The New Generation - Assemble Studio

Yardhouse, I guess it just takes a little teamwork!
Photograph by Assemble 

I first came across Assemble Studio whilst studying for my Part II. It was during an evening lecture that I became familiar with the nature of their work and almost instantaneously I became a fan, (probably within the first minute of their presentation!). Their projects though varied in scale, within each concept and every slide I could see creativity in abundance. I was completely amazed by the courageous attitude of these young designers. They showed perseverance in an uncertain economy, determination to succeed, and most importantly they were not afraid to work their socks off!

The completed Yardhouse, afffordable workspaces for creatives in Stratford,
designed to encourage collaborative and sociable working environments.
The colourful concrete tiles were hand-crafted on site!
Photograph by Assemble

 

Folly for a Flyover, a disused motorway undercroft in Hackney Wick transformed
into an arts venue and a new public space for a period of 9 weeks,
photograph by Assemble

Folly for a Flyover, masters of pop-up and temporary wonders,
photograph by Assemble

Assemble is a collaborative group of almost architects and designers based in Stratford, London. They are the first collective to receive the honor of the Turner Prize (2015), the most important contemporary art award that you can possibly be given!

The Granby Workshop, this project was launched through the Turner Prize Exhibition 2015,
photograph by Assemble

The Granby Workshop, this showroom was created to display the products crafted by
the locals for the Turner Exhibition 2015, photograph by Assemble

The group work in the fields of architecture, art and design in creating projects for people to inhabit and use. The relationship between the collective and the communities they work with is particularly special, their projects are exemplary of the positive impact good design can have and the opportunistic environments it can create.

The Playing Field, created in the centre of Southampton as a cross between a performance
venue and a football stadium, the design incorporates the match day ritual
of football culture with theatre performance to create a vibrant atmosphere
for a 17 day arts festival, photograph by Assemble

The Granby Four Streets and Granby Workshop projects for example are a complimentary in that they support the regeneration and long term re-use of a once derelict neighborhood. Homes which housed artisan workers fell into disrepair and neglect but are now becoming a vision of hard work as they are set to flourish alongside the efforts of Assemble. The team have created opportunities for new work and enterprise in the area, local people can be trained and employed to craft products and to then go on and sell them.

The Granby Four Streets, a long-term regeneration of a neighborhood in Liverpool,
drawing by Assemble

The Granby Four Streets, Assemble are planning on creating a winter garden and common
room as part of the long-term plan to preserve and regenerate the neighborhood,
drawing by Assemble 

What's next for Assemble? They won the commission for the Goldsmiths Art Gallery in 2014, which was judged by a panel including David Chipperfield and Antony Gormley. The project is an extension of a Grade II listed Victorian bathhouse building. It will create a series of gallery spaces overhead the water tanks which will be used to showcase the work of artists and students. It is set to open in Autumn 2016.

Goldsmiths Art Gallery competition design, drawing by Assemble

I wanted to share not only the beautiful images but the exciting set of events that seem to be unfolding for this creative collective, it's an inspirational story to witness and to also aspire towards. And not to mention it's great for an almost architect to see the 'nice guys' doing so well!

Rhyming Structures

In my own work I have enjoyed using a number of loose techniques to help me design, particularly during my 5th yr thesis project. Below are a series of playful and abstract monoprints interpreting solid and void across the project site, a dense, sunken and overgrown forest.   

Roof, Building and Forest 

Architecture becomes the Void

In creating this series I was able to establish a project upon the basis of natural and man-made structures. The building is delicate, the columns rhyme with surrounding trees and the plan is regular in contrast to the conditions of the site and the layout of the forest.

The Delicate Frame

Rhyming Structures

The project makes sense of an otherwise useless and impractical plot of forgotten land. I will share more images from my thesis project in my journal, at a later date but for the time being please do enjoy these drawings. I used ink upon cartridge and somerset satin paper, various different textures and textiles to achieve a number of effects, but it was simple layering of newsprint that delivered the best effect (it's always the simplest of things that seem to work the best!).  

Craft, Silhouettes and Design

Architects enjoy craft and it is not unknown for them to dabble with other fields, a bit of cross-contamination is a good thing sometimes. Whether it be Alvar Aalto's chairs, Zaha Hadid's shoes or FAT's sculpture/installations, we can see how design is delivered in all shapes and sizes. Scale isn't a problem, we can design anything we want right? In this journal entry I want to share my love for Indian couture fashion. 

