Brighton Festival

All this week I've been watching as Brighton's Clocktower gets shrouded in mens shirts. To begin with I wasn't convinced! However as it neared completion, I started to see the graduation of colours from dark to light, with some sections depicting seascapes.

Then I poped into Fabrica to see The Blue Route, and saw this incredible instalation, now I understand what's going on. Kaarina Kaikkonen, the artist, has been commissioned as part of Brighton Festival 2013 to create these artworks. The installations are assembled from second-hand shirts, donated by Brighton & Hove residents, which will in turn be donated to Oxfam when the exhibition finishes.

  Kaarina uses simple everyday objects to create large scale installations that articulate the architectural or open spaces in which her work is sited - 'A shirt is the closest to the heart, so that is why I use shirts. The person is there'. Well I think this is magical!

My pink crush.

Hawkins Brown Biochemistry Building, University of Oxford      WAN photos Tim Crocker 

I've never really liked pink, even as a child, I found it a bit too sweet. But things started to change when I fell in love with the Hawkins Brown Biochemistry Building in Oxford, a couple of years ago. The Beautiful tones of rose pink, apricot and honey used for the bris soleil, work so well with the surrounding sandstone brickwork.

Raf Simmonds for Jill Sander A/W 2012 / The Sartorialist Milan 20.4.2012    

Then last spring Raf Simmonds showed this stunning camel and pink coat for the Jill Sander A/W 2012 collection. By coincidence at the same time I saw this fabulous picture from The Sartorialist - the pink of those shoes mixed with the strong neutral palette of chocolate, cream and caramel - gorgeous.

So the trend for the neutral and pink mix just grew on me. I started to see versions of this palette everywhere; form Farrow and Ball's promotional pictures above, to these palettes below from the ever inspiring La Boheme blog

I particularly like the way orange and ginger tones are being added here.
But the level of pink that completely swung it for me, is this subtle shade of blush.....

The Independent magazine 29.12.2012

This picture, styled by Magda Bryk and photographed by Rory Payne, captures spring's tone on tone colour look perfectly. The strong clean lines of the burgundy Prada coat, softened by the 'hint of pink' silk top from COS - I'm won over!

City of Coventry Health Centre - Award winner!

 Last week City of Coventry Health Centre won the Building Better Healthcare "Clinicians Choice" award. This is fabulous recognition for a project I was involved with, and for the team at Coventry Care Partnership and architect Cressida Toon of Sonnemann Toon Architects.

The Brass palette for the 2nd Floor - Dentistry, Physiotherapy and Podiatry

Dr Roy MacGregor led the judging panel who selected City of Coventry Health Centre from 220 entries. Dr MacGregor was the driving force behind the acclaimed Kentish Town Health Centre development, so I was really pleased when he mentioned the use of colour in his decision.

The Copper palette for the 3rd Floor - Sexual Health

The colour palette I developed for the centre was inspired by Coventry's industrial heritage. We focused on a different metal for each floor and used this starting point to create palettes for the interior design scheme and the Arts - the murals shown here are digital artworks by Kelly MacPhee who won a competition we set with Coventry University.

The Bronze palette for the 1st Floor - GP Services

What I'm really pleased about with this scheme was everyones willingness to work with the colour palettes to make this building a very special health centre. As you can see from the photos we even managed to get the colour to work from the inside out and the outside in.

Yelo

At the recent World Architecture Day I spotted a man in a great pair of yellow trousers - they really stood out in the sea of black and grey worn by everyone else. Later on I was introduced to Andy Parsons of Yelo Architects and heard that he always wears an item of yellow clothing. By coincidence we met again and he was in one of his yellow shirts - what struck me was, that unlike some architects who wear colour as a moniker, Andy wears his with style.

 I thought it would be interesting to talk to him about his style and relationship with the colour yellow - so I googled yellow architect and found Yelo Architects - easy! And clever - by dropping an l and the w, he's created a great word somewhere between yell and hello, that really reflects the values of the colour. The human eye process yellow before other colours in the spectrum, due to the amount of light reflected and when paired with black, as in Yelo Architects' logo, is the easiest colour to read. We associate yellow with hope cheer and vitality - it is a joyful colour, just like the word Yelo.   

Andy started wearing yellow at college and it has now become an integral part of his professional identity. It is an exact shade of yellow that he chooses, almost Process Yellow, and he's lucky because he can wear it. It is also the Giallo Fly colour from Ferrari - very clean yellow, sharp and fresh.

I have used a similar yellow to highlight the entrance to a building and also reception desks - just like Andy's trousers, it really stands out and attracts our attention from a distance.          

Finchley Memorial Hospital

It's been a really busy summer with two residential projects and my involvement with the redevelopment of Finchley Memorial Hospital. I love these first pictures of the finished hospital building taken by Benedict Luxmore, I think they really show the spirit of the architecture by Murphy Philipps Architects.

The greens of the colour palette I developed were inspired by the hospital's setting within a proposed health campus of therapy gardens, community gardens and playing fields; the gardens will be part of phase two to be completed next year. I have selected the levels of green to provide a sense of calm and reassurance while inspiring feelings of hope, renewal and rejuvenation.  

Green has traditionally been associated with hospitals. It is especially used in operating theatres where surgeons are carrying out close work involving red blood - to look away towards a level of green allows the eye to rest and refocus.

Golden Excess

On my way back from Vietnam, I stopped off in Hong Kong to spend a few days with friends. We had lunch at the Tin Lung Heen restaurant in the Ritz Carleton. The interior is very opulant, with some great dramatic spaces like the corridor pictured above but the rest of the interior design was not my style. This place is so bling they even put gold leaf on the dim sum!

