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44 OnTop January 2017 words by images by project type charlotte taylor jim stephenson education Creative industry Design Engine’s new studios and workshops give the students of Arts University Bournemouth a bright, dynamic workspace Electric pink Modern design stu- director Richard Jobson. “The plan informal learning spaces for stu-signals the visual dios and workshops was a case of questioning their exist- dents as well as specialist digitalcreativity within are the third stage ing stock and understanding where computer suites. The building cre- of Design Engine gaps were, where elements of build- ates a gateway on the site, allowing Architects’ ongoing masterplan for ings could be further developed, pos- students to move more easily from Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), sibly knocked down, where we could north to south across the campus; a thriving arts campus in need of an plug in new buildings to enhance the its expressive facade is “a mark that aspirational redevelopment. facilities already on campus.” AUB is a progressive, contemporary, modern university”. “The university had built a lot on Out of this thought process its site and was running out of land,” came three projects. A new photog- The second project, a new stu- explains Design Engine founding raphy building has provided more dent support services building,

January 2017 OnTop 45signifies the university’s increasing Neutral coloursdedication to this crucial support give a blank canvassystem, as well as forming a sec- for student creativityond gateway through the site. The new studios The latest phase of the work has are relativelycontinued to improve circulation modest spacesthrough the university and providesmore specialist spaces for students.New design studios and workshopshave been created in former hallsof residence, two “drab, grey build-ings” constructed in 2001, that nolonger met the needs of modernstudent accommodation. Design Engine began the trans-formation by carrying out structuralstudies to determine if it was possibleto restructure loadbearing buildingssuch as these to form large studiospaces. They removed the loadbear-ing partitions of the residential build-ings, inserted a steel frame to addressthe new structural needs and createda series of north-facing rooflights inorder to open up the spaces. The saw-tooth rooflights wereclad in bright brink, forming whatJobson describes as a “magentapink, punk rock hair cut on the topof the building” – an uplifting repre-sentation of the school’s creativity. Aperforated aluminium veil was alsoadded, wrapping around the build-ing on the first and second floors. The rooflights, atop a raisedroof podium, bring natural daylightinto drawing studios for the model-making, illustration and fashiondesign students, while heavyweight,mechanised modelling and pros-thetic workshops are grouped onthe ground floor. “There’s lots of natural light atthe top and natural light in pock-ets on the ground floor. The inter-vening floors are for makeup stu-dents – and for theatre and filmmakeup, natural light isn’t such agreat idea,” says Jobson. “It was

46 OnTop January 2017quite counterintuitive really that we “In previous projects we’ve Design Engine’screated studios that were mostly looked at siloing, students coming earlier studentartificially lit.” in, working [in their own depart- services building ments] and when they leave they’ve The design studios, like the ear- not got that richness,” says Jobson. Rooflights bringlier projects, are relatively modest “We wanted to create spaces that natural light intospaces. “AUB is a creative campus when you walked through or passed top-floor studiosfull of creative people so we were them, you might think ‘oh, that’strying to provide a backdrop for interesting, I didn’t know that wentthose kind of students and staff to on’. It’s about making sure that thework in,” comments Jobson. architecture allows that to happen.” “You don’t want to overly play your The architects created a shorthand in terms of the interior spaces film to celebrate the way that thebecause you want the students to new spaces are being used, and forfill them with their own creativity… Jobson and the team “what’s mostBut where we had the opportunity, gratifying is that the students makecertainly on the external parts of the use of the interstitial spaces orbuildings, we’ve been more expressive tertiary spaces”.in presenting that creative backdrop.” “It’s making these the spaces When visiting AUB for the first where students gather that’s greattime, Design Engine noted that while – where, in a sense, the value of thethe university enjoyed strong cura- project is,” he reflects. “The stu-tion on its walls, very little of its work dios are obviously essential for theircould be seen from outside the build- course but they aren’t necessarilyings. A series of ground floor exten- the spaces that students remember.sions for 3D printing now extend on It’s probably more the spaces thatto re-landscaped courtyards, high- join them together – spaces wherelighted by more electric pink. These you have that kind of serendipity andwill act as shop windows to the chance meetings.”courses, displaying student work.