VICTORIA RETAIL PARK, NOTTINGHAM

This is another design for a retail extention. Usually in this kind of development we would always keep the same design treatment with rest of the development. However for this particular retail unit the tenant has already requested for the design of the extension to be adapted from their standard design template.

Instead of simply copying directly from their template, we enhance it by introducing design signature from the existing development. This solution will keep the uniqueness of the retail and at the same time keep the whole development as one design.


http://www.rgp.uk.com/ RGP have an innovative approach to architectural design. We have no dogma, no standard answers and we are spirited and fun to work with.

BULLETPROOF MONK

Kar: "So, I figured it out, why hot dogs come in packages of ten and hot dog buns come in packages of eight. See, the thing is, life doesn't always work out according to plan so be happy with what you've got, because you can always get a hot dog." Bulletproof Monk (2003)

BHS STORE, THE MOOR, SHEFFIELD

Constructing buildings is a process of evolution. Completion of building construction doesn't mark the end of its process instead the completion triggers its evolution. Through out its life span it will evolve thus change its character. The changes may include its function (ie. from house to office), size (ie having an extension), its material (ie from traditional bricks to new cladding) and maybe evolve into a new building itself.

The current retail outlet for this project has started to evolve in its uses. In order to justify these changes to its current use, it will need a transformation to its facade. The existing facade could fit well if it were to be used as an antique outlet or a bank, but as the building will serve the purpose as a fashion retailer, keeping the facade in trend would be a major factor.

The first option is to add glazed panels over retained window openings that would follow the same horizontal and vertical proportion. A row of glass canopy is also applied to enhance the entrance. A ceramic rain screen cladding is introduced as well in order to match it with the existing stone colour. This approach of simplicity however doesn't seem to create much difference from the existing facade which makes it blend together with the rest of the surrounding buildings.

On the second option the glazed panels height is reduced in proportions and replaced by a band of glazed panels along the top wall of the building. This changes could give more contemporary look. It also creates an illusion to the height of the building to look as if it has the same height as the rest of its neighbouring buildings. However the rigidness of the proportion give an impression of an office block.
On this third option we introduce a more trendy solution for the retailer. The dynamic position and size of glazed panels give a more exciting feature to the building. The "interestingness" of the features also make it standout than any other building around it thus attracting and drawing for more potential customers.

If the planner required the development to be strictly blended with the surrounding they would agree with the first option. And if they are trying to bring the area to a more business-like district they would probably go with option 2. Hopefully they will agree with option 3, which would bring forth a surrounding environment filled with excitement.

Though option 3 may likely look trendy and up-to-date, it will never stop from evolving in the future. The problem with trend is very similar to keeping up with the latest fashion; it easily wears out over the season. A good design would have a vision ahead of its time with pure genuinity which does not only influence future trend but also be seen as a divine piece of art.

http://www.rgp.uk.com/ RGP have an innovative approach to architectural design. We have no dogma, no standard answers and we are spirited and fun to work with.

BURY UNITARIAN CHURCH

Day View

I have been asked to add a simple signage to an existing church in our local town in Bury. Previously we had done some renovation works to its toilets and kitchen.LINK

Knowing the fact that this church was initially built and design by my chairman himself back in 1970's, it's a great honour and rare opportunity to look at the original hand-drawn drawings given to me as the main reference for this work. The drawing is still well-preserved on its tracing paper. I felt a refreshing joy looking at this piece of art. To be honest, it feels like looking at an authentic drawing by Frank Llyod Wright. I keep wondering if in the future we'd have the same emotion looking at archived CAD drawing. Can our vast customised digitalised printed works survive as a piece of art or would they be treated as another ordinary paper without any special meaning to it?

The original hand-drawn drawing

Although is just a small work, the impact is quite huge to the community. This is a voluntary and charitable contribution from the Chairman to its local church. Despite knowing that this work would not contribute monetary profit to the company, my director in-charge still insisted me to go to the site and take photographs of the site. Since I've been given two conditions; (1) it is charity work and (2) it is definitely an important contribution, I take serious care on the quality of output and at the same time optimising the man-hour on the job.

The effort that my chairman tries to contribute to his local community has brought me thinking of how little we as the architectural practitioners have done to our local area. Maybe because most of architect firms would rather reside in the city centre or elite places where the rich and famous live that made us abandon our own neighbours and villages that are sometimes more in need. To survive in the competitive business do we really have to sacrifice our social liability as architects?

Night View

http://www.rgp.uk.com/ RGP have an innovative approach to architectural design. We have no dogma, no standard answers and we are spirited and fun to work with.

SPECIAL GIFT

14 June 2008
Too much to learn so much to discover about who we are. If I'm gifted with creative artistic hand which could turn things into beautiful items, how much do I really know about my gift ? If there were few people with similar gift, would I get the opportunity of getting to know them? How much have I celebrated the gift?

Sometimes we forget that each of us have been created with special gifts. Maybe there is always a gift that has yet to be discovered. So, go ahead and seek for it!

SECURED BY DESIGN

"Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes." Confucius Chinese philosopher & reformer (551 BC - 479 BC)

I’ve attended the monthly CPD again. This time seminar is entitled “Secured by Design”. The seminar explained how certain aspects of design work against crime. Even though the crime consideration sounds familiar for most planners but it is rarely being put into consideration by most architects in their designs. It would usually come as the last thing to be considered. I once learned about this aspect during my urban semester.

This seminar further explains certain building design that would make a lot of difference in avoiding crime from happening. I learnt about the triangle of crime which consists of Motivated Offender, Opportunity and Suitable Target. The aspect that we as designers should strive on to reduce crime is by removing the Opportunity component from the crime triangle.

There are aspects of design that would create a sense of ownership, defining the public and private space with a good transitional space, getting the right landscape and even in the material selection that could eventually reduce crime.

There are several legislation and acts that architects need to consider as part of their design. Currently, architects would consult their local police about the development of the project they are working at the final stage of planning application. However, it is now more advisable for us to seek for the police consultation at the early stage of design process.

Fighting crime is apparently the responsibility of everyone in the community. For designers and architects, this design against crime would be our best contribution to the safety of society. Sadly though, the society sometimes doesn’t seem to appreciate the role of architects and planners in fighting crime at least not until serious crime ends fatally.