Studio space – as a levelling place of exchange where access to knowledge, support and resources are evenly shared – is only offered twice a week at many universities. Most schools are prioritising design studio in the time their students can be in the buildings. UWE is extending the teaching day to 9pm to give students more chance to be there. Tutors and students of UWE Architecture and the Built environment department envisioned a more immediate, temporary building outside R block for an airy spill out space. Designed by one of the tutors, Áine Moriarty and built by Architecture students of all years.
‘The aerated external learning environment took about 8 weeks, that included 20 days of construction work, 40 + students, 6 members of staff and a painful transition from early Autumn sun to Winter freeze, the Friday Team (27th November) finished the project at 2 minutes past 5 this evening.’
– Elena Marco, UWE Head of Architecture and the Built environment
From first year architecture students who had worked on construction sites, to third years who had never put on hard hats (and even a law professor at one point), the only qualification needed to get on the team seemed to be a ‘give-it-a-go’ attitude and a willingness to figure it out. A special thank you goes out to James Burch and Andy Bourne for overlooking the whole process and passing their knowledge on, enriching this hands-on experience.
It is the intension of the building, to strengthen the community we have in R-block, that has been threatened by this pandemic. With social distancing in the Costa queue and no more all-nighters in Super Studio, R3 is a place to sit and have a coffee, catch up with classmates or maybe do that studio work you’ve been avoiding…
Written and edited by: Klaudia Kerry & Milly Harvey