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35 CONCLUSION
INDIVIDUAL & GROUP REFLECTION
GROUP REFLECTION
INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION
The project successfully responds to the brief by presenting a bottom-up, user-oriented design, rather than implementing a top-down approach, in which the existing structure restricts user activity.
The Professional Studies 2 project has been highly beneficial in my personal and professional development towards my Part 2 qualification. With regards to my personal goals, I have become adept in computational design software’s such as Rhino and Grasshopper which have both enabled me to further the potential of my design proposals. It should also be noted that I have gained the experience to understand when and when these programs are best suited to be use as the fine line between over complication of complex shapes my retract from the project outcome. I hope to use the computational skills I have learnt, along-side other software and design skills that this project has helped refine in future university and professional projects.
Overcoming this project as a group has been a rewarding process, as we have all developed skills in communication, team work and organisation. Collaboratively, the group has worked positively and we’ve each expanded our ability to utilise our strengths to progress our ideas collectively. After PS1 submission, we each reflected upon our involvement in the project and aimed to tackle a more diverse range of elements of the design’s development. Adam remained in control of the project’s collation, while undertaking aspects of the conceptual modelling progression. Ben led the BIM design stage, utilising his strengths in building regulation knowledge, while also developing the building programme from feasibility stage. Dan concentrated on developing an understanding for heritage constraints while also focussing on the build-up of materiality. While we’ve each individually aimed to focus on developing key aspects of our design methods, the tasks undertaken have been a collaborative effort in order to avoid hindering our overall development as architectural designers.
The re-use of the Watson Street arches has also provided me with the valuable experience of working within an existing building with restrictions and design constraints. The grade II* listed building provided a challenging brief that required intuitive design proposals to over come issues with available space and building condition, and also to provide an inspiring proposal that restored the beauty of the arches in a contemporary style. The continued group work, leading on from Professional Studies 1, has surpassed all expectations and we functioned efficiently as a team, pushing each other forward and offering help where others needed it. With the help of my colleagues this project has helped me realise expectations I wasn’t aware were possible at the start of the year.
