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N E X T G E N E R AT I O N ARCHITECTURAL P R A C T I C E
‘LIVE-BUILD’
LEWIS GRANT Architectural M a s t e r s N e w s p a p e r 2 0 1 5 / 1 6 2 0 1 5 5 5 6 4 6
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‘5 SILOS’ OTHER WAYS OF DOING
CONSULTATION
EDUCATION
NEO-TRADITIONAL
CREATIVE
‘LIVE BUILD’
- Speculative - Collaborative - Self Initiated - Competitions - Exhibitions
- Workshops - Research - Links to Universities - Experimentation - Environment
- Small Scale Domestic - ARB Part III Experience - Context - Diverse body of work - Locality
- Collaborative - Engagement - Participation - Art - Events
- Folly - Experiment - Education - Community - Construction
In the wake of yet another global recession which had a signifi cant and detrimental effect on the construction industry, the next generation of the architectural profession have turned to ‘other ways of doing architecture’. These ‘other ways of doing’ are not new ideas, they have been used by the architects of generations past, however there has been an infl ux in new, emerging architectural practices, made from architectural graduates of the last 10 years, who have embraced them through a modern socially engaged way of thinking. At a time in the profession when ‘change’ is an important theme of both the education system and the modes of professional practice, a new generation of architects are reinvigorating ‘spatial tools’ for a new time of social media and inter-connectivity. By categorising them into fi ve discernible silos - ‘Live Build’, Education, Consultation, Creative and Neo-Traditional - we gain a comprehensive understanding of the current approaches to a new generation of practice. This understanding then leads us to accurately suggest a potential outlook for young architects when looking to the future. With limited resource on a live subject and at an important moment in the evolution of the architectural profession, this study looks towards the emerging methods and the innovative set of ‘tools’ which comes with them that are stretching the defi nition of what it is to be an architect. This mindset has created a new trend in next generation architectural practice that looks to become more inherent within a mainstream practice that is continuing to diversify.
Contents Intro
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Live Build Matrix
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ONE
Get a project
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TWO
Design
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THREE
Prepare
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Four
Build
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Five
Record
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Alternative practice Studio Bark
Intro The Live Build project is defined by the fact that all examples are inherently concerned with construction experience for students of architecture. Although many examples are interested in blurring the boundaries between education and practice the Live Build distinguishes itself from the professional practice of architecture through the scale of projects and and elements of unskilled participation.
Art - Mhor Micro
Most literature on this subject focuses on how to best implement the Live Build in the architectural curriculum. This user’s manual aims to provide a more general guide for establishing an architectural Live Build project, whether within academia or not. Drawing from a wide and ever-expanding field of study the guide has gathered together lessons from sources that include first hand experience and cutting edge examples from around the world to compile a thorough stepby-step guide for anyone interested in running a Live Build event. There are several forms that the Live Build event tends to take, the main types would be classed under one or more of the following:
Community centricRural Studio
- Alternative practice. A build event as part of a professional project, often linked to design and build type firm. - Art. A build event that’s output is an object or sculptural piece. - Community centric. A build that concerns itself primarily with the improvement of a community which often involves the revitalisation of or the creation of a necessary facility.
Education - Tog Studio
- Education. All Live Build events have an element of education, however some are purely for the purpose of teaching students skills or processes involved in construction. - Experimental/ research. A construction event or process entirely focused on discovering something new about a structure or material.
Experimental Architecture Challenge
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Live build matrix T ype
Alternative practice
Art
The Live Build matrix can be used as a tool to understand the relevant decisions required to be made while considering the planning of a Live Build project. Before using consider the available resources and the desired outcomes of the event you want to run.
