In London, SOM’s City Design Practice recently completed a two-year collaboration with Diploma Design Unit 10 (Dip 10) of the Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA). The endeavor, led by AA Unit Master Carlos Villanueva-Brandt, originally focused on the Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea Opportunity Area — the site of SOM’s New Covent Garden Market project. It has since expanded to a territory spanning north and south of the Thames River.
Dip 10 students mapped the physical and social variables that make up London’s urban condition. This was enriched by SOM’s perspective on design and delivery, as well as the firm’s experience regarding stakeholder and statutory considerations. Together, Dip 10 and SOM developed a language that integrated spaces, situations, and strategies, and translated these into physical proposals.
SOM Director of Urban Design and Planning Dan Ringelstein, SOM Associate Gareth Edwards, and SOM Designer Alida Bata led workshops and design tutorials. Experts, including those from SOM’s Structural and Civil Engineering practice, were tapped for technical tutorials. Bata worked closely with students and served as a guest critic for end-of-term juries. Ringelstein joined Bata for the 2015 end-of-year jury. The result of this collaboration will be exhibited at Projects Review 2015.
Projects Review 2015
June 27 – July 18, 2015
Architectural Association School of Architecture
36 Bedford Square
London WC1B 3ES