As part of the project the two groups were pitted against each other in a design competition. Both designs were very different with one an object of conversation and the other a seating area for conversation.
A1 designed a large arch structure made out of rotated squares. As you walked under the arch the squares would twist. This meant that from the end, looking through, the straight lines of the squares would make a circle. This ‘gateway’ was a symbol of the new barnsley and the principles behind its regeneration.
F4 designed a seating structure with moving seats and wanted to explore the idea of the public being able to interact with the form by moving their seat to the view they wanted.
Both of these designs had their positives and negatives, and it was clear that a combination of the two was necessary.
One of the benefits of having such a flexible material to build with, much unlike glass or brick, is that it allows us to make something more flexible and playful in it’s nature. How can we engage the user with our structure? We soon decided the idea of moveable components would both be possible considering the properties of wood, and interesting for the public to interact with. However, we realised immediately that our making techniques were not yet up to the standard required to make a structurally sound object.
