NTU Architecture Subject Group

Sneinton's Innovation Centre

My project aims to create an environment which allows the development of existing businesses in the area as well as encouraging the growth of new ones. The modern office building provides facilities for new businesses and facilitates training and conference rooms to work with existing businesses in order to aid in their sustainable development. The addition of a floor of ‘hot desks’ encourages a community of people who work together and share knowledge, creating a hub of innovation.

It was important to my scheme to increase the amount of useable outdoor space year-round, so the addition of a glazed cover between my building and an existing Sneinton market building provides an area which links the two together. This acts as an extension of the ground floor of the scheme which serves the community through shops and a café.

One of the key features of the design is its focus on sustainability, so the inclusion of a travel hub which encourages means of commuting other than driving was important. The materiality of the project was selected to be as sustainable as possible, using cross-laminated timber framing and a hemp-lime mix known as Hempcrete for the walls. Planting was important to the design, with green walls growing over half of a façade and growing in the central atrium space, connecting the inside to the outside.

In a building which has sustainability at the core of its design, the aim was to create a space which promotes and attracts sustainable businesses in Nottingham.

Alexia Stephenson
Student name
Alexia Stephenson
Course
BArch Architecture
Contact
LinkedIn
@alexia-stephenson-baaaba1a3

BArch Architecture

The BArch (Hons) in Architecture course is focused on the creative and practical development of architectural design, investigated in a studio environment through a series of carefully considered practical and theoretical projects in a variety of spatial, social, cultural and topographical situations.

The purpose of the course is to align architectural concepts, thinking, techniques and values with current architectural thought and practice. It involves strategic thinking and creative imagination; problem-solving and research tasks; attention to detail and tectonic resolution; traditional and digital forms of representation; and public presentations and reviews. This course addresses the challenges of designing for diverse communities and cultures and develops Part 1 graduates with creative vision, practical skills and an ethical position in respect of the role of the architect in a globalised world.

Read more about the BArch Architecture course

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