Blog Task 3: Experiencing space Linked to Studio Project 2

(Sutton, 2010)

Sites to visit

Pitcher and Piano pub, Nottingham

Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery

Pitcher and Piano pub, Nottingham

On approach the gothic style architecture combined with the exaggerated vertical scale of the building, through use of spires (blocking and limiting light), large windows and steeply pitched roofs the building gives off a powerful and intimidating demeanour, dominating the immediate area. This may be exaggerated by the buildings use of darker, heavy cobbled materials and heavy gothic detailing within the arches.

Inside however the space has been repurposed as a relaxed social venue with a bar, live music area and seating. Although the large sense of scale within the building would appear quite intimidating the large windows which provide massive amounts of natural light and the

(Bar Magazine, 2014)

use of lighter colours and materials, such as limestone and light wood floors the space appears calm and enticing.

Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery

The Nottingham contemporaries interesting and quirky form and use of light, uncommon materials such as its perforated concave steel cladding collate to give the building an interesting and exciting feel upon approach. The exterior of the building also maintains this demeanour through its use of appropriate scale and large welcoming windows that offer direct views from the street into the interior and the displays within.

Inside the building is actually much larger than it appears from the exterior, as much of the space is concealed and sunk into the sandstone cliff. The Spaces experience of many of the interior spaces vary greatly dependent upon the exhibition at the time however the spaces that remain the same, such as the shop and café areas (and the empty shell of the exhibition spaces), attain an incredibly relaxing experience. The large windows into the space provide vast quantities of natural light, this coupled with the ‘white cube’ design of any gallery combines to produce a calm and relaxing environment. Scale and shape has been used cleverly within the space to produce large, oddly shaped rooms, that don’t overpower or intimidate the people inside.

What I will take from this

I will aim to keep my beach hut design lower to the ground (short stilts) and aim to limit the vertical scale of the hut itself smaller. This will have minimal effect to the views but will mean the building upon approach as a much more inviting and relaxing demeanour and not clash harshly with its surroundings.

I will also aim to include large windows and use lighter materials in order to maintain a calm relaxing experience for the user.

Bibliography

John Sutton, (2010), Weekday Cross: Nottingham Contemporary [ONLINE]. Available at: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Nottingham_Contemporary_-_geograph-1825342.jpg [Accessed 6 May 2017].

Bar Team, (2014), Pitcher-Piano-Nottingham [ONLINE]. Available at: http://barmagazine.co.uk/nottinghams-pitcher-piano-to-reopen-after-investment/ [Accessed 6 May 2017]