David Anderson
In all my design work I try to create interiors that are contemporary and have focus on materiality and detailing. As a designer I take inspiration form mid-century designs, bringing those ideas and principles into a modern context. I like to work with spaces that feel open and inclusive to all. Growing up in Glasgow and through traveling I have been exposed to incredible designers which has in turn allowed me to cultivate my personal design style and apply it to my work. One of guiding design principles is that good design should be available to everyone. My final year studio project and extended essay are intrinsically linked on the issues of social housing and affordable homes. In my studio project I focused on an affordable housing, which through my research I and interviews exposed the intent to which this issue is under addressed within the city.
My project aimed to address these issues bringing high quality living at an affordable cost, while also reactivating an important B listed building, the Charles Oakley Building. The building is of a style known as International Modernist and has massive influences of other contemporary designers of the, being largely based on Le Corbusier ‘Unité d’Habitatuin. The proposal consists of twenty seven apartments, shared communal spaces and onsite facilities for the community who’ll occupy the building. My design approach is inspired by European living concepts, specifically contemporary Viennese social housing policy.
My extended essay explores the decline of post war social housing estates across the UK with a particular analysis of London’s Robin Hood Gardens by Alison and Peter Smithson. The essay explains the estates revolutionary design and its subsequent downfall, where many of the residents were forced out of their homes, splitting communities apart. These social issues and inequalities are something I hope to work on throughout my future career as it is something I am truly interested in, believing it’s a problem that can be solved.
Filling the void
Introduction- I want to create sustainable a affordable homes that combine great quality living, excellent communal spaces and immunities that would traditionally be unavailable to affordable developments using my location of 300 Cathedral Street, Charles Oakley Building. In the concept I intend on celebrating the building architecture and implementing it into the overall concept, as a historically important building I believe this to be a key factor going into the project. My ambition for the interior is to create generously size family homes, in a range of configurations that can be designed around the resident’s requirements. I also do not intend this project to be for one specific age or user type, rather a proposal that would work for all ages, backgrounds and people. My firm belief is that affordable housing should be available to all that need it.
In terms of the housing I will include a variety of apartment styles, for example, two, three and four bed room homes that will be at an affordable rent. Communal spaces will have a focus on community, health and well-being. In these spaces I will I hope to include, quiet reading spaces, communal kitchens and shared gym and exercise facilities. My proposal incorporates green spaces and small stress free outdoor areas that are secure and sheltered, both at ground level and also on the roof areas, as I believe greenery is a very important part of my concept. The design content supports sustainable living with an emphasis of energy efficiency and carbon neutral processes. With solar panels and green methods of energy output and consumption, on car and bike sharing and using local transport.
SECTION OF 300 CATHEDRAL STREET
Apartments
These apartments are the places where residents can call their own, design their own spaces, meet with friends and family, practice hobbies and relax. Solar blinds across every window pull down to help energy loss during the hight of winter and summer. They will be uniform across the building creating a consistent appearance from the outside
First floor apartments have access to private balcony spaces where they can set up their own seating or create small garden spaces for the house to enjoy.
