The Spires Live Project

Presenation Slideshow

2008-11-21T16:14:00.001Z

Presentation2

2008-11-06T21:57:00.004Z

So the presentation of our liveproject work was held earlier today and it went really well. I will update some event photos/video and group reactions as I get hold of them. But for now I leave you with Tom taking a break from our late night presentation preperation.

Presentation

2008-11-06T15:53:00.000Z

Check. (more to come)

Collective Action...

2008-11-05T13:55:00.004Z

2008-11-05T13:52:00.000Z

Team meal

2008-10-31T19:49:00.004Z

A little late to be posted but on Tuesday night we went out for some team bonding food eating drinking event. (More images to come at a later date)

Where the wild things are

2008-10-31T19:31:00.005Z

Tree Planting

2008-10-30T20:58:00.006Z

With help from Ed Thatcher, the community forester we have successfully planted 10 new trees on site, Silver Birch, Pyrus calleryana Chantitcleer, Tamarix aestivalis, Liquidambar styraciflua Acalycina and Tilia platyphyllos Rubra. Now I'm not a tree expert but they all look pretty good (except the two that just look like sticks, but I'm sure they'll grow)

Holes need digging, trees go in them, stakes need driving in, and the trees then strapped up

Andrew does his best to help Dan with the tree placement.

The tree for the central courtyard island is readied which will all look grand.

2008-10-27T21:34:00.007Z

Concrete delivery - 27.10.08

2008-10-27T18:12:00.004Z

Monday morning and it's a 9am start, we return to site to find that Sunday's wet weather has filled our trenches with water and crumbled the neat edges that we'd carefully prepared the previous day.

With thanks to Keepmoat we received our concrete delivery at midday and quickly set about laying our foundations, spreading and shovelling the mix along the trench.

Moving the concrete to create a level foundation, Miles, Ryan, Matt H and Phil scrape the mix along the line.

More concrete is poured into the hexagon and is tamped to give the flat surface.

After much effort the concrete is got into the right places and is spread evenly throughout, it is left to cure for the remainder of the day and will hopefully have set by this time tomorrow.

The next job is to clean the tools as no one wants concrete clogging up their tools.

Phil makes sure that his boots are returned to the clean and sparkly condition.

The plan...

2008-10-26T12:14:00.003Z

Opps, we've managed to get this far without putting the plan up, so without any further delay here it is.

Friday Report - 24.10.08

2008-10-25T18:51:00.003+01:00

Friday was a very busy day. The council 's fencing contractors arrived early to put in the gate posts for the new entrance to the site. Then the mechanical digger and dumper truck came and put in a hard days graft, digging out the trench for our proposed log wall and skillfully crafting trenches for the new ramp and hexagonal raised platform. This all happens quickly and pretty soon the trenches are complete and ready fo us to tidy and peg out.

We got stuck in with the digging up of tarmac for the grass island infront of the garages, using spades and pick axe to remove the surface.

Miles makes good use of the theodolite to ensure the foundations will be set at the correct level, whilst Tom and Gooch discuss the finer points of tarmac removal.

The day was exhausting and a lot happened, there is now a definite sign of our work on site, you'd be hard pressed not to notice what was going on. Hopefully the following days will continue in this positive vein and we'll have some real progress on site at the Spires.

Digger on site - 24.10.08

2008-10-24T20:23:00.003+01:00

Today we had a digger on site to break the ground and create the trenches for the foundations of the ramp and raised areas. Report to follow.

Marking out - 23.10.08

2008-10-23T23:50:00.003+01:00

The Spires, ready for transformation.

Making our mark.

Gooch watches intently, whilst Andrew ponders.

The latest brick delivery.

Tom marks out a revised path.

Discussions are had regarding the path from the gate.

Circle Time

2008-10-23T23:45:00.003+01:00

Not a constructive use of our time, but fun all the same.