Community Centric
Education
Experimental/ research
cation Lo Daily travel
Excursion
1 day
18 months
Time
Scale
p rtici an
ts
Pa
S
Application process
M
Students of academic institution
L
Open call
cilities Fa On-site
Prefab
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nding Fu Self-funded
Sponsor
Tuition fees
Tr avel
Client
Participants make
Coach hire
their own way
for team
r Sou ce Self-initiated
CLient / Project
Collaboration
anen rm
ce
Pe
waiting
Temporary
at erial M Local to site
Permanent
Long delivery time
sig De n Participants build
Participant design
only
and build
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ONE. Get a project Description Similarly to the architectural profession there are several modes of procuring a Live Build project. The following are typical examples of this - Self-initiated/Open call - Client commission - Institution based programme Whether setting up a one-off event or establishing a reoccurring programme of Live Builds the method of gaining a project is important as this has a large bearing on the limits and possibilities that a project will incur during its process. The components necessary for a Live Build project can be distilled into three main categories - Client, Team and Funding (as shown in the Venn diagram). The client element also includes the brief and site for the project. Furthermore, for a successful build the team should include members with design and/or construction expertise and can also include a wide range of design/build participants. An open call approach would generally be taken in the situation where there is the desire of a team to set up a Live Build project however they lack a client and funding. It is essentially advertising for clients to come forward based on any previous worksthe team has to offer. A self-initiated project is similar to the open call method however it is generally the case where a team acts as their own client to develop a brief and design. With this they
Self-initiated project
Client commission
Institution based programme
“ ...the ultimate goal of the program is to educate the students, while concurrently improving the quality of life in rural Alabama, one of the poorest regions in the United States.�
approach potential funder/client in anticipation of gaining funding and a site. To aid the self-initiated approach the team can consider sponsorships as a method of funding. Client commission situations are where there is the a client who approaches a live build team to establish a project. The client often has funds to achieve the project but it can also be the case that a collaboration between the team and client must take place to achieve further funding from sponsors. The institution based programme is the most common of approaches. These generally use student tuition fees as the funding component and involves the students along with tutors and other collaborators to establish the team. A client can take many different forms. Usually external collaborators provide suitable clients although the institution itself can act in this role. External collaborators can include charities, local communities or organisations. Often students are charged with establishing external collaborations as part of the process of a Live Build project as a resourcefulness exercise. One of the reasons this is the most common model is due to the regularity of funding.
Establish good relationships
Gather a diverse team
Advice It can be worthwhile spending time to establish a good collaboration with whichever client type is part of the Live Build process. This is key to the success of the project itself but it also holds potential for future projects to arise. After one project has taken place the groundwork has been established and makes it easier to repeat the process rather than to establish anew. It is important to establish a diverse team so that each person can bring something new to the team dynamics but also so that extensive peer learning can take place. An ethos of shared ownership of the end project is key to how efficiently the team works together. A conflict can occur if team members feel that they are not creating something that they feel a sense of ownership over, reducing motivation and ultimately damaging the success of the project. This can stem from competition based design processes, which can be successful in creating a relationship to professional architecture procurement methods. This should be facilitated within the agreed ideology established amongst the team throughout the project.
Ensure a clear and shared ethos amongst the team
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TWO. Design Description Inherently creative, the Live Build involves a degree of designing in their process. This generally includes stages similar to those in architectural profession (RIBA Plan of Work); conceptual design, design development and technical design. The two main methods for initial design phases for a Live Build are:
Competition based design process with consensus vote from team
Competition based design process with consensus vote from team
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Competition run amongst team. Design team in correspondence with a client.
Most often in institution run Live Build projects a brief will be given and either groups or individuals within the larger team will come up with proposals to meet this brief. The proposals can then be judged amongst the team to determine which to proceed with (this can be short term design proposals or long term with opportunity to give feedback and develop the designs before deciding on which design(s) to proceed with). The second option involves a design team which can be made up of an individual or a group within the larger team. They are charged with the design responsibility for the project which can involve interactions with the client in establishing a brief and getting feedback on the development process. As in professional architectural practice the client has ultimate decision on what the project becomes. Where the type of project is experimental the design team often have most flexibility over the design as the outcome is often less important than the process itself. In a self-initiated project the design team also act as the clients, theorising scenarios and briefs to come up with designs that are inherently generic and flexible to suit a range of potential clients.
