Macro micro studio has finished their work for the academic year. External examiners will be visiting next week to review the presentation.
The Degree Show official opening is on the 16th of May at 4pm in the Matthew Building, all the group will be there to discuss our approach to housing for rural sustainable futures.
Panorama of the exhibition space
On Wednesday the 19th Macro Micro Studio had an opportunity to sit down with some of the University of Dundee planning department and its masters students including Barbara Illsley who is one of our stakeholders. We discussed our current design strategies in Cottown and discussed planning implications which may affect our schemes.
The Dundee University Town & Regional Planning department website and Twitter.
On Wednesday we had our internal reviews regarding our group strategies and design process. Three approaches were explored in pairs: a new rural languge model, a self-sustaining and self-sufficient model and a community led model. Our projects are still in the early conceptual stages, but we were able to explore design outcomes and masterplan strategies.
After the reviews we had a stakeholder meeting which included Alan Seddon from Keppie Design, Stephen Copp from The National Trust of Scotland, Richard Welch from the Perth & Kinross Council, Stephen Reynolds from the Dundee University Physics Department and Maria Bettinboladarini who is carrying out research on biofuels in the University Physics Department. Current master planning approaches were discussed to get a clearer understanding of how the energy and planning can influence the proposals. Discussion also involved the rural language and how the housing proposals would affect the old schoolhouse.
On Friday the 28th of February our Macro Micro group visited the annual Rural Housing Conference held in the Birnam Arts + Conference Centre. The event had many notable speakers such as Richard Lochhead MSP, Cabinet Secretary of Rural Affairs and the Environment and Lesley Riddoch, Chair of Judging Panel for the Our Island Home.
The day consisted of a day of conference workshops and the winner of the Our Island Home competition was also announced. The workshops discussed matters such as the land value taxation, welfare reform, off the shelf affordable rural housing, community empowerment to name just a few.
The conference provided the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the greater issues surrounding building projects in a rural setting. We also had the chance to talk to several professionals of their fields who provided information which could help our project in Cottown.
On 12th of February we had the third Stakeholder meeting of the academic year. The guests who attended included unit tutors, Andrew Driver from Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, Stephen Reynolds from the Dundee Physics Department and Maria Bettinboladarini who is carrying out research on biofuels in the University Physics Department.
The meeting commenced with an overview of the Units new strategy to tackling the issues of the The Old Schoolhouse in Cottown. Specific areas of discussion were the possible use of CHP (Combined Heat and Power) to provide heating and power for the three hamlets and the new development on the North West Site. Since the Externals Reviews the Unit have decided to sub-divide into three groups to explore different masterplan approaches.
These are:
-Community Led Enablement and Qualitative Model
-Self-sustaining and Self-sufficient Model
-Rural Language Model
The Stakeholder meeting provided the opportunity to present these initial ideas. The Unit hopes to expand and develop these strategies further for the next meeting on the 5th March and incorporating them into our own individual thesis topics.
On Wednesday 29th January we had our external reviews, which provided the opportunity to present our work to date and get feedback from staff, practicing architects, representatives from Dundee Civic Trust and The National Trust. The review panel were Alan Seddon from Keppie Design and James Mason from Richard Murphy architects, Neil Grieve and Stephen Copp. In addition to the review we also curated an exhibition to show our work the rest of the Architectural School.
Since the last review the group strategy has shifted from looking directly at the School house site to masterplan strategies of the Hamlet in accordance with the Local Development Plan. The presentation consisted of our analysis of current issues regarding housing in Scotland and more specifically in the area of Carse of Gowrie within Perth & Kinross. From looking at the wider context of the hamlet the broader issues hope to be identified, which in turn will ensure the survival of the School House.
On the evening of December 10th Macro Micro took part in a Pecha Kucha event organised by the year leader. The format of a Pecha Kucha is a power point presentation between 8 and 20 slides, each lasting 20 seconds, this aided the a verbal presentation.
The presentations were an opportunity for the four masters units to showcase either group work and/or individual thesis work to each other to gain a better understanding of what each unit is researching and designing.
Macro Micro’s presentation included an overview of the unit’s aims and objectives, areas of interest of the group and the two projects which we are testing our ideas were also discussed. A brief overview was included of how the individual theses have developed so far and how they contribute to the broader aims of the unit.
On the 2nd of December Louise and Sophie visited the RSA Open Architecture 2013 exhibition in Edinburgh. The exhibition was an open submission for Architecture practises based in Scotland to showcase their design abilities and demonstrate the high quality architecture being designed and constructed in Scotland. The elected convenor of the exhibition was Richard Murphy, of Edinburgh based practice Richard Murphy Architects.
Each exhibition had a series of drawings, images and models to explain their design. In addition to a number of well-known architects practices such as; Reich and Hall, Richard Murphy and Malcom Fraser there were a number of new up and coming architects. This included the 2012-2013 Macro Micro Studio design at Dundee Botanic Gardens. The Macro Micro presentation included a number of drawings, construction model and images of the studio at its current on site stage.