T-Shirt Printing

2008-10-21T12:37:00.028+01:00

For the 'Let's Break In' event, Gooch and I set about getting the pinkest T-Shirts H&M had to offer. These beauties matched our flyers perfectly but we still had to brand them with 'The Spires Live Project' if we wanted to look like a well organised, approachable team and not just 10 randomers who had embarrassingly turned up in the same garish pink top.

The spray paint we tried initially didn't take to the fabric and produced a faint, diffused blur of white letters. We then hand painted within the stencil; this was blotchy and the paint bled at the edges. The problems of this time-consuming process were compounded when the blobs of wet paint stuck to other parts of the T-Shirts, spreading the mayhem.

With an inspired idea and a teeny-weeny roller we perfected the printing process.

The cost of innovation is high, the first 3 T-Shirts out of our workshop were sort of '3D'; this limited edition run may become highly valuable as the demand for Spires-Wear (c) spirals, though be warned, they are likely to cause motion sickness in sensitive people.

Let's Break In - photo report

2008-10-19T22:13:00.007+01:00

The day at the Spires begins at 10am with a litter picking session, the kids get involved and it becomes a competitive activity. This is followed by the chalks being rolled out and the hexagon we layout is soon decorated by drawings of rockets, smiling people and sunshine.

The van returns and we all muck in to unload the first of many block paviers.

A drink and cake break is definitely needed as the pile continues to grow.

Alistair gets to work marking out the area for the new pedestrian entrance to the site.

The lawnmower comes with its own set of problems, but eventually Gooch has the grass tamed.

The last of the 1617 blocks are stored successfully.

Team photo at the end of the Let's Break In event, a brilliant but exhausting start to site works.

Design Team Meeting

2008-10-19T17:34:00.007+01:00

The display board, arranged by Alistair and Andrew shows our posters and documenting our design and consultation so far.

The Spires design drawing illustrates our concepts for the public face of the community centre. Key ideas include the creation of a new entrance into the building in a more prominent location adjacent to the street with an associated raised outdoor area, and a log seating wall that runs from a new pedestrian gate to the garage wall and which will enclose a planted courtyard area.

In our Friday morning meeting we talked through our latest design proposals with Alistair, Jenny and John. Working together we discussed further iterations and potential improvements to the design, that included a separation of car park form external pedestrian space and a more refined planting plan along side East Bank Road.

Later that day, we all met with Council Assets Manager, Gary Beatson. We ran through our ideas and described to him our vision for the public face of the Spires building. He was helpful in discussing the practicalities of the work and very positive in response to our proposals.

Do you know this monster?

2008-10-17T15:47:00.002+01:00

The Spires Centre needs YOU...

2008-10-15T23:10:00.012+01:00

The LiveProject Team and The Miracle Trust are hosting an event at The Spires Centre (600 East Bank Road, Arbourthorne) entitled "Let's Break In" on Saturday 18th October, starting at 10am... everybody is welcome!

JOIN US @ THE SPIRES ON SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER & MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

-Free drinks and cakes!

Painting, planting, digging, arts and crafts, chatting and more... something for everyone of all ages!

If you fancy getting stuck in then please remember to come prepared with suitable outdoor clothing. If that's not your cup of tea, then please feel free to contribute any cakes or just to help out making teas - or of course just come along for the fun of it!

What's the idea behind "Let's Break In"?

We want you, as members of the Arbourthorne Community to take part in shaping the entrance to The Spires Community Centre. We want you to get want you want, for The Spires Centre to be your centre - the only way this will be possible is if you helps us: let's penetrate the fence, let's have a visible entrance, let's make The Spires stand out.... Let's Break In! (Sat 18th Oct).

Football on a wet Tuesday.

2008-10-14T22:00:00.004+01:00

Relegated to playing on a local field, due to the sports centre closing because of a power outage. The conditions underfoot were wet and slippery, as the youth club and architecture students gathered for a kick around.

The treacherous conditions evened out the playing standard, many ending up on the floor as the ball was jostled for.

