SKETCHBOOK A COLLECTION OF SKETCHES – COMMUNICATING IDEAS Steve Humphreys / WestonWilliamson / 2010
...for me the process of illustration has been a constant and vital tool in exploring and communicating an approach to architecture where notions of form, materiality and structure are explored in a series of marks on paper made by hand. The essence of this collection aims to be more than the quality or appearance of the image itself, for me the true value lies in the ideas and the potential of the concept expressed. This book is a personal retrospective of sketches made over the past quarter of a century, and I hope the collection will illustrate not only the range of ideas but also encourage others to make marks on paper‌ Steve Humphreys / WestonWilliamson / 2010
SKETCH #01 Exploratory studies of the roof form and entrance expression – Study One Ripple form. Building: Wuhan Station Location: Hubei Province, China
SKETCH #02 Exploratory studies of the roof form and entrance expression – Study Two Linear form. Building: Wuhan Station Location: Hubei Province, China
SKETCH #03 Competition entry for the new Museum in Gumma Perfecture dedicated to the Japanese poet and illustrator Tomihiro Hoshino. The building massing hugs the steeply sloping heavily wooded and undulating site contours. The curved and cantilevered form integrates into this setting and is reflected in the still waters of the lake below. Building: Tomihiro Museum of Shi-Ga Location: Gumma Perfecture Japan
SKETCH #04 The evolution of ideas for the detailed masterplan and public realm for the international competition winning mixed use residential scheme for the developer Urban Splash on a site adjoining the River Irwell in Manchester. Building: Springfield Lane for Urban Splash Location: Manchester UK
SKETCH #05 Courtyard view – One of a suite of original concept diagrams for the competition winning submission. Building: Springfield Lane for Urban Splash Location: Manchester UK
SKETCH #06 River Irwell setting – One of a suite of original concept diagrams for the competition winning submission Building: Springfield Lane for Urban Splash Location: Manchester UK
SKETCH #7 East entrance study. Building: Whitechapel Station Location: London UK
SKETCH #8 East entrance study – exploded axonometric sketch of entrance level and ticket hall. Building: Whitechapel Station Location: London UK
SKETCH #9 The reinterpretation of the Essex barn form and residential unit typologies for a site located on the tidal River Colne in Essex. Building: Barn House Location: Rowhedge, Essex UK
SKETCH #10 Building: Middlesex Hospital Location: London UK
SKETCH #11 Premiated invited competition entry for the new pedestrian footbridge crossing the Royal Victoria Dock in Docklands East London. Building: Royal Victoria Docks Footbridge Location: London UK
SKETCH #12 East end Ticket Hall Entrance form study. Building: Whitechapel Station Location: London UK
SKETCH #13 District and Circle Line platforms and envelope. Early design option study with over station development at the West end of the station box. Building: Whitechapel Station Location: London UK
SKETCH #14 Invited competition entry for a new marina administration and chandlery building. The concept sited on the edge of the yacht mooring basin provides a distinct new focus to the marina. The highly transparent yet simple form offers a dramatic view of the waterside activity below. Building: Gosport Marina Location: Gosport UK
SKETCH #15 Competition entry for the new Welsh Opera in Cardiff. The concept explores the notion of a ‘layering’ and functional expression of the progression of the primary spaces from front of house to backstage. Building: Cardiff Opera House Location: Cardiff Wales UK
SKETCH #16 Forming part of the master plan study for the re use of Brunel’s Great Western Railway Works in Swindon this interior study explores the potential at a detail level of contemporary insertions into the existing building fabric. Building: Great Western Railway Works Location: Swindon UK
SKETCH #17 Sketch view of the successful second stage competition submission for the new headquarters of New England Biolabs in New England USA. Illustrating the final building form and it’s relationship to the park setting viewed from water filtering reed beds edging the new balancing lake. Building: New England BioLabs Location: Ipswich Boston Massachussetts USA
SKETCH #18 Faรงade study. Commercial Unit
SKETCH #19 Original concept view illustrating the potential of the building form and clear expression of the renewable energy strategies (trombe wall – PV cell – natural ventilation). Building: National Energy Foundation Headquarters Location: Milton Keynes UK
SKETCH #20 Sketch image of the entrance. Building: Port of Tilbury Headquarters Location: Tilbury UK
SKETCH #21 Sketch image of the atrium. Building: Port of Tilbury Headquarters Location: Tilbury UK
SKETCH #22 Competition study sketch of the curved glass roof form and cut section. Building: Glass House Competition Location: Japan
SKETCH #23 The Jubilee Line Borough High Street ticket hall utilizes a precast concrete integrated expressed coffered ceiling and road deck system to maximize the space and available headroom. Building: Borough High Street Ticket Hall Location: London Bridge Station London UK
SKETCH #24 View of the final building form comprising 3 distinct horizontal zones reflecting the internal use and aspect. Building: 33 Pages Walk Location: Southwark London UK
SKETCH #25 Study concepts for the reuse of a series of listed Gas Holders at Kings Cross London. Detail up view integrating a new contemporary canopy structure. Building: Gas Holders Location: Kings Cross London UK
SKETCH #26 A façade study Forming part of the master plan for the re use of Brunel’s Great Western Railway Works in Swindon. Building: Great Western Railway Works Location: Swindon UK
SKETCH #27 Competition for the Orestad masterplan-business zone. Building: Orestad Location: Copenhagen Denmark
SKETCH #28 New Laboratory wing faรงade study. Building: Napp Laboratories Location: Cambridge Science Park Cambridge UK
SKETCH #29 Faรงade studies 1-3. Building: New Insurance Headquarters Location: Leeds UK
SKETCH #30 Exterior study. Selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Building: Ardleigh Sailing Club Location: Ardleigh Colchester UK
SKETCH #31 Final stage of the competition winning design. Street view. Building: Site G Bermondsey Spa Location: Southwark London UK
SKETCH #32 Study of the business starter units and relationship to the landscape. Building: Cambourne Village Location: Cambridge UK
SKETCH #33 Poster image for the Say no to Rigs campaign which aimed to raise awareness of the plan to ‘park’ disused North Sea drilling platforms in the Blackwater Estuary, Essex. Poster image
SKETCH #34 Study of the massing and context for the potential mixed use residential development at Chelsea wharf on the River Thames. Building: Chelsea Wharf Location: Chelsea London UK
The preceeding sketchbook images illustrate the wide range of projects and ideas explored by our team at WestonWilliamson during this quarter of a century. Special thanks are due to my partners Andrew Weston and Chris Williamson as well as all of the team at Weston Williamson past and present from 1985-2010. Steve Humphreys / WestonWilliamson / 2010
SKETCH #35 (back cover) Gallery space study sketch for the competition submission. Building: Baltic Mills Location: Gateshead UK