Last week the fashion Gods across the world were strutting their stuff down the runway with their latest collections (sketch by Tarun Tahiliani).  My instagram feed was full to the brim with beautiful silhouttes, romantic drapes and vivid colours. Tarun Tahiliani's show is one of many that left an impression on me so I absolutely had to share some images with you. Note the shapes, the expressive tones, craftsmanship and detail, the collection is said to be one of Tahiliani's best.   

And ofcourse I can't forget to mention the many faces of this renowned designer. He has dipped into Interior design for a number of projects including hotels and restaurants in India and also event design for weddings.The Tarun Tahiliani headquarters in Gurgaon, Delhi by SPA Design (as shown below) represent a metaphor of the designer's fashion ideologies. He creates traditionally-themed pieces with a contemporary twist.

The architectural features are a contemporary interpretation of those employed at the Jamali Kamali Mosque, Delhi. The Architect has incorporated "the grandeur of the arches, the formality of entry, the sculpting of large volumes and the use of natural light". (Image and quote from the architectural-review website). The red-bricked factory speaks volumes of the fashion empire it houses and it demonstrates style in an elaborate yet practical manner. 

The Lisson Gallery

We can all identify with those pivotal moments that change the way we think about a subject. Whether it's something you see, hear or feel, we immediately experience a deeper understanding. This is exactly how I felt when I discovered the Lisson Gallery by Tony Fretton Architects. It's minimalist architecture that creates the ultimate effect, it makes sense of a socially and visually challenging location, it serves a higher purpose. I have illustrated this post with some of my own drawings.

52-54 Bell Street, Edgware Road, 1991-1992 date of project,
£500,000 cost, Tony Fretton Architects, Price & Myers 
Structural Engineers, E.C.Sames Main Contractor
Source: Tonyfretton.com

The Lisson Gallery was founded in 1967 by Nicholas Logsdail. It is an influential contemporary gallery to this day, praised for encouraging the careers of many great artists. A legacy of British sculptors and International artists such as Anish Kapoor, Ai Weiwei and Sol LeWitt have adorned the exhibiting spaces with their work. To see more information on past and current exhibitors visit: http://www.lissongallery.com/artists.

The artist, Dan Graham explores the spatial relationships between interior and exterior, the correlation between architecture and sculpture, and connections between the work of the art and its beholder. He has shown his work in the gallery numerous times since 1972, always exploring similar themes of engagement between architectural environments and their inhabitants. Through the media of photography, drawing, sculpture and videography he has explored these ideals. "The pavilions draw attention to buildings as instruments of expression, psychological strongholds, markers of social change and prisms through which we view others and ourselves, (lissongallery.com/artists/dan-graham).

Dan Graham: Pavilion Sculptures and Photographs, 1991-1992,
source: Lissongallery.com/exhibitions/dan-graham

The famous gallery was initially the result of two phases of construction. The first face of the gallery was the Lisson Street facade. The elevation of the once derelict building, rhymes with neighbouring shop fronts in a traditional way. The gallery became a significant mechanism in displaying the work of emerging talents, it was only natural for the building needs to grow with its success.

The Lisson Street facade

The plans of the original gallery

The second phase of the Lisson gallery arrived in the form of the iconic Bell Street facade. This elevation opened up the gallery to social engagement, very much like Graham's sculptural pavilions, there are spaces which are exposed to the adjoining street. The atmosphere of the exhibition space is different to that of the Lisson Street building in that it is socially more inviting and exploratory.

Passers by experience the art from the street,
Source: Tonyfretton.com

The facade is simple, it compliments its surroundings and it is a contemporary interpretation of it's surrounding shop fronts. It bears the same practicalities as it's neighbours' in terms of privacy, the lower floors are visually exposed whereas the 2nd and 3rd floors offer a haven of private space. The materials and spaces alike are minimalist, the technical details are elegant and appear to be simple upon a first glance.

The Bell Street facade as designed
by Tony Fretton Architects

The 1st floor plan and the long-section of the Bell Street building

The existing building links to the newer Bell Street facade across a complex site.  The project is unique in that it combines two facades, on two different streets. The result is an irregular, L-shaped plan.The two buildings, though linked via the first floor were intended to carry their own identity, the joining of the two was to be a discovery.

A collage showing the irregularities of the site,
source: tonyfretton.com 

Over time the needs of the gallery have changed, there is another building offering smaller spaces across the road also on Bell Street and more recently new buildings in Milan and New York. It is one of the longest-running contemporary art galleries in the world. If you are yet to visit then I would highly recommend it, be it for the art or the architecture, there is something for all you creatives to take away from it!