Goals were going in at both ends in an evenly fought game, Tom was guilty of squandering many of his teams chances as they pressed hard, but the defence of Team Gooch was solid if a little unsightly, breaking and counter attacking swiftly, it was all to no avail as Team Tom eventually ran out 7-5 winners.

2008-10-14T10:01:00.002+01:00

This resource could come in handy for Saturday. Anyone for lemon drizzle?

Sunday morning design consultation.

2008-10-13T23:13:00.014+01:00

So we found ourselves at the Arbourthrone Community Church for the service on Sunday morning. Alistair had allowed us the opportunity to talk to the congregation and engage them in a participation and consultation exercise. The service began in its usual manner with the gathered people joining in worship and then the floor was opened to us. Tom, dressed up specially for the occasion, delivered a quick PowerPoint presentation and then introduced the topics for discussion in our small groups.

Ideas for making the building more visible to the estate come thick and fast, including painting the breeze blocks, lighting the building with colour and a giant shark coming out of the roof. (thanks Andrew)

We also discussed the need for the community centre to advertise its events, be this through a notice board, digital projection or using a giant fan to ticker tape the estate with the events. (another useful Andrew suggestion)

Venturing outside allowed us to rediscover our attitudes to the building and to try and see how it is perceived by people who don't currently attend the Spires.

Felt pens were used to document ideas through notes, descriptions and drawings.

At the end of the session we brought our ideas together and collated them on a white board, using this as a premise for further discussion about how our ideas might be beneficial to the Spires building and to the community on Arbourthorne estate.

Meet Alistair.

2008-10-13T22:38:00.004+01:00

alternatively send us a picture from your modelling portfolio and we'll upload that.

Let's Break In

2008-10-12T18:38:00.003+01:00

The new leaflets go down well.

Work on the 15th floor.

2008-10-10T17:07:00.004+01:00

The Friday Night Thang - Part 2

2008-10-10T11:36:00.000+01:00

Recognising possibility.

2008-10-10T09:34:00.008+01:00

After discussion with the client, our ideas are formed into what we want to acheive in the remaining few weeks and what we will leave in place for completion at a later date.

Quickly drafted masterplanning exercises help inform our ideas.

We make aesthetic occupations.

2008-10-10T09:14:00.003+01:00

Check out this evocative webcomic by guerrilla architects In The Field.

Barriers?

2008-10-09T21:55:00.005+01:00

I've recently been pointed in the direction of artist Andreas Bergmann whose work is described as reconsidering barriers and inviting to dwell.

St Mary's: an inspiration

2008-10-09T17:43:00.011+01:00

St Mary's Sheffield is a church, community centre, and more. The building was converted in the late '90s to include a variety of new facilities. Besides the main church hall, used for conferences as well as services, the church building houses a variety of flexible meeting and breakout spaces. During the renovation, the churchyard walls were removed, allowing it to become a thoroughfare with seating areas. It is one of the largest green spaces in the area and provides a welcoming and inclusive frontage to the church. Two small businesses also operate within, a design practice and a print shop.

Inner city areas tend to suffer from a lack of social cohesion. The people living there often come from many different countries and are quite transient. There is high unemployment, and problems in engaging with schools, health and leisure services. People lack the basic opportunities that many of us take for granted.
Through our team of Community Development workers, St Mary’s aims to respond to these issues.

This morning Matthew and I met with Reverand Julian Sullivan who gave us a tour of the building and explained some of the varied work that goes on in St Mary's. Especially impressive was their use of capital from the conference and other operations to fund their community work.

'I'll meet you at the Spires' 'Where?'

2008-10-09T09:40:00.006+01:00

We're getting hung up on the tarmac...heres an alternitive appoarch to depaving.

We've also had a fair few ideas like 'identity', 'brand' and 'meeting place' floating about.

Grass - as a public meeting point?

2008-10-08T23:37:00.001+01:00

PLATOON, CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT - PLATOON
Berlin, Germany, 2006

Youth Club + Pens = ???

