Artchitecture

‘Artchitecture’ is a project we are developing in partnership with ArtSway, a contemporary visual arts organisation based in Sway. ‘Artchitecture’, is bringing together architects, artists and engineers to collaborate on exploring new models for rural architecture, through a series of temporary buildings in the New Forest National Park. The buildings will be a resource for interaction and debate on issues of sustainability, recycling, energy conservation and rural development, with artists’ inhabitation and activity as the catalyst.

The role of the artists will be to work in partnership with the architects and engineers in designing the building and then engage with the building and its environment. The buildings will be designed to accommodate the artist-in-residence for a period of up to 12 months. The artists will use the buildings as  ‘studios’ to produce new work that responds in some way to the nature of the building and the unique environment of the New Forest, while testing the building as live/work space. We currently have funding to take us to detailed design and planning application (RIBA Stage D) but will shortly be seeking funding for construction of the buildings the artists’ residencies and the associated programme of workshops seminars and events.

There will be a range of events to involve audiences in debate and discussion around the artists’ work, the building itself and sustainable development. Public access to the buildings and the issues raised by them is a core concern for the project. The programme will offer educational opportunities to all sectors of the community with the focus on the unique nature of the Forest and the need to consider very carefully future human responsibilities and interventions.

Development in rural areas is often controversial. There is a tension between the changing needs of the population and preservation, the New Forest’s future as a thriving community as well as a conservation area. This has been brought more sharply into focus by The New Forest’s designation as a National Park. The temporary nature of the buildings is intended to enable experimentation and innovation free from the pressure that a permanent structure would generate in terms of planning permissions, maintenance etc. Should the buildings generate controversy it is likely that a more productive debate can be had if people understand that the structure is testing possibilities rather than presenting a ‘fait accompli’.

The initial research to develop the project was supported by the Sustainable Development Fund of the New Forest National Park Authority. This funding enabled us to research and identify partners, run a workshop and develop a proposal for funding the design stage.

We have been successful in securing funding from the Barker Mill Memorial Charity to undertake further consultation and to develop the design proposals for the three buildings to a point where application for detailed planning permission could be submitted. (RIBA Stage D)

A great deal of interest has already been generated by the project and we believe it presents an exciting opportunity to explore creative interdisciplinary partnership working to explore innovative approaches to sustainable development in unique rural area and offer an excellent opportunity for the public and professionals to debate issues vital to all our futures.

The key aims of the project are to:

• Establish temporary artist workspaces at a variety of locations in the New Forest.
• Encourage collaboration between artists, architects, and engineers to explore innovative creative solutions to sustainable development with the New Forest.
• Promote the role and value of artists’ contribution to creative interventions in the built environment.
• Develop three temporary live/work spaces for as artists as a way of testing new forms of high quality, low impact building with an emphasis on recycling, sustainability, access and energy efficiency.
• Explore the use of local materials and the context of a contemporary vernacular architecture in the Forest.
• Develop the audience for contemporary visual art and design in the Forest locally, regionally and nationally through a programme of outreach work and events
• Ensure that the structures resulting from the project will be high quality, low impact, site sensitive and sustainable.
• Provide public access to the buildings, the artists working in them and the issues raised by them through an education programme made available to all sectors of the community.

  PROJECT TEAMS

Team

• Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva
• Trevor Thickett
• Paul Bulkeley

Team

• Stephen Turner
• Mike Dorgan
• Graham Perring        

Team

• Hywel Davies
• Nick Gradidge
• Carl Leroy-Smith 

An exhibition of the proposals along with a public presentation and discussion seminar on the project was held at ArtSway on 26th & 27th of June 2010.

We are currently  seeking funding to enable construction and programming of the three buildings.

An update on the project and team proposals is available for download below.