If you do want to get involved ‘behind the scenes’ of the WSCA, help and ideas are always welcome.
We meet for a drink and a chat, normally once a month, but do get in touch for more information.
Following on from the successful Biophilic design lecture at the Hive and the launch of the Worcestershire Architecture Awards, we will be finalising arrangements for the awards and exhibition as well as planning for events later in the year.
Biophillic Design Seminar: Tuesday 9th May in the ‘Studio’ at the Hive, Worcester. Arriving from 18.15 for an 18.30 start. The seminar will be 45 minutes, plus questions. Afterwards we will convene in a local pub for a sociable drink! Please email mail@ribaworcestershire.co.uk if you plan to attend.
“Biophilia (meaning love of nature) focuses on human’s innate attraction to nature and natural processes. It suggests that we all have a genetic connection to the natural world built up through hundreds of thousands of years of living in agrarian settings. It is a term popularized by American psychologist Edward O Wilson in the 1980’s, when he observed how increasing rates of urbanisation were leading to a disconnection with the natural world. With high rates of migration to urban settings in the developed world and soaring rates in developing countries – Biophilia is of ever increasing importance to our health and well-being in the built environment. Biophilic Design uses these ideas as principles to create a human centred approach that when applied improves many of the spaces that we live and work in today, with numerous benefits to our health and well-being.
Oliver Heath is an industry recognised expert in the field of sustainable architectural and interior design. With strong media and presentation skills, he has also presented television programmes since 1998. As a qualified Domestic Energy and Green Deal assessor he frequently acts as a media spokesperson for the UK’s Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Energy Saving Trust and the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP). He is a regular speaker at Ecobuild and Grand Designs Live. He is a trusted voice of authority in interior design having written 3 books.”
Cathedral Square: Developer Salmon Harvester has arranged a study tour with “Revo” that takes in the development here. This is open to WSCA members and more information can be found at: https://www.revocommunity.org/eventspages/study_tour_worcester
Our next get together will be on Tuesday 4th April at 7.30pm at Bolero Bar & Kitchen. At that meeting we are going to review the ‘briefing’ document for the competition, and we are looking to send a draft out in advance for comment – if you would like to attend please email mail@ribaworcestershire.co.uk.
It’d also be good to make some progress on our ‘logo’ so we can put this on the brief. Please could you bring any ideas you have along, then we can review these and hopefully choose one.
We have made contact with the Guildhall as a potential exhibition venue and will report on this. We will also decide who we are going to invite to do judging.
We can also have a general discussion if there is anything else anyone wants to raise. There are a couple of visits in the pipeline that the Chair will table.
RIBA Worcestershire Society of Chartered Architects are meeting again on Tuesday 7th March at 7.30pm at Bolero Bar & Kitchen on Foregate Street in Worcester.
The main focus of the WSCA this year is to run a local awards programme.
The Manchester Society of Architects already runs a successful awards scheme (http://www.the-msa.co.uk/ma-awards/).
The Worcestershire Awards will help us to raise the profile of architects and architecture locally. We’re really excited about this initiative and this next meeting is to pull together the categories, eligibility criteria and programme etc. Come along with some thoughts to help us get this off the ground this year.
If you can’t come along to the meeting, watch out for the awards scheme going live this spring!
Don’t forget, if you know someone who is interested in becoming a member of the RIBA at any level and hasn’t yet got around to it, if you ‘refer’ them for membership (https://www.architecture.com/RIBA/JoinTheRIBA/Membership.aspx) and they join, you will receive a £25 bookshop voucher! The more people we get involved, the better.
You can follow us on twitter @RIBAWorcester, and we have space on Architecture WM too:
RIBA West Midlands hosts the regional RIBA Core Curriculum CPD events in Birmingham across the year. These cover all of the RIBA Core Curriculum and can be booked using the booking form.
Though 2016 was a quiet year for the Worcestershire Society of Chartered Architects group, we are now looking ahead to 2017 and have some great ideas in the pipeline. This was kicked off with our 2016 Christmas social, which offered a chance to catch up with others after what has been a busy year for most people.
View from St Johns Towers over cricket ground towards Cathedral
View from St Johns Towers over city
A group of 27, including architectural practitioners and others with an interest in the industry, gathered at the entrance to Cripplegate House on the evening of Wednesday 13th May, to take part in the Worcestershire Society of Chartered Architects “Retrofit Ramble”.
The evening was kicked-off by Kevin Davis at DJD Architects, who explained the works that had been undertaken at the St John’s Towers for “Fortis Living”. It was interesting to hear how the structural render system had to be tied back to the concrete frame of the buildings due to the condition of the existing brickwork cladding the towers, and how the Planners had originally wanted the towers to be finished in a brown render! Kevin told us how all the works were undertaken whilst the building was fully occupied, and it was a great treat to be able to visit the “Sky Lounge” and take in the fantastic views across Worcestershire.
The group were then shuttled down the 14 storeys in the lift, and set out to ramble to “Riverside”, where the University of Worcester had offered the use of the lecture theatre for the group to congregate. Phil Kavanagh, from KKE Architects, gave a short presentation to explain the retrofit works that had been undertaken at Riverside in converting it from a car show room and servicing facility, to the specialist arts and sports facility that it is now. It was interesting to see how well aligned the two uses actually were, as few changes to the planning of the building were required, and works were predominantly related to cladding, insulating and interiors.
Phil also showed slides to explain the refurbishment works that had been undertaken at St Dunstan’s, to give some background for the final visit of the Ramble. There was an interesting discussion regarding the decision to over clad the signature original brickwork, justified on several levels. The building needed additional insulation and, whilst it would have been possible to insulate internally this would have eaten into the precious floor area. As the condition of the brickwork was not in good condition and the college were interested in giving the building a new identity, the decision was made to apply insulation and render to the outside. Phil also explained how the engineers had undertaken thermal modelling to predict solar shading requirements.
The group had a look around “Riverside”, visiting the café area and sports observation room that overlooks the sports hall, before rambling over Sabrina Bridge to the college. The Head of Estates kindly showed the group around the various learning spaces, including the Hair and Beauty areas that are all open to the public on a day-to-day basis. The Art and Design Studios on the top floor were of particular interest to the group, where the original steel roof trusses and north lights were retained and have been exposed, along with the building services. To conclude the ramble the group were invited to visit the roof, before retiring to the café area where the college had kindly provided tea and coffee refreshments.