2008-10-08T10:02:00.002+01:00

Whilst not being entirely sure what is meant by it all, there are recurring themes within this manic drawing. Providing the Spires with a more recognisable identity within the community seems to be a key one, what with 'The Spires' blimp and one-eyed monster looming large over the area and the Arbourthorne baranding on the fence.

Survey Saturation

2008-10-07T16:23:00.002+01:00

This morning Dan and myself went over to the spires fully equipped with the necessaries for a survey to pin down the location of some of those trees, telegraph poles and the drainage. We valiantly fought the weather, which was mainly wind driven rain (the Spires is rather exposed on top of a hill), and just about won, though the concrete dust mixed in with the rain from the demolitions next door almost got the better of us.

The end result was though in fact slightly better than hoped for. We’ve been left with one very soggy bit of paper with measurements marked on in pencil so the ink doesn’t run, we’ve done this before you see, and some useful information from the demolitions contractor next door. We also managed to help a confused BT engineer who couldn’t work out what was being demolished and sympathise with a local resident about uncoordinated street works. Alistair was right, people on the estate talk to you more when you put a pair of site boots on.

No photos Im afraid - far to wet.

Vegetable Printing

2008-10-07T14:17:00.008+01:00

So with all the pools of paint finally having dried we can bring you a collection of paintings from the children at The Spires Playgroup. Using potato, carrot, pepper, mushrooms and broccoli paint was printed, dotted and smeared on paper creating a vibrant mess of primary colour.

watch this space - the posters

2008-10-07T13:08:00.016+01:00

As a kick-off to the publication of the 6 week long live project at The Spires Community Centre, an intial series of 4 posters have been displayed on and around the site.

The primary aim of these posters is to raise local awareness of the live project taking place at The Spires Community Centre.

The nature of the direction of the project is such that there isn't a linear train of thought or purpose to it; but on the contrary a multi-directional, multi-purposed goal.

This introductory poster (labelled 01 bottom right hand corner) reading "something is happpening" suggests that there are a lot of questions to be asked... What is happening?... where, when how, who's involved?

It has been produced and displayed in the hope that it will draw some attention and trigger some thoughts, about what we are trying to do, but also what people would like us to do? We deliberately kept the poster ambiguous to avoid constraining the project at an early stage.

Ultimately, we want to get as many people involved with the centre as possible; through publications, events and participation of the community in any physical building work that may take place.

One of the main aims of the project is to build up a greater number of attendees to The Spires Centre; young and old from all walks of life.

One of the problems identified is the aesthetic of the building itself. From the outside it is a very defensive, inward looking building with exposed harsh dull-grey breeze blocks. This aesthetic is far from inviting; in fact its almost fortress-like, and stands as a clear barrier between the beautiful, cosy, friendly environment within and the newcomer.

The statement "its timber inside" is aimed at getting potential newcomers to breakdown their thoughts of the external appearance being reflected inside - Its warm and inviting.

A large part of the project is to get more people from the surrounding community and beyond to want to check out the centre, What would make you want to visit? a new aesthetic may be part of a solution, or perhaps a landmark, a play/cafe or other facility... Please comment on your thoughts.

A rather striking statistic makes of the statement on another of the three posters in series two (labelled 02 bottom right hand corner), "15,000 people, 13 hexagonal buildings." This draws on the fact that The Spires Centre (in the form of 13 hexagonal buildings) is one very few community centres serving the 15,000 people in Arbourthorne have to go to; despite this the number of centre members is much lower than it should be...why?

Why don't more people come? What could get more people in?
What would you change to get more people involved with the centre? Help us give The Spires a physical identity!

One of the most basic, but most significant problems the centre has is the confusion of entering the centre, and we ask this question on this poster, "where is the entrance?" Currently, any newcomer, including myself will have to find a gap in the tall mesh fence off to one side, then feel their way around from the road facade of the building round to the rear of the building to enter into the bowls of the building away from sight. The poster also addresses the issue of introductions to the activities/services, how did you find out about it, word of mouth? The question makes people think about the first time coming to the centre, asking this to both regular users and apprehensive locals who don't, as yet, use the Spires.

