TOPSHOP, LOS ANGELESSET BY ARCADIA

As part of a competition, Guy Smith from Arcadia set us a brief to design Topshop located in Los Angeles. The brief was to create a new and unique Topshop experience suited to the Los Angeles customer, but still have solid Topshop brand image. Los Angeles boasts a wide range of art deco buildings as it welcomed and embraced the visual arts style during the height of its popularity. Dissecting this art style to an expression of up and coming technology and styles within the 1920s aided the development of the concept that has informed the design of the new Topshop at The Americana at Brand in Los Angeles. Adapting this principle, inspiration came from shapes in modern technology and trends in this century, predominately sleek curves which informed the shape and layout of the store, guiding the customer through in a seamless manner, whilst the details and materials hint towards traditional art deco. This generates a modern and fun interpretation of the style that will appeal to the target market of Los Angeles.

Concept Images View of ground floor from entrance

View of Moto Denim View of shoe lounge View of ‘Shop the Look’

Mezzanine floor, Topman Topman, view of shoe lounge and gaming zone

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External render. The outside of the store curves inwards from the street to draw in customers whilst the materials and cladding hint towards the concept in a sleek understated way, suiting the surroundings of the site.

Developmental drawings

Ground floor and mezzanine technical drawings

The Evergreen Estate, consisting of converted agricultural barns, is inspired by the powerful enveloping force of nature and how it can take over existing sites, creating an enchanted and unique experience for all those attending. The function room area is a very comfortable and intimate space. It has unique features that will not be found in an ordinary wedding venue, such as the resin bar counter top which has natural greenery and flowers cast within it to make it an eye-catching and memorable feature. This bar also continues with the room down to the lower level ensuring that there will not be a backlog.

Mezzanine Floor Plan Ground Floor Plan

The snug areas are private, whilst not fully enclosed, so that guests can socialise in a more intimate space but yet do not feel closed of from the main area.The rest of the space is quite open, to allow a friendly and social atmosphere. This is enhanced by the pivot doors at the front, which open out onto the patio area, allowing guests to move freely within and from the space.

Front Elevation

Textures and materials used in the scheme

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The mezzanine floor is designed to be a retreat, for all ages, away from the main commotion. It has its own bar, mimicing the style seen on the ground floor, so that guests can escape for a quiet drink and look around and take in the festivities. The mezzanine has bespoke rounded seating, with a drinks table that features greenery in the center, which continues the concept and links both floors. This rounded seating is open and encourages guests to socialise, whilst having an open view of either direction. TheThe mezzanine floor also features swing seats that can be enjoyed by any age of guest. This adds a quirky and lighthearted feel to this area.

The brief set by Duncan Fisher of The Apartment Group, was to design a fully functioning wedding venue, in disused agricultural barns on a large plot of land. The project involved site planning and an element of sustainability, for which rainwater harvesting and up cycled timber was implemented. The ceremony space and function room were designed with a concept of an enchanted garden. Many of the materials used were natural and worn to give a lived in feel of an enchanted garden. In the ceremony space there features a butterfly enclosure to add a level of enchantment, and an aisle feature dug into the ground overflowing with greenery. The function room is designed to be more cosy with different areas such as a mezzanine floor with swing seats or snug areas divided by lengths of recycled oak. The space featured plentiful live greenery and also a bar made from resin with greenery cast within. Small touches like this allow this venue to be unique from any other wedding venue.

WEDDING VENUE‘EVERGREEN ESTATE’

Development sketch

Concept models of snug space

Textures and materials used in the scheme

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The mezzanine floor is designed to be a retreat, for all ages, away from the main commotion. It has its own bar, mimicing the style seen on the ground floor, so that guests can escape for a quiet drink and look around and take in the festivities. The mezzanine has bespoke rounded seating, with a drinks table that features greenery in the center, which continues the concept and links both floors. This rounded seating is open and encourages guests to socialise, whilst having an open view of either direction. TheThe mezzanine floor also features swing seats that can be enjoyed by any age of guest. This adds a quirky and lighthearted feel to this area.

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The ceremony space is more light and airy compared to the function space. With marble floors and a butterfly enclosure at the front, the first impressions are magical. Guests will walk through, welcomed by the butterflies, and then continue into a long space, with a glass façade at the end which makes the space feel as if it continues out into the garden. The use of large trees creates a dramatic feature, in keeping with the concept of the venue.The main feature of this space is the aisle. Unlike a traditional wedding, the wedding party will walk down an aisle surrounded The main feature of this space is the aisle. Unlike a traditional wedding, the wedding party will walk down an aisle surrounded by nature. The flowerbed feature is built (300mm) into the ground and filled with greenery and flowers. This is designed to echo the way that nature envelops spaces, but in a controlled and clean manner so that it does not overpower the wedding.