  The food was fabulous and so were the astonishing views across the harbour.

    

Temple Pink

How to describe this incredible shade of magenta pink, it's not just the vividness of this colour, but the quality of the chalky pigment-rich paint on the walls.

These pictures are taken in a temple in Saigon, I've seen this pink in India too, but here in this city temple it had the most wonderful quality. I could have stood there for hours just absorbing it's intensity. 

South Beach Miami

I spent the first week of January in South Beach, Miami and I loved it! The fabulous Art Deco buildings are reminiscent of confectionery, all crisp white tiers with sugar coloured trims.

The buildings have great signage from the hotels on Ocean Drive right through to these public conveniences!

My souvenir from the trip is this brilliant book by David Leddick - 'In The Spirit of Miami Beach', it really captures the essence of the place, a great read and stunning pictures.  

Just what I need to get through January!

Analogical Colour in Architecture

Ceiling hung accoustic panels

On a recent RIBA Sussex Branch  tour organised by Caroline Stephens, I visited Brighton Aldridge Community Academy designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios; a fabulous building, with a great use of colour by architect Alina White. Alina has introduced groups of analogical colour to differentiate sections of the school - yellow to green, blue to mauve, and turquoise to green.

The shades of colour follow through into the WC areas

In each section the colours have been used to create features of the ceiling hung acoustic panels, the lockers, and WC doors. A clever use of colour for orientation and interest, within the overall design of the building.

Blues to Mauve

I asked Alina how she decided upon those particular groups of colour; she explained that the school's headmistress, was adamant that red should not be used in the new building. The headmistress attributed the over use of red in the old school building to behavioural problems with some pupils; this is not surprising given reds over-stimulating qualities.

It's so refreshing to see a school that doesn't patronise its pupils with use of arbitory primary colours - inspiring!

Bighton's Big Wheel

 I love this new addition to Brighton's seafront. Hopefully we'll get Marks Barfield's proposed i360 soon!

WAN Case Study

City of Coventry Health Centre under construction

One of my on-going projects, City of Coventry Health Centre, is nearing completion. My input as Colour Consultant and Arts Coordinator has been the focus of a World Architecture News Case Study, which is very exciting. You can read the article here -WAN press article

Modern Marrakesh

Cafe Arabe - Terrace

I was in Marrakesh last week, where there are some fabulous interiors. These pictures are from Cafe Arabe a stunning restauraunt/cafe/bar. The Terrace above has an amazing cooling system with cool vapour pumped through the intricate awning system.

 

The Tea Room inside is a brilliant mix of old and new moroccan style. The colours through out are very rich and warm reflecting it's Red City location.

The hallway

 

 

Beautiful lanterns light the entrance 

Coventry City Centre Health Facility - Digital Artwork Project

The main palette

One of my current work projects, is as colour consultant and arts coordinator for the new City Centre Health Facility in Coventry. Working with the architect Cressida Toon's vision, I have developed a colour palette based on Coventry's urban landscape, it's ever changing society and industrial heritage. This main palette is a mix of brick, slate, lead and copper in different states of erosion.Further subsidiary palettes have been developed for each floor, each based on a metal: Iron, Bronze, Brass, Copper and Steel. These palettes are for wayfinding, interior design and as inspiration for the artworks.

Third Floor - Copper, by Kelly MacPhee

As part of the arts programme, I set up a competition with Coventry University to design digital artworks for each floor of the centre; these large scale artworks are to be digitally printed onto wallcoverings and positioned to aid orientation around the building. Kelly MacPhee's designs were selected for all floors, her brilliant use of the colour palettes and the metallic themes, produced beautiful images that work from a distance and close up. I can't wait for the artworks to be installed!

First Floor - Bronze, by Kelly MacPhee

   

Metropol Parasol

How amazing is this! The Metropol Parasol in Seville is the world's largest wooden structure. Designed by J. Mayer H. Architects

It took 4 years to complete and was finished in April of this year -www.yatzer.com/Metropol-Parasol

De La Warr Pavilion

I visited the De La Warr Pavilion last weekend. Stunning in the autumn sunshine! Anyway there's a great history here. If you're in Bexhill do visit.

 

Save Saltdean Lido

This is a really worthwhile campaign; Saltdean Lido is under threat from the current leaseholder who plans to develop the site for an extensive residential development. The Friends of Saltdean Lido would like to retain this Grade 2 listed example of modernist architecture.

The Lido in it's heyday

 

 

The Friends of Saltdean Lido have been assisted by Conran and Partners in proposing an alternative plan that will improve the facilities and amenities for the community, while retaining the original building.

Do join their campaign if you believe this building should be saved.

Alacati, Turkey

Tas Otel, Alacati

I've just come back from spending a week in the small town of Alacati on the Cesme peninsula, south west of Izmir. I was lucky enough to stay at the Tas Otel, a renovated  120 year old greek mansion. This was the first boutique hotel to open in alacati nearly 10 years ago, now Alacati has many more small beautifully restored hotels. The owner of Tas - Ms Zeynep Ozis is a founder of the Alacati Presevation Society, this society ensures that the town does not become spoilt - there's not a plastic chair in site!

A street in Alacati

At the Tas Otel they serve the best breakfasts on the beautiful terrace overlooking the garden.

The terrace

And between 5 and 7pm they serve tea and cakes using their own produce and preserves.

Preserves fermenting in the garden

The whole hotel was just gorgeous. Inside the interior is quite simple - stone with white plaster and all woodwork glossed in the subtlest pale blue.