Adaptable Structures

Student project explores ways to rejuvenate Aberdeen’s fish market

The transformation of a fish market into an adaptable centre of commerce was one of many student projects on display at this year’s Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment End of Year Show 2010.

The Show, which launched on Tuesday 22 June with a private showing and prize-giving ceremony, showcased a range of student projects, spanning architecture, surveying, architectural technology, and construction design and management.

From the architectural side of the School, Professor Neil Gillespie has led a final year project that looks into the area of Aberdeen city centre between the new Union Square shopping centre and the River Dee. The area is currently undergoing considerable change as large faceless offices, housing oil-based corporations, gradually evict independent businesses and individuals that are devoted to a mix of marginal activities including fish processing.

Throughout the project, Professor Gillespie encouraged students to think about alternative, sustainable ways in which the area might develop and how they might contribute to the evolution of a place with a distinct character.

In his own interpretation of the project, final year Master of Architecture student, Desmond Bernie (23), has designed a new generation of office building.  Veering away from the overly rigid designs and structures of current office space in the area, Desmond’s design incorporates adaptable floor structures, changeable partitions and even includes the potential to be enlarged.  

“The building’s adaptability”, explains Desmond, “encourages an array of diverse trades and corporations and aims to unite the divided workforce.”

During his research, Desmond, who hails from Co. Wexford in the Republic of Ireland, found that this district of Aberdeen presents a range of exciting possibilities for commerce.  As such his design is flexible to new developments in the area and would provide accommodating office space for a wide array of industries.  

‘’A once vibrant and vital area of the city is quickly becoming silenced by a sea of grey suits, both of cloth and aluminium”, explains Professor Gillespie. “Our approach was to try and imagine an area that might welcome risk, imagination and the individual.
Desmond’s proposal intelligently and elegantly explored the idea of buildings that might change over time, that might offer succeeding generations new opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship, something that is sadly lacking not only in Aberdeen but Scotland as a whole.’’

Desmond, who received the Inverness Architectural Association Annual Award in his honours year for his design of a hotel in Copenhagen, is hoping to graduate with a Master of Architecture next month.

He is currently anticipating creative funding for a joint graduate venture entitled ‘Ice Cream Architecture’.  Devised in response to the present building climate, the venture would offer quality architectural services on an approachable level.  

“We present fresh understanding and a client based design ethos to satisfy our pro-active 'ice cream van' attitude to consultation,” explains Desmond.  Further information can be found at www.icecreamarchitecture.com.  

Head of School, Dr David McClean comments, ‘The End of Year Show at the Scott Sutherland School is a celebration of the commitment, passion, ingenuity, and sheer effort of our students and staff. Spanning a broad range of disciplines relating to design and construction, many of the projects, such as those presented above, relate to ‘live’ situations and contexts within the region.

It is vital that a school such as ours engages with its local communities and constituencies, as well as looking further afield to explore areas relating to the global nature of our contemporary professions. Consequently, we believe there is much on display that will be of interest to the public, and welcome all those interested to the Show’

Taking place at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment on Garthdee Road, Aberdeen, the End of Year Show ran from 23 June - 2 July.  For more information, visit: www.rgu.ac.uk/endofyearshow.  

ENDS                         

Andrew Youngson
Communications Officer
Robert Gordon University
Schoolhill
Aberdeen
AB10 1FR
Tel: 01224 262389
Email: a.c.youngson@rgu.ac.uk  



 

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