Tag: University of Westminster

LFA & SA+C: Re-Imagining Coral Reefs | Wednesday – Friday, June 28-30, 2023 from 10:00 to 19:00 (BST) daily | MG28, Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Wednesday – Friday, 28th – 30th of June 2023, 10am-7pm daily

Where: Ground Floor Learning Platform Room MG28, University of Westminster Marylebone Campus, 35 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5LS

We are delighted to invite you to Re-Imagining Coral Reefs – a virtual reality (VR) experience aimed at communicating the climate science of coral reef research to a wider audience.

Part of the London Festival of Architecture (LFA)’s programme of events, Re-Imagining Coral Reefs is funded by the QHT Small Grant, and co-created with students from across the School of Architecture and Cities.

Read more about the event here.

Register:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/re-imagining-coral-reefs-tickets-633628308327

Background:

Hosted at the University of Westminster and as part of the London Festival of Architecture, visitors to the event venue are invited to try on VR headsets and experience healthy, degraded and re-imagined coral reefs from both human and non-human perspectives. Their virtual experiences are projected in real-time in the event space, which also contains 3D printed models of the virtual corals they’re experiencing. Coral reefs are vital ecosystems that sustain 30% of all ocean species. Their degradation is a visceral example of the Climate Crisis. Research into and restoration of these rich habitats constitute a critical enterprise that bring together the scientific community, local citizens, designers, governments, and NGOs, towards the common goal of preserving our biodiversity. Created via a range of digital tools typically deployed in spatial and game design, and utilising the audio and 3D photogrammetry data collected from the field in Indonesia, the installation is a collaborative creation between design students, marine biologists, and architects.

OPEN2023 continues until Sunday, July 2 in our Marylebone studios

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Friday, June 16 – Sunday, July 2 (Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm; Saturday-Sunday: 10am-4pm)

Where: School of Architecture + Cities, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS London

On Thursday, June 16 we launched OPEN2023, our graduating students’ degree show, featuring work from: 

  • Architecture BA
  • Architecture and Environmental Design BSc
  • Architectural Technology BSc
  • Designing Cities BA
  • Interior Architecture BA
  • MArch

The School is committed to its Polytechnic inheritance, and its aim remains to offer ‘a transformative higher education for all’. We view the diversity of our students drawn from across London and the world as key to our success, and we see difference, and a mix of experiences and views, as critical to our exploration of architecture and place. The impact of our student-staff initiatives, such as our Equity Forum and climate action taskforce, ArCCAT, can be seen increasingly in how the School’s projects contribute to meeting our societal and planetary challenges. We embed London practitioners in our core teaching teams to keep us alive to the dynamism of contemporary practice, and continue  to develop cross-disciplinary collaborations, such as with Imperial College Medical School and Westminster Council, and our Live Design Practice – currently on show at Cody Dock. That, in turn, our students are so valued by practices is hugely gratifying.

Harry Charrington, Head of School of Architecture + Cities, OPEN2023

The show was opened by Philomena Wales and it’s a part of the London Festival of Architecture. It continues daily in our Marylebone studios until July 2.

For those unable to visit us in person, the online version of the exhibition can be accessed here.

Photography by Rory Lindsay

Architecture + Cities Research Seminar: Corinna Dean “Let’s Talk About Contamination: Green, Blue and Grey Corridors ” | Monday, June 12, 2023 at 1pm (BST) | Online

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Monday, 12th of June 2023 at 13:00 (BST)

Where: Online (link below)

The final Architecture + Cities Reserch Seminar for this academic year will take place on Monday, 12th of June, 13.00 – 14.000, online. 

Corinna Dean will present her work on the River Lee in a presentation titled: Let’s Talk about Contamination: Green, Blue and Grey Corridors.

The link to the seminar is here.

All are welcome!

LFA & SA+C: The Cody Dock Growing Space | Saturday, June 3, 2023 from 11:00 to 13:00 (BST) at Cody Dock

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Saturday, 3rd of June 2023 from 11am to 1pm

Where: Cody Dock, 11c South Cres, London E16 4TL

Staff and students from the University of Westminster have designed and built a QHT funded Therapeutic Horticulture Centre in collaboration with Cody Dock, OfCA and WebbYates Engineers. The pavilion is designed as a lightweight timber structure with a butterfly roof and demonstrates that plants growing and humans can happily co-exist in one space. There will also be an exhibition about the making process.

Cody Dock is a fantastic charity and social enterprise transforming the dock into a creative industries quarter with community gardens and footpaths – opening up the Lower Lea River whilst promoting regeneration for conservation, environmental and cultural benefit.

Students took part in stakeholder engagement to better understand needs and aspirations. We then developed designs for a visionary community space based on the initial research, suitable for the local context and site. We introduce new ways of working collaboratively across sectors and take our multidisciplinary skills within academia and use these in live projects to serve communities and have a positive impact on society whilst introducing students and staff to alternative practice, providing a deeper understanding of the multiplex relationships.

This Live Project was initiated by Maria Kramer and supported by Corinna Dean.

The event is FREE.

For more information about the project please go here.

Fire Experience Day – Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

On May 22, 2023 a group of staff and students from four courses within the School of Architecture + Cities, University of Westminster attended a Fire Experience Training Day hosted by the Fire Service Training College. The day was sponsored by Axa Insurance, Fire Protection Association (FPA) and School of Architecture + Cities, UoW. The experience and information gathered was particularly useful with regard to the new Building Safety Bill and the developing RIBA/ARB criteria on Design for Fire and Life Safety.

