Overall the feedback for this part was good but my tutor stated I should ‘play with form a little longer before heading in a set direction’. I fully appreciate this comment, I got committed with my pavilion design too early, I then felt too involved to change or experiment further. Although I did make some changes to the pavilion, I can now see that I should have played around with different ideas before getting committed to one.
I was pleased my tutor thought I made appropriate observations and analysed information well, as I spent a lot of time on the site of my pavilion to make these observations and undertook research from a number of sources. My tutor however encouraged me to experiment and not be scared to challenge when I had commented “..to create anything too contemporary in design or materials I think would contrast too highly with the village vernacular and be disapproved of by the villagers and Parish Council”. I thought playing is safe in this instance was the right thing to do – but I must ensure I push myself out of the safety zone in the future.
During this part I created a number of models which my tutor was positive about. Model making has been very time consuming but I have found it very beneficial, particularly helpful for problem solving or being able to highlight issues.
My tutor asked if I had tried moving the spiral staircase for it to begin above the slide, making concentric circles with the stair and the slide. I had not tried this but only wish I had – that would have look wonderful!
The tutor also asked if I had thought about 3D modelling for my pavilion design, I did think about this and realise it would have been particularly useful for my technical drawings. 3D modelling is however not a skill I have attempted as yet and I had taken a lot of time on this part of the course that I did not feel I had the time to attempt it.
It was suggested that I stand back from my work, choose key images and give them room to breathe. I have to admit that when I am collating and presenting work, I can get worried about leaving work out, be that written work or images. I am very aware that I do this and would love to have the skill to edit and distil effectively – something I will aim for in my assessment portfolio.
Overall the feedback for this part was good but my tutor stated I should ‘play with form a little longer before heading in a set direction’. I fully appreciate this comment, I got committed with my pavilion design too early, I then felt too involved to change or experiment further. Although I did make some changes to the pavilion I can now see that I should have played around with different ideas before getting committed to one.
I was pleased my tutor thought I made appropriate observations and analysed information well, as I spent a lot of time on the site of my pavilion to make these observations and undertook research from a number of sources. My tutor however encouraged me to experiment and not be scared to challenge when I had commented “..to create anything too contemporary in design or materials I think would contrast too highly with the village vernacular and be disapproved of by the villagers and Parish Council”. I thought playing is safe in this instance was the right thing to do – but I must ensure I push myself out of the safety zone in the future.
During this part I created a number of models which my tutor was positive about. Model making has been very time consuming but I have found it very beneficial, particularly helpful for problem solving or being able to highlight issues.
My tutor asked if I had tried moving the spiral staircase for it to begin above the slide, making concentric circles with the stair and the slide. I had not tried this but only wish I had – that would have look wonderful!
The tutor also asked if I had thought about 3D modelling for my pavilion design, I did think about this and realise it would have been particularly useful for my technical drawings. 3D modelling is however not a skill I have attempted as yet and I had taken a lot of time on this part of the course that I did not feel I had the time to attempt it.
It was suggested that I stand back from my work, choose key images and give them room to breathe. I have to admit that when I am collating and presenting work, I can get worried about leaving work out, be that written work or images. I am very aware that I do this and would love to have the skill to edit and distil effectively – something I will aim for in my assessment portfolio.
Part 5 Assignment – Reflection
Undertaking the design process, as suggested by the course material; historical research, visiting and understanding the site and precedent research has been a very informative and insightful way to initiate and build on ideas.
I’ve found it a very enjoyable process, in particular as it pertains to the area I live in. To have a greater understanding of the area’s history is interesting to me and gave me a bases for the pavilions design. Marrying this with the here and now, social and geographical aspects of the site and the brief was vital in the decision process. The precedent studies I undertook did not so much inform my decisions but helped bolster them by providing beautiful and exciting examples of what could be created, encouraging my ideas. This also furthered my knowledge of design by discovering buildings and objects I was previously unaware of.
The processes I went through provided me with solid ideas of the materials to use, those which related both to the past but which worked with the current natural and manmade landscape of the site.
All of these methods were hugely valuable, without going through these I may have been floundering around with ideas and its likely I would have created a pavilion with little meaning to its location and its occupants.
The process taught me that I am able to analyse and think creatively. I am able to build on an idea and communicate it in a number of ways, continually reassessing and improving.
The conclusions that I draw from this process is that I have developed my skills from the start of the course and continue to develop. It is good to take time to reflect, as mentioned many times before I can get frustrated that I am not developing quick enough, taking time to stop and appreciate how much I have developed and learned so far is important to encourage me to continue.
At this point I am not sure what I would do differently as I have tried a number of different communication and design methods that my current skills allow. In future I would incorporate all of the process taken due to the value I feel they had in the design process. I feel I worked in in line with and am meeting all the assessment criteria.
Reflecting on the course as a whole I feel I’ve learned many new skills and widened my knowledge, on areas I was expecting and some I was not. The course has had a greater architectural bases than I was expecting and this has been a good thing. I have always had an interest and love of architecture but knew very little about it. I realise I am only scratching the surface but widening my knowledge and interest is a satisfying thing and making me see interior design as a bigger picture than I perhaps viewed it before. I am also gaining skills in design software, this is a slow process as I knew it would be but I am getting there, bit by bit and feel very pleased that I am managing to use the software, if still quite crudely.
