GOING UNDERGROUND

I wrote this dissertation last year as part of the BArch course. If you would like to read a copy please email me.

Abstract

Deep beneath the city streets of Manchester lies a network of reinforced concrete tunnels known as the ‘Guardian’ Underground Telephone Exchange.

Today, this ageing relic of the Cold War operates silently as a piece of infrastructure facilitating the lives of the urbanites above. Little information regarding the ‘Guardian’ is readily accessible and the subversive nature of the structure acts to entomb the reality of the network’s operation. A lack of information allows facts to be replaced by myths, fostering numerous perceptions of the same intangible space.

The ‘Guardian’ Underground Telephone Exchange was constructed during a time of escalating international tensions as a ‘hardened’ bunker to protect vital communication links in the event of a nuclear attack upon Manchester. However, this defining characteristic of protection was lost as advances in bomb technology rendered the tunnels redundant. The bombproof tunnels still exist but the condition of nuclear confrontation does not. This dissertation focuses on how perceptions of the redundant, hidden spaces change through time by: looking at the people that seek to explore abandoned buildings in the city, the public who may not even know of the systems existence and comparisons of similar wartime architecture alongside the effect that the invention of the ‘bomb’ had across the wider discipline of Urban Design.  

WESTMINSTER PIAZZA

This year's studio project is based around Bentley's Westminster Cathedral and the public space in front of it. 

ONE LEICESTER, TWO DRAWINGS

Introducing a new genus…MOLESKANS. It is a shameless pun that in real terms equates to scans from my Moleskins. Arguably the best sketchbooks out there.

Some 70's tower blocks as seen from Victoria park, Leicester. I didn't get round to drawing the Stirling one next to these two for some reason.

ARCHAEOLOGY'S PLACES & CONTEMPORARY USES

I was lucky enough to be involved with this two week intensive workshop Venice, hosted at the IUAV. The workshop was a bringing together of architecture students from Manchester, Venice, Barcelona and archaeology students from Catania. There were four archaeological sites situated in the Veneto region, each requiring a form of protective cover or structure. Students were put into mixed groups containing 2-3 architecture students and 1-2 archeology students. The output from each group was then to design a cover for the chosen site. I worked with a student from Barcelona and collaborated with three students of archaeology to design a scheme for the ruins at Altino. There were four schemes for each site, 16 in total, which on the last day were judged by a jury made up of architects, archeologists and officials from the sites in question. Our scheme ‘DIS-CONNECTION’ came in at 1^st place out of the schemes for Atino. The workshop was a great opportunity to work with people from different schools/disciplines/countries and I had a fantastic time. All of the projects have embarked on a traveling exhibition around the contributing schools and I think it will arrive in Manchester sometime next year…I hope my model hasn’t fallen to bits by then.  www.iuav.it/archeoplaces2

Here are the presentation boards for our proposal. The scheme was about opening up the site to visitors in a way that would communicate the ruins in context. This was done by use of a path that moved from the museum to the ruins gradually lowering and then terminating at a point as to reveal/imply the original city walls of Altino. 

Exhibition organising students that all speak different languages to an Italian schedule…logistical nightmare.  

NU YORKE

After avoiding the new body scanners at Manchester airport and a seldom turbulence ridden seven-hour flight across the Atlantic we arrived at JFK, terminal eight. Eight terminals. It is massive. There is even a slightly complicated monorail linking this mini-tropolis. This was my first trip to New York and the USA for that matter. The company was the best, the sun was shinning, I had a bit of disposable income and there was a lot to see and do.


The High line is a very attractive public space. Even full of lots of people it seemed very peaceful retreat from the city, albeit in the relatively quiet meatpacking district. Set to be extended in length by three times its current size, I would like to return. It offers a view down the vistas of NY from a height not usually found in the middle of the road. 

A few fleeting moments of serenity between the gaggles of tourists, that I can proudly say I was a part of. Incredible view from the top, not one for a windy day, I may add.

A massive guard dog stopped us from taking photos any closer to the Seagram Building, but once inside I went snap happy on the Jeff Coombs balloon dog. You can just see the reflection of the lift shafts in the shiny sculptor.

 Seems the jury is out at the UN. I remember a picture of the UN building in an old Weetabix encyclopedia I had of as a child. I was disappointed to see it closed like this.

But was he racist? 

Fantastic day for Frisbee at Coney Island. Its like Blackpool minus bingo, plus hotdogs, divided by donkeys.

The rest of the day in Brooklyn was brilliant. Stumbled upon the Brewery, had a swift pint of Brooklyn White beer, ate some tasty vegetarian food, gawped at the hipsters of Williamsburg and visited the second beach of the day to watch the sunset over Manhattan Island.

A day spent uptown. A squirrel poo landed on me as we strolled through central park. The Guggenheim was far too expensive for us; the Met drained us of energy and turtles ate our lunch. 

I’m a bridge and tunnel kinda guy.

Apparently they will be massive in the UK soon.

Guerilla photography at PRADA.

This ice cream van did Earl Grey Ice cream. If I hadn’t have been so full of cupcakes, I’d have ordered one with a flake and red sauce.

I guess someone has to.

Grouting for Greenland was just around the corner.

Portable police tower at Times Square…to protect and survey. 

 

The last few hours of the trip were spent here at the New Museum of Contemporary Art. A very interesting form seemed to translate into rather pokey, uninspiring gallery spaces.