One of the main objectives is to physically announce the entrance, be it through signage, landscaping, a purposeful function or by some other means. We want to know how you'd like the entrance to be?

The content of the posters will continue to evolve as we ask more questions and focus on the requirements, and receive feedback from our consultations in Arbourthorne... Keep your eyes peeled!

Race to the Spires

2008-10-07T12:42:00.000+01:00

Depave!

2008-10-07T11:05:00.007+01:00

Let's rip up that asphalt and let the earth breathe!

"Depave has been created to inspire and promote the removal of unnecessary concrete and asphalt from urban areas."

How to depave.

Design Ideas Session

2008-10-07T09:56:00.010+01:00

Found Ideas.

Well thought through ideas.

Exciting Ideas. Successful Ideas.

Discussed Ideas.

you can stand under my umbrella.

2008-10-06T22:55:00.004+01:00

BLOOM - SAM SPENSER
The Wapping Project, Wapping, London, 2007

SECTION 08 CONTAINER BAR - DIRETRIBE

Melbourne, Austrailia, 2008

Arbourthorne Community Church

2008-10-05T19:35:00.015+01:00

We arrived early and put up some posters up outside on the fence, when we entered the centre we were greeted by friendly faces and a very welcome hot drink, the worship group were practicing and there were children running and playing.

Church service on this Sunday morning dispensed with its proposed start time and informally began once the members of its congregation had filtered through the doors. The band played some upbeat songs of praise and led the members in a time of worship. With the young children going to creche and 'jump church' the congregation were then invited to share in communion. Alistair (church leader) shared the story of David and Goliath and encouraged the assembly with a message of being 'hope carriers' in the community and in life. After the service there was time to chat with the regulars and have another drink and biscuit.

The Spires Community Centre

2008-10-05T18:20:00.021+01:00

Being a positive beacon in the community is difficult at best and even more so when you are working out of a defensive looking building that is less than inviting. You want to have a fun and approachable outlook but the estate you are working with is seperated from your building by a security fence, cracked asphalt and grey concrete blocks.

In stark contrast the interior is a series of bright, warm timber clad hexagonal spaces, interconnecting through steps and ramps, a dramatic and exciting space unfolds. The objective of our project is to complement the internal spaces with a fun, exterior landscaped area that connects through to the estate and creates a more approachable and recognisable entrance to the building.

The Friday Night Thang

2008-10-05T17:14:00.026+01:00

What better way to get to know The Spires' youth club users than with a friendly game of pool? Gooch and Matthew threw together a tournament while Andrew (one of the centre's full time staff and a full time laugh) organised a shakeshack of exotic milkshakes and smoothies. Crunchie and Rolo shake comes highly recomended for those with a sweet tooth!

Although the tournament didn't get finished (we hope to wrap it up next week) we did get some drawing done:

From cheese to daleks, netto to ninjas, and zipwires to zepplins, the ideas were flowing a lot faster than the pool, and even the sky was no limit!

Community Forester Brings Green Touch to Live Project...

2008-10-02T21:18:00.009+01:00

The Spires was the site of our first meeting with the Community Forester. Meeting with myself and Matt we discussed the possibilities for the site and the resources and knowledge he could offer us for this project. With pleasing enthusiasm he was able to provide us with a generous amount of planting ranging from mature trees to shrubs and bulbs all of which should contribute towards the planned transformation of the external spaces at The Spires.

Kids and Vegetables (Mums and Toddlers)

2008-10-02T12:53:00.017+01:00

Today we had our first meeting with the users of the Spires Centre, the Thursday morning Playgroup. Everyone was very welcoming and bursting with ideas to improve the centre.

We had planned on doing some potato painting, but the other vegetables were even more of a hit! We had fun getting to know mums and kids alike, and spread the word: 'something is happening'.

content is coming...

2008-10-01T18:26:00.001+01:00

...as soon as we get our act together.