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“Technology is best understood by making” Ambition / achievability balance
Be experimental
Advice The ideal situation for an educational design process is where the participants have a level of responsibility through the design and build process and ultimately get to understand how their designs provide for the end users. This feedback loop allows the designer to witness the implications of their intentions both as a construction process and as a functioning object which helps to develop design abilities in the ‘real world’. As with any design process it is important to understand the end user or the ultimate goal of what is being created. A healthy relationship with the client is essential to ensure that what is being created fulfils the desired outcomes. In the design of any Live Build project it is important to have a good balance between ambition and achievability. A level of ambition will increase the team, and potentially the clients, motivation for the project to be achieved. As well as this there is a chance that the value of learning will increase due to the amount of adaptability and mistakes that are likely to happen throughout the process. Achievability is key to consider depending on how experienced the team or programme is. If it is a newly established programme and the first attempt is overly ambitious to the point that the project is a failure, this may not only be a waste of time but may also prevent the potential for future projects to ensue due to a negative experience. The project should be ambitious within itself. The Live Build is a good testing ground for new technologies, materials and structures. It is widely agreed that any inclusion of experimentation or research in a Live Build projects will be valuable as a learning aspect but also useful for the professions increasing involvement with technology. Projects are often restricted, at the design phase, to simple materials and simple construction methods which is often the most sensible given the nature of the Live Build (low skill sets and budget restraints), however the boundary should be pushed where possible.
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THREE. Prepare A large portion of the Live Build process is dedicated to logistical organisation. Generally the things to be considered in the planing of a project are as follows: - Participant gathering - Funding - Sourcing tools and materials - Transport, accommodation & food - Collaborators - Programming Logistical organisation means a great deal of correspondence between a great deal of different people. This, in itself, is time consuming and adequate time should be assumed for things like email replies and holiday breaks (especially over the summer months when Live Builds most often happen). If it is required that more participants are required in addition to those involved in organising the event then it is important to do this as early in the process as possible. This can happen during the design stage of the process however it helps to have a ‘vision’ of the outcome upon which participants can be attracted. The size of team on any project should be considered. Institution based Live Build projects range from 2- 135 and often involve a range of projects happening simultaneously within one over arching programme. It is important to consider the ratio of participants to supervisors for management and safety reasons. Too many participants to supervisors can result in lack of efficiency. Too few participants and there may be a missed opportunity for many teamwork lessons to be learned (i.e. Operating in a production lines). Regardless of the type of project it is important to have a suitable number of team of organisers to be able to manage logistic organisation, correspondence and design so that the organisation of key element doesn’t get held up and so that there are enough people on hand to deal with any complications that arise. How to fund a Live Build is fundamental to the creation of an event. The expenses of a Live Build can include tuition, accommodation, food, transport, materials, tools, delivery, prefabrication and facility use. In institution based projects and other examples the Live Build can be funded through tuition fees. This usually includes the cost of participants any accommodation, transport and food that might be required for the event. In these cases the materials costs are normally financed through sponsors and are not charged to the participants. Client commission and self-initiated projects often offer participants the opportunity to volunteer their labour and creative design input in return for the construction experience opportunity. As participants are essentially offering free labour for construction experience and tuition it is important that the experience is of high value to them regardless of the type of project. Aid with funding can often be sourced from material suppliers. Depending on the project type materials can be chosen and used in such a way that the material supplier may be interested in sponsoring the project if it can be useful for promotion of their products. Sponsorships can aid in the funding of Live Builds depending on the type of project that is being undertaken.
Allow time and enough team member to handle correspondence between many different parties involved in the project
Gather participants
£ Organise and handle funding
Materials and fixings for the build should be itemised during the detailed design phase of the project and ordered as soon as possible. A contingency of 15-25% of materials should be included in the order depending on the type of materials being used and on the skill level of the team. Time for delivery should be accounted for and depending on quantity of materials, time for ordering in should be accounted for. Back up options for all should be considered so that in the event of any plans falling through there is no time wasted in sourcing an alternative. Tools required for the build should also be ordered in plenty of time taking into account the likelihood of damages occurring to the tools if unskilled participants are involved. If it is a one off event the quality and quantity of tools purchased may vary. A programme being established with plans to become ongoing may want to invest in good tools that are able to last. Safety is an issue to be addressed with tools. It should be determined whether power tools are going to be used or if it is going to be hand tools only. Each option has their own implications such as insurance, speed of construction and learning outcomes. Similarly safety equipment should be considered in the same manner. If it is a one off event it is probably unfeasible to order steel toe capped boots for all involved, however this may be a worthwhile investment if a longer term programme is established. The extent of safety equipment and clothing (PPE) should be considered as a health and safety aspect depending on the event itself. A comprehensive risk assessment should be carried out for all events.
