum Green Sarah Hull Sarah Hussain Hana Khan     Niamh Lincoln Robert Johnson     Anna Nicholls Scalette Guglielmetti Andrew Simpson Richard Taylor William York

Semester 2: Bricolage

Through this project we will explore potential strategies for the re-use/reactivation of Spode Works, an abandoned pottery factory in Stoke-on-Trent. To do this we will take the approach of a bricoleur, a person who engages in bricolage - "to make creative and resourceful use of whatever materials are at hand (regardless of their original purpose)".  

Spode Works

During the Industrial revolution Spode was one of the most important pottery factories in the world, laying claim to the invention of bone china, the standard in British porcelain for two hundred years.  Spode has also made blue-printed pottery and the Willow Pattern famous across the world. Originally purchased in 1776 Spode Works has developed organically over the past 200 years in response to changes in the ceramics industry. The result is a labyrinth of alleyways, hidden spaces and forgotten dreams. The site closed in 2008 and was subsequently purchased by Stoke-on-Trent City Council who see Spode Works as a key component in the regeneration of Stoke Town Centre.

We will analyse and explore the growth of the Works and re-imagine a new future for Spode.

Participating Students:

Stuart Bell Cecily Chua Robert Cullen Matthew Harwood Ashleigh King Adrien Mans Christina Patiniou Olivia Radford Ghina Sabra Oliver Sadler Glenn Spiby Joshua Taylor Rafaela Taylor Lecky Tong Robert Wilson James Woodcock