04/06/2008

Competition Results


Me, Tom Kean and Michael Antrobus (winners), Antony Jayakody (2nd)
Runner up (3rd). The prize was awarded by Councillor Frances Moseley who described the project as having...

"...plenty of artistic flare and a complete disregard for feasibility!"
Fine by me!

07/05/2008

FOCUS VIII

KINGSTON GATEWAY PROJECT

Participants -
+ Kingston University
+ Kingston College

A charette run in conjunction with Kingston Councils K+20 Action Plan. Ran over three phases, proposals were selected at each phase to continue. Each phase was a week long.
K+20 here

PHASE ONE




Click images to view my submission.
Phase one was exhibited at the Landscape.is Studio. Everyone across the undergraduate landscape course exhibited. Proposals were selected by tutors to move onto the next phase.

PHASE TWO


Click images to view my submission.
The brief at this phase defined the site as Kingston College roundabout. A site that the K+20 plan designated a key gateway for Kingston.

Phase two was exhibited at Market House, central Kingston. This was an opportunity for the public to vote for proposals from Kingston University and Kingston College.

The exhibition.
Local press release here

PHASE THREE
Click image to view my submission.
Phase three was initially critiqued at Kingston University to allow us to verbally communicate our work to students and tutors but also to members of the council. Frances Moseley Design champion for Kingston, Colin Bloxham from Kingston Arts panel and Richard McFarland civil engineer. The work was moved to Kingston College for private exhibition. The results are as yet unknown...


The exhibition. Sods law that camera ran out of batteries, so grainy phone pictures.

31/03/2008

FOCUS VII

London Open City @ Sommerset House

If I could design London I would...

+ Bike - extend cycle lanes, improve awareness and allow bikes on the train network at all times.

+ Demotorise - pedestrianise, share space

+ Plant - trees trees trees

+ Modernise - water, electrical, lighting infrastructure to reduce waste

+ Experiment & Innovate, with new schemes, cultures and design
+ Dare to do it!
A well put together exhibition, with loads of freebies, focusing on the future of London's built/unbuilt environment.
Sommerset House here
Design for London here

Brit Insurance Designs Of The Year @ Design Museum

Muon Four-Way Limited Edition Loudspeakers - A KEF concept designed by Ross Lovegrove
"The first in an annual exploration of the most innovative, interesting and forward looking new work in design of all kinds. Selected from around the world, Brit Insurance Designs of the Year presents 100 projects nominated by a group of internationally respected design experts, curators, critics, practitioners and enthusiasts. These projects fall within seven categories: architecture, fashion, furniture, graphics, interactive, product and transport. The exhibition gives an overview of the most significant achievements in design and architecture in the last year, whether they are projects by a practice, a team or an individual."
An interesting collection well worth a look in especially for those who enjoy interactive exhibitions.
Design Museum here

Jean Prouve @ Design Museum/Tate Modern

Design Museum here
Tate Modern here

Haque Design + Research @ London Met

Burble London from haque d+r on Vimeo.

"Usman Haque has created responsive environments, interactive installations, digital interface devices and mass-participation performances. His skills include the design of both physical spaces and the software and systems that bring them to life. He has been an invited researcher at the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea, Italy, artist-in-residence at the International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences, Japan and has also worked in USA, UK and Malaysia. As well as directing the work of Haque Design + Research he was until 2005 a teacher in the Interactive Architecture Workshop at the Bartlett School of Architecture, London."
Usmans' presentation covered a snapshot of his work to date. He started by explaining what drives his work,
1 - Architecture - how we are programmed to explore and experience space.
2 - Interaction not reaction - how can participation affect a response.
3 - Design + Research - how these are so closely intertwined to be almost indistinguishable.
I thought his mapping of modern phenomena, mobile telephone reception for example, and how he applied the results to his proposals fascinating.
Haque Design here
London Metropolitan University here

Potters Field Park Kiosks

DSDHA Architects here

China Design Now

Ji Ji, Hi Panda, toy figure, 2006
"China Design Now explores China’s dreams and hopes over the last two decades, from individual designers to the nation as a whole."
China Design Now here


Snowboarding @ La Plagne



La Plagne here