I attended Focus Interior Design event for the second year in a row. This event is a great opportunity to see so much high end design in one place. In addition it is wonderful to be able to look round look and touch objects, textiles and furnishings that I rarely get a chance to see. The best thing about the event is to attend talks and workshops with professionals providing hints, tips and advice or explaining their companies working methods on particular topics.
On the day in which I attended it appeared the topic focused on sustainability and wellbeing, areas which I am very aware of and have an interest in.
Although I think there is a long way to go it was good to hear that designers are taking sustainability and environmental issues into account and working in new ways to try and combat waste, and unethical resources.
Event designer Fiona Leahy discussed going to efforts to ensure materials and resources used in events go to other sources after the event, rather than being dumped, which was quite shocking to hear was something that previously happened.
Anna Burles founder of design company Run for the Hills explained that she now goes to efforts to ensure materials are sustainably and ethically sourced, although she may have to incur the additional costs this may bring.
I also attend a talk with KLC tutor Anna Whitehead regarding Biophilic Design, this is something I have a real interest in and try to incorporate in my own home and interiors which I have had some involvement in the design of in my work place. I hope to get the opportunity to look further into Biophilic Design.
I believe my pavilion is meeting the brief, with a few added extra’s. The footprint should be no larger than 9m2 and it is no taller than 6m high. I chose the pavilions occupants to be children and the purpose of the pavilion to be for shelter from the weather, which I believe the design has achieved.
As most children will be accompanied by adults the pavilion also had to be suitable for their needs too i.e. ceiling heights tall enough to accommodate adults. I however wanted to accentuate that the pavilion is designed with children in mind therefore wanted to make it fun by adding a slide, a viewing point and 2 levels of seating on the ground level. This double level seating allows the children opportunities to climb and provides more seating in a small space. The pavilion is not intended to be kept pristine but used and enjoyed like the play equipment in the play area – I see it as an extension of the play area but with the added bonus of giving shelter. Including a partial glass roof provides other opportunities, not only is it gratifying to be able to see the sky and gain more natural light it could allow for educational opportunities for studying clouds and stars.
I think there are a number of strengths in the design, firstly those mentioned above, secondly that designing it on two levels supplies space for more occupants. I also feel it links well with the history of the area; a wooden structure with a viewing point sees similarities to a Roman fort, the cylindrical shape with a domed roof like tumuli found at Old Ox Camp and the double wall to represent the double bank found around Old Ox Camp. The green roof will also allow it to look like tumuli from an aerial view. The materials marry with those of the play equipment so that the pavilion is not jarring or out of place.
Before adding the spiral staircase the proportions of the design felt weak to me. Prior to this addition the structure felt too narrow for it’s height and felt somewhat spindly. Although the addition of the staircase was not to address this proportion issue, as it was to address my desire for a slide, for me it did deal with this matter and unintentionally made me feel very satisfied that this niggle was dealt with. I love the curves of the structure and adding the staircase provided yet another but with different forms and spatial arrangements, which added more interest and in my eyes made the structure much more pleasing.
A weakness that does remain however is that floor space is fairly small providing shelter for 4 or 5 people on each floor only.
As I built a model I had some further thoughts for the design, deciding that it would be more fun for children to have a slide down from the viewing platform, which would curve around the outside of the Pavilion next to the stairs.
I also developed the roof, feeling that it would be a real bonus to be able to have windows in the roof to see the wonderful big skies and clouds, fire works on bonfire night and stars. Due to it’s rural location Oxton does not have too much light pollution making it a wonderful place to see stars.
Based on the research I undertook of Oxton I found that the children’s play area was upgraded and the older children’s activity area was created due to an increase in families and young children in the village.
Apart from the cricket club, which use the recreation ground to play matches and whom have their own pavilion, the recreation ground is mostly used by families with young children. Children in the village come with friends or family to enjoy the area and families come from surrounding areas, often meeting with other families for children to play and families to picnic. Thus I have chosen children to be the main occupant of the pavilion.
The recreation ground is a great place for children and families to come, some traveling a distance to visit. However, if it rains or the sun is very strong there is nowhere for people to shelter. The village hall is open only for events or private functions and the cricket pavilion is for the cricket team and spectators, leaving children and families no option but to either stick out inclement weather, go to their cars for shelter or leave the area.
I would like children and families to feel secure in the fact that they have somewhere to take shelter, should the weather be unfavourable. Showers are often short, so people may not want to leave the site but will want shelter for a short duration. Conversely parents may want children to take cover if the sun is very strong. Knowing there is a place for cover may increase the number of visitors, otherwise some may chose not to come on particular days if there is a chance of rain. A Pavilion for shelter should also increase the enjoyment and appreciation of the location.
Brief
Design a Pavilion, no larger than 9m2 in footprint and no higher than 6m, on Oxton Recreation Ground to provide a shelter for children who come to play on the site.
Lee's study journey 
