Our Aproach
Practice NORTH continues to focus on the under-exploited potential of the North of England as a location, historical powerhouse and forward-looking cultural hub. Our projects have been based in contrasting locations this year. Semester 1 required studio members to design a Museum of Water Speed alongside Coniston Water, located in a protected landscape, in the Lake District. Semester 2 involved designing a Youth Zone in a key location in gritty, multi-cultural Toxteth, Liverpool 8.
The approach has been the same for both projects. An outline brief has been set however students have been encouraged to conduct self-directed research in order to develop a unique design response or theme. The brief and schedule of accommodation have been the starting point for individuals who are interested to explore the associated social and cultural context further. Supporting building visits were arranged to Windermere Jetty Museum and the Bluebird Wing of the Ruskin Museum (Arch302); and the Hive Youth Zone in Birkenhead (Arch352) at the start of each Semester.
Arch 352
‘I created my architecture with courage and idealism, but also with an awareness of the fact that what is important is life, friends, and attempting to make this unjust world a better place in which to live’
Oscar Niemeyer
Toxteth Youth Zone
Practice NORTH final semester project is a Youth Zone in the multi-cultural area of Toxteth. Our site faces an impressive Greek Orthodox Church which, due to post war urban neglect, is flanked on two sides by modern, smaller semi-detached houses. This shift in scale provides an engaging, variegated context which merits careful consideration in terms of where to accommodate some of the larger spaces in the brief such as the multi-use hall. There is alsothe option to pedestrianise the street between this church and our site as a means of creating a safe threshold outside the building. Other key spaces in the brief include a climbing or bouldering wall; music practice and sound recording suites; an art studio and gallery; and café. A key aim is to provide a stimulating and joyous facility which is inclusive and relates to the surrounding physical and social context.
There were a number of supporting trips and activities organised during Semester 2. These included a showing of the local film ‘Almost Liverpool 8’ (2021) which featured the views of individuals from Toxteth and Don McCullin, the photojournalist who is renowned for his coverage of deprived areas. There was a building visit to the Hive Youth Zone in Birkenhead and a fieldtrip to Copenhagen to visit a number of relevant premises.
Tutors
Richard Dod
Anthony Mackay
David Raynor
Juliet Sakyi-Ansah
Special Thanks
Sustainability: Dr Stuart Gee
Structures: Dr Hanmei Chen
Construction: David Raynor
Model photography: Martin Winchester
Matt Howarth, Steve Bretland, Jamie Hall & the Workshop team
Hive Youth Zone, Birkenhead
Guest critics
Rekha Barry-Houston
Lee Bennett
Stephen Blowers
Andrew Brown
Mike Cruise
Peter Farrall
Adonis Haidar
Roger Stephenson OBE
Student Galleries
- Zhang Jiqiu
- Lucy Woodward
- Xingjian Wan
- Abbie Turner
- Amber Topham
- Abigail Taylor
- Sun Qinhong
- Owen Rees
- Ouyang Xinyu
- Ruby Newton
- Lewis Leung
- Alistair Lee
- Lola Faiz
- Rosie Doyle
- Jessica Dolan
- Katie Davidson
- Ethan Coyles
- Diya Calleechurn
- Barney Bryan
- Aaliah Azad
- Will Armstrong
- Dana Al Balushi
Students
- Dana Al Balushi
- Will Armstrong
- Aaliah Azad
- Barney Bryan
- Diya Calleechurn
- Boyi Cheng
- Haiyi Cheng
- Ethan Coyles
- Katie Davidson
- Jessica Dolan
- Leo Dong
- Rosie Doyle
- Lola Faiz
- Peiling Gan
- Wenwei Gao
- Tom Greathead
- Haoran Guo
- Alistair Lee
- Lewis (Yiu Ting) Leung
- Ruby Newton
- Xinyu Ouyang
- Geetika Pardbuck
- Owen Rees
- Yiqing Shi
- Qinhong Sun
- Jennifer Szczerba
- Abigail Taylor
- Amber Topham
- Abbie Turner
- Xingjian Wan
- Xiaorui Wang
- Alexandra Wightman
- Lucy Woodward
- Jiakai Wu
- Xuan Wu
- Zhe Yin
- Jiqiu Zhang
- Keyan Zhang
- Yihan ZhuAdd Here