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Organise necessary safety wear
Ensure all materials and tools are ordered in plenty of time and delivered to required locations
Depending on the location of the Live Build event transport and accommodation may be required. Any transport hire should be organised as far in advance as possible, drivers should check that they have appropriate licenses. Similarly accommodation should be organised far in advance for financial and availability reasons. Opportunities for camping can keep costs low and potentially make the event more viable for participants. Meals for the team should be planned out prior to the build event ensuring that all dietary requirements are known and catered for. Depending on arrangements of the event food storage or delivery may have to be considered. It is important to involve expertise in various aspects of the event. Depending on the materials and processes being used as many professionals able to deliver high quality advice or tuition should be involved as possible to make it a valuable experience for participants and ensure high quality construction outcomes. A detailed itinerary should be prepared and developed over the course of the preparation phase of the project. This should be inherently flexible to accommodate changes that are likely to occur. It can be used to send out to participants prior to the event to give an idea of what is going to take place and to initiate motivation for the project. A programme can also be useful for foreshadowing the sequencing of events and highlight any issues that are likely to arise.
Involve expertise
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Make a detailed itinerary
Organise necessary transport, accommodation and food
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Ensure to carry out site briefings so that the full team is aware of the objectives
FOUR. Build
Ensure there are sensible places provided for shelter, eating, tool storage, materials storage and machinery access. Also consider power and water supply location relative to working areas
Consider how production lines can operate for maximum efficiency. Location relative to materials, work areas and site are all important to plan out.
“It needs to be stressed that learning by example is not only the best and most effective way to learn architecture, it is arguably the only effective way to learn any complex body of knowledge.”
Organise team into smaller groups depending on team size and number of tasks to be completed at once.
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The build stage of the project is generally the ‘main event’. All other parts of the process either lead up to or reflect on this stage. It is where the planning and theorising comes into reality and as such the most pressures are to be found. On-site construction can involve a range of issues and it should be expected to regularly problem solve and even make amendments to the design on-site. The build event can take place in a range of locations. It can happen in an off-site warehouse type location for the finished build to then be delivered to its final site. The build can also happen in an urban or rural site with various conditions to be taken into consideration. Whatever location the build is taking place in it can be useful to prepare the site. This is good for organisers to get to grips with the site before it becomes crowded. Any site dangers should be identified and spaces for shelter, tool storing and food breaks should be assigned. If there are participants new to the project only joining for the build phase they should be brought up to speed with the background to the project and its overall intentions. A site briefing should be given before the event begins and at relevant moments throughout the build. Groups should be organised, encouraging participants to mix up teams regularly so that all participants have an idea of what it is like to work with all types of people and so that boundaries are broken amongst the team. It can be a good education exercise to delegate responsibility to others within the team.
The sharing of tools is also important to consider and this can determine the order of construction to avoid delays. Make time to pre-organise teams before commencing on-site. Take into consideration the skill levels of individuals.
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FIVE. Record The process of the Live Build itself is a valuable one for all involved. To capitalise on lessons learned it is important to take time in reflecting upon what has happened and how one can improve in future endeavours. Video and photographic documentation can be useful for reflective feedback and analysis of specific events. These types of documentation can also be useful for promotion and portfolio building. Questionnaires can be useful in getting feedback from participants or clients when thinking about improvements to be made on the process of the Live Build. Discussion with clients can determine how successful the project’s output has been (similar to post-occupancy evaluations in professional architectural practice). This can be used as a reflective piece of feedback to understand success and failure’s of the Live Build’s process. It might be useful to assign a member of the team or bring in expertise for documentation as it is often difficult to ensure all moments of the build are caught as all attention is generally occupied with the building tasks at hand.
Video
Photography
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Questionnaire
Interview