Regeneration In Kent

This might well be a perfectly reasonable, anodyne, mixed-use masterplan. But the images are just so, so depressing. They've bothered to make jaunty colours for the awnings and parasols, complete with a highlight showing the merciless sun beating down on the North Kent coast as if it were the Costa del Sol. But they couldn't really be bothered to make any decisions about materials or detail for the buildings.

This is the kind of thing you do when you don't want anyone to think the buildings are going to be too good, because the developer might then actually have to build something of high quality.

"Keep it vague lads, and stick a hot air balloon in it - that always makes people feel like we're down with whole seasidey, public space vibe."

Looking Beaty Biodiversity Center

The Beaty Biodiversity Center and the Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory are located on Main Mall, the central north/south spine of the University of British Columbia. Together they form a complex of related environmental science functions; a new campus precinct organized around a generous exterior courtyard space which is bisected by new cross-campus pedestrian and bicycle connections.

The Beaty Biodiversity Center comprises a natural history museum, a large natural history collection, research laboratories and offices with related meeting and support spaces. This 11,500 square meter facility is organized around three sides of the courtyard space, with the Beaty Biodiversity Museum occupying the west side along Main Mall.

The Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory is located on the northern side of the courtyard. This 5,150 square meter building consolidates interdisciplinary research groups around an atrium that interconnects the four floors of the building. Social spaces are located adjacent to this atrium to reinforce a sense of academic community and to encourage serendipitous interaction between faculty, students and the various research units. Faculty offices, loft spaces digital laboratories for the student community and a variety of meeting spaces are located on the upper floors, while the large public rooms are located on the ground floor where they participate in the urban life of the campus.

The Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory is certified LEED Gold.

Related Articles

 

Thought these might of interest...
Still radical after all these years
The Precarious Museum
Biology and the Bauhaus

The role of Architects in the future

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/mar/06/michael-gove-architecture-in-schools
Interesting article about the Architects future in practice

Researching on dementia

Dementia is a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) that is associated with an ongoing decline of the brain and its abilities. These include:

    * memory
    * thinking
    * language
    * understanding
    * judgement

People with dementia may also become apathetic, have problems controlling their emotions or behaving appropriately in social situations.
Aspects of their personality may change or they may see or hear things that other people do not, or have false beliefs. Most cases of dementia are caused by damage to the structure of the brain. People with dementia usually need help from friends or relatives, including help in making decisions.

The Proposal of my design:

-Creating a dementia clinic in the heart of Leek Market Town
-Researching in new ways of finding a cure for dementia
-Providing help for the people who have dementia
-The community will orchestrate in running the building from caring for the patients to learning about dementia
-Training doctors and health professionals in dealing with dementia
-Provide comfort for family and friends in dealing with the disease
-The Clinic will act as a model for the rest of the country