A lecture with prof. Graeme Brooker
Today, we were honoured by prof. Graeme Brooker from the Royal College of Art joining us at the University of Northampton for a lecture and seminar, which was a truly inspiring time of going back to the roots, exploring design principles, and asking ourselves again "why do we, designers, do what we do?". Here are a couple of notes I took based on prof. Brooker's talk:
Introduction: Architecture
Architecture is our built environment cousin. A well-established profession, characterised by new-built.
"The Tabula Rasa" - wiping the slate clean, and starting again.
Interior Design
Remodelling, reworking, re-reading, discovering new meaning and form and new narratives into what is already there.
What other forms of creative endeavour do you know who like to work with other people's stuff? Although a little bit unusual, it is true. We work with buildings designed and built by someone else, often transforming them into something completely different.
"Re-reading" expresses the fact that we take something that is already out there, and we look at it again, we learn from it, and add some new stuff in too.
Whenever you re-read your favourite book, you discover something new. It is the same with interior design.
We celebrate these ruins, these buildings that have a former life, we re-analyse them, we try and learn from them and then we rework them.
Re-reading - the understanding the process. But what are the principles of this process?
Whether you call yourself an interior architect, interior designer or decorator, it doesn't matter, because it is still about the interior and you are all working with the existing material. You are moving along this scale at all times, because you can't have a surface without a piece of structure etc.
Re-readings - the book
Analysis (= understanding)
Form and Structure
How does it exist? How does it stand up? What is it made of?
Structure gives you certain forms - it also dictates the form of the new structure as well.
When you understand the form and structure, you can use it as a counterpoint to your proposed design.
History and Function
Nürnberg - Kongresshalle
Metaphorical breaking of the ideology - a knife. The architect uses a walkway as an ideological signifier - suggesting this is a new generation, a new time. It is a bold statement over the history of the building.
The intervention almost explodes out of a building. It is like a knife cutting through its heart.
Context and Environment
Where your interior sits - how it relates to light/view/context?
What is outside of your interior? You must understand what is around your building.
Proposed Function
What is the new use of your building? An analysis of the proposal is critical.
A new story is being added to the building.
The worst approach that we could have is to think that the new stuff that we put into a building is always going to be there - it simply won't. You are already working with stuff that has been put there by someone else and it won't be there forever.
The analysis of the proposed use helps you offer the maximum impact.
Sustainability
Strategy (= concept)
When you talk about strategy, it has a really pragmatic/realistic aspect to it.
When you formulate a strategy, it is like the art of war, you have to think about how you can take down the opposition. In this case, the opposition is the existing building: how do you work with it?
Once you've done the analysis, then you can start to formulate your strategy. You learn and understand what you are going to work with, and only then you must formulate an approach. How do you start to use what is already there?
Intervention
If the building is derelict, old, almost demolished, or if you feel the building has little quality or value from your analysis, you can approach the building in a very robust manner: cut it open - bash it - remove parts of it etc. You undo the building.
The relationship between the old and the new is integral, they rely on each other to be made whole again, they complete each other. The new and the old become essentially combined.
Insertion
Insertion is putting new objects (big or small) into a building; they are built to the size of the building, and they barely touch it, though they might sometimes. They are relatively autonomous, but it always derives some of its qualities from the existing.
Installation
The new and the old have very little rapport between them, they are rather independent of each other.
Installation have huge impact - they are quite theatrical.
Tactics (= detail)
How are you going to realise the strategy? Put objects/light/planes together.
Notion of nobility in an interior: making sure that no window, door, door handle is taken for granted. Intelligent economy - thoughtfulness: think that you could change a door handle slightly, and change someone's day. Tactics are key to the realisation of these moments.
Telling stories through objects/planes/lights/surfaces etc.
Plane:
You connect through planes: with you feet/hands etc.
Object
Light:
Artificial - natural. Artificial light completely changes buildings/views.
Surface:
whatever material you choose, it gives off different messages.
Applied surface - found surface. Found surface tells fascinating stories - don't be afraid to work with what is already there.
Opening
Movement:
One of the most complex things you will have to deal with as a designer.
