Output details

55/02

An award winning building located in Kielder Water and Forest Park Northumberland. The buildings name is an abbreviation of its coordinates that are sited within a landscape containing England's artificial reservoir and largest Managed forest. The work is a pioneering collaboration in digital design and digital manufacture between sixteen*(makers) led by Bob Sheil, and Stahlbogen GmbH led by Nick Callicott.

RESEARCH CONTENT AND PROCESS

--Description--

55/02 is one of the earliest examples in the UK of a building entirely designed and fabricated through digital technology, and is unique in how this process was explored as an evolving exchange of design and manufacturing relationships. The shelter responds to Kielder’s manufactured landscape and history, and to the particular topology of its site at Cock Stoor. It provides protection from prevailing weather, with seating positions that look out upon key vistas, in a position that was previously inaccessible to visitors.

--Questions--

1. How may the common distinction of design, fabrication and construction, as discrete phases of activity, be challenged through digital design and fabrication technologies at full scale?

2. How may the designer’s ability to see what is being made and their direct engagement in the process of production alter the outcome of their intent?

3. How may critical methodologies of digital design and fabrication processes facilitate an innovative and creative relationship between design practice and industry?

4. How may notions of site specificity be enhanced through advanced architectural design?

--Methods--

1:1 manufactured prototypes, including CNC folding, plasma cutting and semi-automated welding, were central to the research process. In addition, simultaneous elementary sketches, 2D and 3D CAD models (Vectorworks, Rhino, Autodesk Inventor), 3D printed scaled models (ZCorp), contextual drawings (Illustrator and Photoshop), further CNC-manufactured prototypes in steel plate, and modifications during fabrication (metalwork, finishing) were used.

--Dissemination--

Published in a monograph, refereed paper and three book chapters, featured in a touring exhibition, and presented in six international keynotes/lectures. It has also been widely reviewed, including in three book chapters, 11 journal articles and three online video documentaries.

SIGNIFICANCE

Won 2011 RIBA Regional Award (North East), with automatic longlisting for RIBA Stirling Prize 2011. Exhibited at Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions 2009 and 2010.