4ES: One Semester In

University of Bath’s new home for Architecture and Civil Engineering, from a student’s perspective.

By Zeid Truscott

4ES, the new home to the 1st, 3rd and 4th year studios, opened last September and now, one semester in, I thought it would be a good time to review it.

Like all projects in this department, a project success is measured by how it compares to the Learning Objectives set out in the brief. Since I don’t have the brief and would have different objectives compared to the University I thought it was worth coming up with some student focussed Learning Objectives:

LO1: The studios should provide spaces to accommodate full year groups (10%)

LO2: The studios should provide a variety of learning environments (20%)

LO3: facilitate the 24 hour studio lifestyle (30%)

LO4: be a warm, well lit environment (20%)

LO5: provide new and improved spaces for crits (10%)

LO6: facilitate a strong community with the year (10%)

LO1: Yes

Currently the studio spaces should accommodate full architecture years, though it does get cramped in group projects and may not accommodate everyone in the future with the student number increasing.

LO2: Not quite.

It would be nice if the studios had different room sizes and desk layouts like the studios in 6E, though the large open space is great for community making.

LO3: Getting there

The fact that we have a kitchen for each studio, 24 hour access and showers is amazing. However, vending machines and beds would be very much appreciated.

LO4: Getting there

The artificial lighting is amazing, the natural lighting is ok but, the frosted windows are giving me cabin fever. The heating is also quite good, but it would be nice if it stayed on past 2am.

LO5: Yes

The new building does have great crit bays that sit next to the studios. This means, for a crit you only have to move a few steps to pin up, however, with the loss of access to the old crit room it has become a bit of a pain for those based in 6E.

LO6: Yes

The large double height spaces are a great community building space. In the 3rd year studios the spaces have facilitated many year group events like; the Christmas bauble competition, studio buffet, project awards and secret santa (with Christmas tree).

Overall score: 67% or a high 2:1