Conceptual images

OFFICE SPACE, NEWCASTLE

Beme, a new innovative social media app created by YouTube pioneer Casey Neistat, encourages users to capture real moments of their life through video in an authentic and unaltered manner. The app breaks down social media barriers that currently allow users to edit and enhance how they are perceived by others, allowing an unrefined glimpse into real life.Located in the heart of the Ouseburn area of Newcastle,the Beme office is situated in the first office space on the ground floor next to the reception area. Shared toilets and a kitchenette are located in the hallway outside. The double height office has plenty of natural light and exposed original brick walls. The concept developed from looking into the app and its nature of showing glimpses of people’s lives, evolved to creating framing views between spaces to create a sense of spying without the subject being aware. This informed a working environment with privacy whilst not having secluded areas. Inspired by Casey Neistat’s personality and an industrial style, the space reflects an unrefined aesthetic featuring industrial materials and a collection of memorabilia, relevant to the nature of the business and the personality of the employees.

The office has 5 main zones. A work space area, with individual desks for employees, a filming pod where employees can film in private, lined with soundproof felt and a pull down door for privacy, a collaboration area for employees to have informal meetings, a breakout area underneath the mezzanine for employees to have their breaks featuring a skate ramp and finally the mezzanine enclosed in glass for private formal meetings. Each zone provides a framed view to one or more areas through windows in partition walls or materials with a view through, to create a unique atmosphere and encourage engagement between employees.

View of workspace zone looking towards filming pods

Beme, a new innovative social media app created by YouTube pioneer Casey Neistat, encourages users to capture real moments of their life through video in an authentic and unaltered manner. The app breaks down social media barriers that currently allow users to edit and enhance how they are perceived by others, allowing an unrefined glimpse into real life.Located in the heart of the Ouseburn area of Newcastle,the Beme office is situated in the first office space on the ground floor next to the reception area. Shared toilets and a kitchenette are located in the hallway outside. The double height office has plenty of natural light and exposed original brick walls. The concept developed from looking into the app and its nature of showing glimpses of people’s lives, evolved to creating framing views between spaces to create a sense of spying without the subject being aware. This informed a working environment with privacy whilst not having secluded areas. Inspired by Casey Neistat’s personality and an industrial style, the space reflects an unrefined aesthetic featuring industrial materials and a collection of memorabilia, relevant to the nature of the business and the personality of the employees.

The office has 5 main zones. A work space area, with individual desks for employees, a filming pod where employees can film in private, lined with soundproof felt and a pull down door for privacy, a collaboration area for employees to have informal meetings, a breakout area underneath the mezzanine for employees to have their breaks featuring a skate ramp and finally the mezzanine enclosed in glass for private formal meetings. Each zone provides a framed view to one or more areas through windows in partition walls or materials with a view through, to create a unique atmosphere and encourage engagement between employees.

View under stairs of break out area with skate ramp Concept model showing the views between spaces

View from entrance through office

Casey Neistat, Beme founder

Developmental drawings

Developmental drawings Material, furniture and lighting specification board

‘EDIBLE’FINAL MAJOR PROJECT

Final presentation boards

Edible is a food experience located in the Newhaven fish market building in Edinburgh. It aims to eliminate negative perceptions around home cooking and healthy eating for people of all situations through a new and exciting approach to food education. Designed as a unique and eclectic space based on the concept of ‘home grown’, inspiration has been taken from forms, structures, arrangements, materials and aesthetics of allotments, greenhouses and sheds, as well as being sympathetic to the existing architecture of the building. The site lends itself to the concept and nature of Edible due to its heritage as a prominent fish market in Edinburgh’s food trade, as well as being an iconic feature of Newhaven and the surrounding areas. The mixed surrounding residential areas in recent years have undergone substantial development to provide affordable and social housing. This is an important factor as it is crucial to be accessible to the diverse target audience and have a community presence.

Concept images and drawings Final render of cafe and retail space3Ds Max, Photoshop and hand rendering

Edible incorporates a stimulating vibrant aesthetic and environment to create a unique experience and valuable asset to the community through the provision of quality produce, reliable information, demonstrations and practical involvement. This one of a kind initiative consists of an accessible retail space promoting high quality ethical and local affordable produce, whilst educating customers on seasonality, restricting wastage and basic culinary tips. The café, spilling into the retail space, showcases spectacular views whilst providing the neighbourhood with a spirited social anchor, and quality fresh home cooked food at a realistic price.A recipe bank allows anybody to access a variety of recipes based around dietary, lifestyle or budgetary issues and invites shared recipes and experiences creating a reliable and honest source of information.

Final render of cafe and retail space3Ds Max, Photoshop and hand rendering

Site model 1:100, Newhaven, Edinburgh

Spatial model 1:150

Concept model of cooking sheds

Stemming from the concept, the integration of a green haven on the harbour in the form of multipurpose growing plots allows for fresh produce and ingredients to be on site, aiding all aspects of Edible, as well as hands on involvement and education on home growing. The main feature of Edible is the provision of practical cooking lessons designed to tackle a wide variety of dietary or cooking issues. The bright and quirky kitchens create a comfortable, environment in which customers can share and work together, in social, accessible and practical cooking, a far cry from exclusive culinary schools. These kitchens take the form of sheds, the core of any allotment plot or garden, establishing the foundation of Edible.

Sketch of outdoor growing plots

Final render of recipe bank and exterior of cooking sheds,3Ds Max, Photoshop and hand rendering

Final render of cooking sheds,3Ds Max, Photoshop and hand rendering

Material Boards

Developmental drawings

Developmental drawings

Developmental drawings

Developmental drawings

Developmental drawings