Monthly Archives: November 2017
designboom: Interview with Alison Brooks
At the World Architecture Festival 2017 in Berlin, Alison was interviewed by designboom about our award winning ‘The Smile’ and why she thinks the public should be involved in discussions about architecture.
At the World Architecture Festival 2017 in Berlin, Alison was interviewed by designboom about our award winning ‘The Smile’ and why she thinks the public should be involved in discussions about architecture.
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Wood in Architecture, Milan The Smile
14.12.2017—14.12.2017 16:00–20:00, Milan, Italy
Alison will be presenting The Smile at ‘Wood in Architecture’ in Milan, a seminar jointly organised by American Hardwood Council (AHEC) and The Plan Magazine.
Alison will be presenting The Smile at ‘Wood in Architecture’ in Milan, a seminar jointly organised by American Hardwood Council (AHEC) and The Plan Magazine.
Alison will be joined by Alex de Rijke, Founder of dRMM presenting the Maggies Centre, Oldham and Andrew Laurence, Director at Arup who will be presenting the Warner Strand.
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The Smile wins Wood Awards ‘Structural Award’ The Smile
The Smile has been awarded the Wood Awards 2017 Structural Award.[more..]
The Smile has been awarded the Wood Awards 2017 Structural Award.
The Awards aim to recognise, encourage and promote outstanding design, craftsmanship and installation using wood.
Conceived as a habitable arc, The Smile was a 3.5m high, 4.5m wide and 34m long curved cross-laminated tulipwood tube that cantilevered 12m in two directions with viewing platforms at both ends. ABA collaborated with The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), Arup and the London Design Festival 2016 to present the structure at the Chelsea College of Art Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground.
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The Modern Timber House in the UK Herringbone Houses
Herringbone houses features in Peter Wilson’s ‘The Modern Timber House in the UK: New Paradigms and Technologies’, published in September 2017.
Herringbone houses features in Peter Wilson’s ‘The Modern Timber House in the UK: New Paradigms and Technologies’, published in September 2017.
Uniquely sited in a backlands plot, overlooking a Wandsworth bowling green, Herringbone Houses consists of two 400sqm urban woodland houses for developer Lyford Investments. Like a Victorian house turned inside out, the building’s herringbone cladding is a traditional timber floor pattern transferred to facades, creating an optical illusion of accordion-like surfaces. Light filled atriums illuminate suspended stairs at the centre of each house; high-ceilinged open-plan spaces interlock with gardens; full basements decrease the footprint but add space.
These houses are a rare example of a developer aiming to match the craftsmanship of neighbouring Victorian villas within a contemporary architectural language. The houses were conceived from the principle of manipulating two continuous planes of timber and graphite render, that extend from exterior to interior, forming walls, floors, external decking and fences.
Copies of the book can be purchased for £35 online.
[less..]Studio Coordinator / Receptionist
Alison Brooks Architects is looking for a studio coordinator/receptionist to join its team in Kentish Town, London.
The studio coordinator/receptionist will be the first point of contact for visitors, clients and staff so you will need to ensure the smooth running of the space and be committed to maintaining an excellent first impression for all visitors to the practice.
The successful candidate must have an excellent eye for detail, can do attitude and show a high level of initiative as well as being confident with excellent communication skills.
Duties will include, but not limited to:
- helping to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the office
- reception duties; including answering calls, greeting clients, preparing meetings, managing office supplies, equipment and post
- liaison with external IT support, managing printers & printer supplies and maintenance contracts
- coordinating the office calendar and meeting room bookings
- ensure company policies are maintained and updated accordingly including the practice handbook
- maintain excellent office standards, ensuring a tidy environment at all times
- oversee ad-hoc projects e.g. office renovations, desk moves
- maintaining company supplier contracts
- arranging CPDs
- coordinating maintenance/repair work for the studio space
- supporting the design team with diary management, including travel arrangements
- maintain office stock, stationary, kitchen cupboards etc.
- managing the samples library
- collating/recording expenses and petty cash
- answering the telephone and directing calls as required
- support all employees with administrative tasks where required e.g. printing, filing, archiving and other ad-hoc duties
- maintaining and updating the office contacts database
Skills & experience
- prior studio coordinator/reception experience, ideally within a creative or design environment
- proficiency in Microsoft Office
- proficiency with Adobe Suite
- excellent verbal and written communication with a strong attention to detail
- able to take initiative and work in a dynamic studio environment
- highly organised, proactive & professional
To apply please email a CV to careers@alisonbrooksarchitects.com.
Alison Brooks Architects is looking for a studio coordinator/receptionist to join its team in Kentish Town, London.
The studio coordinator/receptionist will be the first point of contact for visitors, clients and staff so you will need to ensure the smooth running of the space and be committed to maintaining an excellent first impression for all visitors to the practice.
The successful candidate must have an excellent eye for detail, can do attitude and show a high level of initiative as well as being confident with excellent communication skills.
