The North Street Education Center, Carrickfergus
A new school, focusing on the importance of post 16 education and extending to engagement with the local primary schools. Improving industry links with education to create new career pathways. Placing importance on practical skills, in particular, traditional building methods to help with the restoration of Carrickfergus. Aiming to ease pressure on special educational needs services within mainstream education. Practical skills both by themselves and in support of more traditional education being undertaken in the three main secondary schools in Carrickfergus.
There is a significant drop out rate in all three schools, both before and during sixth form. In providing alternative education I aim to reduce this rate.
Only 4% of students go onto work-based learning in Carrickfergus, compared with the average 17% across Northern Ireland.
Where it started.
In identifying key features of the site, I explored them through watercolour and photography. In particular the stone walls and the rooftops around the site having been inspired by the 1999 film Notting Hill.
The original town walls formed a critical boundary around the site, one which could not be tampered with due to their important status.
The Mourning of Greenspace
The ‘Mourning of Greenspace’ is an observational critique that was written, filmed and edited in collaboration with my colleague Alex Judd.
The film aims to bring awareness to the lack of public greenspace within the town, taking its inspiration from directors Wes Anderson, Emerald Fennell and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
The end result.
When it came to designing the project, it was important to make sure the site remained public, while also suggesting the idea of a more private property.
This, along with the initial exploration and the importance of roof structure created this sculptural roofscape under which the buildings formed small clusters around courtyards and new greenspaces.
The buildings themselves are made from an honest pallet of materials, with exposed timber and concrete. The roofscape is made from zinc. As much as possible the materials would be locally sourced.
