Bloomsbury is celebrated as one of the leading knowledge quarters worldwide; with combination of the right mix of universities, research institutes, public realm, transportation hubs and networking assets. Our unit set out to study how architecture can contribute to this urban innovation environment.
Firstly we analysed the SOAS Library and Bedford way by Denys Lasdun as examples of knowledge typologies. Through drawing we attempted to understand how a building can do more than merely 'look pretty'.
Then, informed by the theories of the urban design practice Publica, we examined the public spaces in which these buildings sit, using a combination of on-site recording, mapping, and desk-based analysis.
Finally, building on the conclusions of our previous work we proposed a new intervention within this context to aid permeability and knowledge exchange, working up our designs to 1:200 with a constant consideration of context and the functioning of Bloomsbury as an urban artefact.
