ELLE THOMPSON
PART 1
My Part 1 studies where completed between 2016 and 2019 at the University of Nottingham in the Department of Architecture and Built Environment (DABE). Throughout my second and third year studies, I was part of the Sustainable Communities design studio led by Alison Davies, in which the value of the built environment was understood as the product of its social, political and historical contexts . Studio process was routed in a detailed understanding of a place and the people who use it.
During this time, the studio focus was sites of significant value in the post-war architectural scene; Park Hill, Sheffield, 1950/60's social housing scheme and the largest listed building in Europe; and Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, the final effort of the UK's Post-War New-Towns Act.
Below are a selection of the key projects carried out in both locations.
Year 3 Thesis Project / University of Nottingham / (Studio) Sustainable Communities / (Tutor) Alison Davies / Completed June 2019 / DABE Urban Design Award Commended
Year 3 'Pop up' / University of Nottingham / (Studio) Sustainable Communities / (Tutor) Alison Davies / Completed November 2018
Research Project / University of Nottingham / (Studio) Sustainable Communities / (Tutor) Alison Davies / Completed October 2018
Year 2 Schools Project / University of Nottingham / (Studio) Sustainable Communities / (Tutor) Alison Davies / Completed June 2018
Joint Project with Izzy Rendell / University of Nottingham / (Studio) Sustainable Communities / (Tutor) Alison Davies / Completed March 2018
THE MK INSTITUTE
Year 3 Thesis Project
University of Nottingham
Sustainable Communities (Studio)
Alison Davies (Tutor)
Completed June 2019
As the final product of the post war New Towns Act, Milton Keynes is an unexploited example of urban planning which replaced the previous town’s masterplan’s emphasis on neigh-bourhood with a utopian vision; A town centred around public consultation and communication.
However over the past decade, a series of developments have begun to threaten the unique image of the town. By disregarding the humane agenda, the rich context and strong local voice, these developments have formed barriers between people and place, and have failed to achieve one of the six goals of the 1970’s Masterplan; public participation and awareness.
My final undergraduate project, The Institute of Milton Keynes Expertise, aims to mediate those arguing for the town to be preserved, those campaigning for constructive change, and the design profession. Through participating on a path of education into past through archives, present through views and future through proposal presentations, the MK Institute acts as an opportunity for the public to become an informed participant in the future of their Milton Keynes.
The MK Institute reinstates the aspiration of public participation and provides a platform for the topical debate of who an expert in the built environment is, and to what extent participation is accommodated, to the table.
MK 5K HUB
Year 3 Prototype
University of Nottingham
Sustainable Communities (Studio)
Alison Davies (Tutor)
Completed December 2018
Project 2, Prototype, sought to produce a piece of temporary architecture, intervening in the Milton Keynes culture observed on site and in project 1. I chose to develop a series of temporary structures serving a weekly 5K run, the MK5K, spanning the length of the central reservation of Milton Keynes renowned Midsummer Boulevard. This was with the intention of populating the streetscape, as well as strengthening the connection between Station Square and Campbell Park, outlined in the CMK alliance plan.
10 PRINCIPLES OF THE
MILTON KEYNES GRID
Year 3 Group Research Project
University of Nottingham
Sustainable Communities (Studio)
Alison Davies (Tutor)
Completed October 2018
Third year began with a unit wide project, Situation, in which we divided and conquered Milton Keynes into a series of research chapters. My group focused on the Grey Infrastructure on Milton Keynes, filtering the extensive research down to 10 fundamental principles.
PROJECT PORTFOLIO
PARK HILL PRIMARY
Year 2 Schools Project
University of Nottingham
Sustainable Communities (Studio)
Alison Davies (Tutor)
Completed June 2018
Third year began with a unit wide project, Situation, in which we divided and conquered Milton Keynes into a series of research chapters. My group focused on the Grey Infrastructure on Milton Keynes, filtering the extensive research down to 10 fundamental With a heritage of schooling and community facilities, the final project of third year set the task of designing an arts-based free school. The school was intended to serve the estate and surrounding communities, fostering a connection to the Park Hill based arts organisation, S1 ArtSpace. The site itself proposed interesting challenges with a topography which increased 9 meters from north to south, in addition to Park Hill flanks ranging from 9-14 storeys..
PROJECT PORTFOLIO
SPACES IN-BETWEEN
Year 2 Public Realm Project
Joint Project with Izzy Rendell
University of Nottingham
Sustainable Communities (Studio)
Alison Davies (Tutor)
Completed March 2018
This short group project was centred around developing the in-between spaces created by the abstract geometric forms of the Park Hill plan. As a unit, the brief was to improve the public realm of a given courtyard of the estate, designing a pub/community facility and its landscaping. My group were given the smallest of Park Hill's courtyards, occupying the south-west corner of the estate and opening out to the city and South Street Park.