Staff attending:

  • Scott Batty
  • Paolo Zaide
  • Wilfred Achille
  • Adam Thwaites
  • Stefania Boccaletti

Students from, BA Architecture: Umi Sakai-Stoute, Rowan Isles, Oscar Chainey, Eric Turner

Students from, MA Architecture: Galina Dimova, Ramzi Ramzi, Simon McLanaghan

Students from BSc Architecture + Environmental Design: Anastasia Suzdaltseva Kazakova, Elspeth Prowse, Michelle Lai, Sara Stabiglieri

Students from Architectural Technology: Pascal Golda, Amjad Butt, Velina Drakalieva, T’Sean Blake

Congratulations to Rūta Perminaitė from MArch DS22 on being selected as one of 12 finalists for the EU Mies Van der Rohe Young Architecture Talent Award 2023

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

The School of Architecture + Cities is dighted to announce that the shortlisted project of Rūta Perminaitė, MArch student from last year’s DS22 cohort, has gone to the next stage and has been selected as one of the 12 finalist projects for the prestigious EU Mies Van der Rohe Young Architecture Talent Award, an EU prize for Contemporary Architecture. 

You can view Rūta’s project here.

The announcement has taken place in Venice and the project is currently being exhibited as part of the Laboratory of Education in Venice Biennial.

The finalists will go to the third stage where 4 finalists and a winner are to be announced. 

The Awards Ceremony will take place on 29th of June in Venice, in Palazzo Michiel. 

About the Young Talent Architecture Award (YTAA) 

The Young Talent Architecture Award (YTAA) aims to support the talent of recently graduated Architects, Urban Planners and Landscape Architects who will be responsible for transforming our environment in the future. YTAA has emerged from curiosity about and interest in the initial stages in these students’ development and a desire to support their talent as they enter into the professional world.

The winning projects will be distinguished for their excellence, authenticity and innovative nature, as well as their sustainable approach.

The winners will receive a financial reward and will become part of the network of awarded architects of the Prize. Moreover, they will have the opportunity to travel, visit and experience the best examples of architecture.

Featured image: “Paradise on the Edge” by Ruta Perminaite

OPEN 2023 | Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 18:00 (BST), Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, 15th of June 2023 at 6pm (BST)

Where: Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Rd, NW1 5LS

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER’S SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND CITIES INVITES YOU TO OPEN 2023

REGISTER VIA EVENTBRITE

Head of School Harry Charrington cordially invites you to attend the opening of the graduating students’ degree show, OPEN 2023, featuring work from:

  • – Architecture BA
  • – Architecture and Environmental Design BSc
  • – Architectural Technology BSc
  • – Designing Cities BA
  • – Interior Architecture BA
  • – MArch

Preview

Thursday 15 June, 6 – 9pm

Show opened by Philomine Wales

Exhibition continues

Friday 16 June – Sunday 2 July

You can also RSVP to DCDI-Events@westminster.ac.uk

Featured image: Diana Fox, MArch

UoW + London Festival of Architecture: Hamza Shaikh “Drawing Attention: Architecture in the Age of Social Media” | June 8, 2023 at 6.45pm (BST) in MG14, Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Thursday, June 8, 6.45pm-7.45pm

Where: MG14, Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Rd, NW1 5LS

The School of Architecture + Cities is excited to host its alumnus Hamza Shaikh, who will be speaking about his recently published and timely book on architecture and social media.

Drawing Attention – Architecture in the Age of Social Media by Hamza Shaikh is a new book published by RIBA which provides practical drawing guidance from leading figures around the world.

In the context of huge changes occurring in the profession of architecture as well as the education system, Shaikh’s book sets the tone for a new era of architectural dissemination. “New tools, media, interfaces and ideas are emerging through social media; our new digital common for inspiration and communication. Students now go to Instagram for drawing guidance as universities tend not to explicitly teach artistic expression – arguably the most useful skill for visionaries and creative professionals. However this book provides step-by-step insights into a huge variety of drawing styles and methods to help people gain confidence in their creative potential”.

Join Hamza Shaikh at the University of Westminster for an in-depth dive into the journey of writing his book and understanding the exciting but unknown future of architects in the age of social media.

LFA Website

For more information and to book your free ticket please go here.

Architecture + Cities Research Seminar: Alessandro Ayusso “Building the LEAP’s World: Drawings For the Eastway Studiolo ” | Monday, May 15 at 1pm (BST) | Online

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

When: Monday, 15th of May at 13:00 (BST)

Where: Online (link below)

The next Architecture + Cities Research Seminar is taking place on Monday, 15 May, 13:00 – 14:00 online.

Alessandro Ayuso of the Making and Practice Research Group in the School of Architecture + Cities will present his work in a seminar titled BUILDING THE LEAP’S WORLD: DRAWINGS FOR THE EASTWAY STUDIOLO. 

To attend, please use the link here.

Dr Paolo Zaide gives keynote speech on Architectural Education at United Architects of the Philippines convention

Posted on by Mirna Pedalo

Dr Paolo Zaide, a Filipino-British architect and Course Leader of the School of Architecture + Cities’ Architecture BA Honours course, has presented his ideas on Rethinking Architectural Education at the 48th UAP National Convention on 19-22 April 2023 in Manila.

His talk explored how schools of Architecture in the Philippines could step up to the extreme immediate and long-term challenges of the region and the impact of future trends on the design of the 21st Century City. Through examples from his own teaching and curating practice he spoke about communities, circularity and craft and the importance of architects’ cultural and ecological imagination. […]

University of Westminster News

Read the full article here.