Welcomes

Introducing  our new teaching partner at UNITSIXTEEN:

Jonathan Hagos

Born in Amsterdam, brought up in the UK and of Eritrean origin, Jonathan holds a 
Bachelor of Science and Post Graduate Diploma in Architecture from the Bartlett 
School of Architecture, UCL. His work focuses on the ‘re‐illustration’ of post‐colonial 
themes such as freedom, identity and migration executed through diverse media 
such as cartography through to film and full‐scale installations. Jonathan is 
interested in the 'Architect as Cartographer' and the making of maps as 
interpretations of  our surroundings to form representations of perceived, or 
possible, realities. Jonathan's work has featured in international design journals, 
publications and exhibitions, including 'Freedom of Speech in the City’ in Barcelona 
which he curated, Tokyo Designers Week and London Design Festival.

Jonathan was Lead Tutor of the Architecture Foundation programme at the Cambridge 
School of Visual and Performing Arts, and continues to act as a visiting design critic 
at design schools around the UK. He taught with Professors Andrew Holmes and 
David Greene on the MArch course at Oxford Brookes University and will be joining 
the new undergraduate unit, Unit H at Oxford Brookes University for the upcoming 
academic year 2012-2013. 

    Welcome Back . . . . . . 

    UNITSIXTEEN                         HERRON + ISA + HAGOS

RESTORATION . . .

Unitsixteen will continue to explore the myths of the near future. Last year we studied the emerging territories of Stratford City and the Westfield center, proposing alternative Olympic legacies, a fresh new world of dreams, unparalleled, unnatural beauty and wonder.

Returning to the heart of the metropolis this year, we will consider the boundaries between wealth and power at the center of the Common-Wealth. Trafalgar Square will form the focus of our study. Imagined as a public space by John Nash, Sir Charles Barry, most recently re-modeled by Sir Norman Foster. A complex paradoxical landscape, surrounded by the symbols of lost tribes, failed ideologies and faded power. Restoration - is a collective call to challenge, to re imagine the utility and function of the institutions of state, rejecting traditions, proposing new futures for social change democracy and protest.

The year will begin with a short speculative exercise, supported by tutorials and seminars. You will be asked to reflect on the urban context of site, to uncover individual agendas and trajectories of interest. Final year students will further develop these themes into individual thesis projects. First year students will apply their findings to “The Robinson Institute” an alternative proposal for National Gallery extension site as their major building project for the year.

Field Study: To be confirmed.

Unit Support: Alford Hall Monaghan Morris Architects will continue to provide Year 4 Practice support. 

Sixteener's News And Views Coming Soon. . . 
2012-13

Follow this link to Steve Jobs How to live before you die. . .

Nostalgia for the future . . .

Unitsixteen will continue it's research into the myths of the near future. This is not a Gateway [2010-11] explored the consequences of the failure of an over dominant industry on its host city. Detroit Michigan, motor city USA was taken as a model, a city with a self inflicted dependency culture running deep into the zeitgeist of its past and future. London's own dependency on an over extended service sector was pictured against imagined banking failures, mass civil unrest, leading to unprecedented urban flight, abandoned London falls into protracted decline. A journey along the A13 was an examination of this unfamiliar hinterland. This year we will explore the heart of the new metropolis, Stratford City, an area of unparalleled unnatural beauty.

The year will begin with a series of short speculative exercises, supported by tutorials and seminars. You will be asked to reflect on the urban context of site to uncover individual agendas and trajectories of interest. Final year students will further develop these themes into individual thesis projects, critically reflecting on the legacy of Stratford City, whilst First year students will propose a series of New City Centre Institutions.

Some recommended texts:

- A Guide To The New Ruins Of Great Britain by Owen Hatherly [2010] 

- EVIL PARADISES Dreamworlds of Neoliberalism edited by Mike Davis + Daniel Bertrand Monk [2007] 

- COLD WAR HOTHOUSES edited by Beatriz Colomina, Annmarie Brennan and Jeannie Kim [2004] 

- Robert Smithson - The collected writings edited by Jack Flam [1996] 

- Towards an Architecture by Le Corbusier, Jean-Louis Cohen and John Goodman [2008]

- Kingdom Come by JG Ballard [2006] Further information and links see http://unitsixteen.blogspot.com

Unit support:

Philip Turner of Alford Hall Monaghan Morris Architects will continue to act as our practice tutor

Fellow Travelers . .

As some you may have already heard, Susanne and I will be leaving the Bartlett and The University of Westminster to take up new positions at the University of Greenwich.

I will become the new Academic Leader in Architectural Technology, along side Nic Clear as the new Academic Leader in Architectural Design, together with Howard Gilby Head of School and Neil Spiller as Dean we will form the senior management team across the School of Architecture. Susanne will be joining as a Senior Lecturer in Design Communication.

This is not a decision that any of us have taken lightly. The Bartlett and Westminster has given us the opportunity to work with many exceptionally talented and gifted individuals many of whom have become close friends.

We will continue to develop our teaching research through the speculative vehicle of Unit16 relocated to Greenwich along side Nic Clear with Unit 15 and Neil Spiller Unit 19 amongst others.

The demolition phase for the new building is well underway, with construction work programmed to start in early September.

BLUEPRINT ISSUE 306

Pictured above: Meor Haris K Barin’s drawing for his final project 
at the Bartlett School of Architecture, whicb features on the cover 
of this month’s issue . .


Inside Bong Yeung pages 52-53 SuperFarm perspective