Duties will include, but not limited to:
- helping to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the office
- reception duties; including answering calls, greeting clients, preparing meetings, managing office supplies, equipment and post
- liaison with external IT support, managing printers & printer supplies and maintenance contracts
- coordinating the office calendar and meeting room bookings
- ensure company policies are maintained and updated accordingly including the practice handbook
- maintain excellent office standards, ensuring a tidy environment at all times
- oversee ad-hoc projects e.g. office renovations, desk moves
- maintaining company supplier contracts
- arranging CPDs
- coordinating maintenance/repair work for the studio space
- supporting the design team with diary management, including travel arrangements
- maintain office stock, stationary, kitchen cupboards etc.
- managing the samples library
- collating/recording expenses and petty cash
- answering the telephone and directing calls as required
- support all employees with administrative tasks where required e.g. printing, filing, archiving and other ad-hoc duties
- maintaining and updating the office contacts database
Skills & experience
- prior studio coordinator/reception experience, ideally within a creative or design environment
- proficiency in Microsoft Office
- proficiency with Adobe Suite
- excellent verbal and written communication with a strong attention to detail
- able to take initiative and work in a dynamic studio environment
- highly organised, proactive & professional
To apply please email a CV to careers@alisonbrooksarchitects.com.
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Alison Brooks to lecture at Greenwich University
23.11.2017—23.11.2017 18.30, University of Greenwich
As part of Greenwich University’s Hawksmoor International Lecture Series 2017-2018, open to all, Alison Brooks is giving a talk on ‘ The Ideal and the Real – why Civicness is the project’ at the Tessa Blackstone Lecture Theatre, Greenwich on Thursday 23 November.
As part of Greenwich University’s Hawksmoor International Lecture Series 2017-2018, open to all, Alison Brooks is giving a talk on ‘ The Ideal and the Real – why Civicness is the project’ at the Tessa Blackstone Lecture Theatre, Greenwich on Thursday 23 November.
In her lecture, Alison will speak about the recent and current work of Alison Brooks Architects, including: The Cohen Quadrangle at Oxford University; a high rise urban block in Kings Cross, London, The Smile Pavilion and housing scheme Ely Court, shortlisted for the 2017 Mies Award for contemporary European architecture. She will discuss the notions of civicness and performance, the role of experimental materials and making, and how these can transform both our expectation and everyday experience of cities.
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Architecture Masters
Alison Brooks was interviewed by Owen Wainhouse for episode 11 of Architecture Masters, the new podcast from the London Festival of Architecture.[more..]
Alison Brooks was interviewed by Owen Wainhouse for episode 11 of Architecture Masters, the new podcast from the London Festival of Architecture.
In this episode Alison talks about her early experience, her career, current projects and housing in Britain.
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The Smile wins the World Architecture Festival 2017 ‘Display’ award The Smile
The Smile has been awarded the World Architecture Festival’s 2017 Display Award after a vigorous judging process in Berlin on 15 November.
The Smile has been awarded the World Architecture Festival’s 2017 Display Award after a vigorous judging process in Berlin on 15 November.
Alison Brooks Architects collaborated with The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), Arup and the London Design Festival to present this cross-laminated tulipwood structure.
The Smile is one of the Festival’s Landmark Projects in 2016, and was inhabited and explored by the public. The spectacular, curved, tubular timber structure measured 3.5m high, 4.5m wide and 34m long and was effectively a beam curving up at both ends. Showcasing the structural and spatial potential of cross-laminated American tulipwood, The Smile was the first ever ‘mega-tube’ made with construction-sized panels of hardwood CLT.
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Alison Brooks at World Architecture Festival, Berlin
15.11.2017—15.11.2017 12:00–12:40, Arena, Berlin
Alison Brooks will be presenting on the main stage at this years World Architecture Festival in Berlin on Wednesday 15 November alongside Jacob Kurek, Partner of Henning Larsen Architects. [more..]
Alison Brooks will be presenting on the main stage at this years World Architecture Festival in Berlin on Wednesday 15 November alongside Jacob Kurek, Partner of Henning Larsen Architects.
During the session ‘Performance Spaces’, Alison will be presenting four key projects in relation to performance: Quarterhouse, The Smile, Cohen Quad and Ely Court.
Whilst in Berlin Alison will also be presenting our shortlisted project ‘The Smile’ to a panel of judges for the 2017 ‘Small Projects’ Award.
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Alison Brooks to lecture at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
9.11.2017—9.11.2017 18:00
Alison Brooks is presenting a lecture at MIT, Cambridge on ‘The Ideal and the Real – why Civicness is the project’. Alison will be discussing her practice philosophy, techniques and the ideal of ‘civicness’ using current and recently completed projects: The Cohen Quadrangle at Oxford University; a high rise urban block in Kings Cross, London; The Smile Pavilion and housing scheme Ely Court, shortlisted for the 2017 Mies Award for contemporary European architecture.
Alison Brooks is presenting a lecture at MIT, Cambridge on ‘The Ideal and the Real – why Civicness is the project’. Alison will be discussing her practice philosophy, techniques and the ideal of ‘civicness’ using current and recently completed projects: The Cohen Quadrangle at Oxford University; a high rise urban block in Kings Cross, London; The Smile Pavilion and housing scheme Ely Court, shortlisted for the 2017 Mies Award for contemporary European architecture.
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