On the 29th of November Sophie and Louise attended a Sustainability conference and workshop at the University of Newcastle. The event run jointly by BRE and Newcastle University discussed planning sustainable communities and buildings. The day consisted of a number of talks which highlighted and addressed different approaches to sustainability, which included:
-The Government’s approach to promoting sustainable development
-BREEAM Communities: assessing and improving the sustainability of masterplans
-Measuring Sustainability
-Real Energy v Design Energy
-An assessor’s perspective on using the Code for
-Sustainable Homes and/or BREEAM Sustaining concrete or concrete sustainability
-Science Central Digitally Enabled Urban Sustainability
-Public space and sustainable development
-Planning for Sustainable and Healthy Communities
-Urban environmental simulation as tools for assessing sustainability of existing and proposed urban plans
-Benchmarking sustainable buildings – What are the next steps?
The conference was extremely interesting and informative, hearing perspectives on sustainable design from parties including architects, planners, government, developers and researchers. It will help inform the sustainable approaches the unit takes in the projects this year.
On the 27th November we presented the work we had produced so far to tutors at the University in internal reviews. The work included precedent studies, Ninewells and Cottown projects and for us to demonstrate how the three have begun to influence our thesis topics. Later that day we also had our second Stakeholder meeting with David Rodley, Stephen Reynolds and Maria Boldarini from the University Physics Department, Anne Cummings from the University Planning Department and Stephen Copp from The National Trust of Scotland. The meeting covered a variety of topics including discussions about planning, energy and tenure options.
Summary of the meeting: After presenting our findings and calculations regarding energy options, the Physics Department suggested that their students would be able to help us to obtain more accurate figures for the calculations.
A number of different tenure options were presented, which allowed for discussions as to which options were most appropriate for the site. Some of the options were deemed too extreme given the sites location and nature of the School house. Stephen Copp confirmed that the pond to the North of the site should remain as it is, and the area in front of the School House should be kept open. If possible it would be beneficial for a building to be built in the same position as the West Cottage to help protect the end gable of the School House.
The variety of sketch proposals are now being refined and developed in further detail for the next meeting which will be held in February 2014.
Macro Micro unit’s presentation
On the 13th of November we had our first meeting with Stephen Copp from Little Houses Improvement Scheme (part of The National Trust of Scotland), Richard Welch from Perth and Kinross Council and Andrew Driver from Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust. This was an excellent opportunity to find out more information about the history and current issues on site and to ask questions regarding local policies. In addition we were made aware of the numerous partial clay structures around Errol, which could play a significant role on the status of the area. Unfortunately most of these buildings are not as well maintained as the School House.
We are currently working on different option appraisal strategies for the site, which will be presented at our next stakeholder meeting Wednesday 27th 2013.
Over the past few weeks we have arranged several meetings with Stakeholders and consultants for the Cottown project to obtain more information about the current state and the future and potential of the site. First meetings were held on the 8th of November and involved two different groups of consultants: Stephen Reynolds and David Rodley from The University of Dundee Physics Department and Barbara Ilsley and Anne Cummings from The University of Dundee Planning Department. Meeting with Stephen and David allowed the opportunity to ask questions about the renewable options on and off the site and how this could relate to Macro Micro’s initial approaches and strategies to create a self-sustaining community.
Summary from meeting with Stephen and David: Different energy options were discussed and the overall conclusion was to look into starting a community driven renewable energy initiative to fund living costs and sell back to the grid. Scotland has several options such as biomass, wind energy and solar energy. They all have pros and cons and more calculations need to be made to decide which is the best solution.
Summary from meeting with Barbara and Anne: Different scales of planning documentation were explained and what would apply to Cottown. Barbara explained what Tayplan is about and explained that our main concern would be the local development plan. Perth & Kinross Council carries out environmental reports for their plans including the Tayplan and Local Plan. It was also concluded that Development Trusts have an important role in enhancing the life of communities and Macro Micro should look into how community empowerment could help out site.
The Guildry Geddes New Architecture Exhibition was officially opened yesterday at the Dundee Central Library with guest speakers such as D. Howard Price from Guildry of Dundee and Dr. Neil Burford, Dr. Lorens Holm and Graeme Hutton from the University of Dundee.
Last year Macro Micro and Architecture in the City were awarded a prize by the Guildry of Dundee for the Studio at the Botanic Garden and the Dundee Waterfront. To celebrate this, an exhibition of the work is now being displayed at the Wellgate Library. As the 2012/2013 students are no longer at University, we curated the exhibition, highlighting the process involved throughout the project from conceptual design to on site construction.
Our exhibition are exploratory ideas about the spaces and buildings to be created at the central waterfront and the design of a new super-energy-efficient studio presently being constructed at the entry to Dundee’s Botanic Gardens.
The Guildry of Dundee and Architecture at the University of Dundee are pleased to showcase design work in progress within the city of Dundee. The two projects on exhibition were winners of the Guildry of Dundee Award this year and represent a commitment by both Architecture and The Guildry to utilise our city as an active ‘design laboratory’ to test new ideas.
Both schemes are on display until the 28th November at the Central Library. There is also a formal opening tomorrow evening between 6-8pm.
Our process also appeared in The Courier.
MacroMicro Studio 2013-2014 has begun: a new academic year and a new team. As last year’s team continue to work on the fantastic studio at the Botanical Gardens, we make a start on new projects. Progress of the Botanical Gardens can be followed at: http://macromicrodundee.wordpress.com/
This year we have been given opportunity to work on two live projects; a Pavillion at the Ninewells Hospital for the new therapeutic garden and a project in conjunction with National Trust of Scotland in Cottown. The site at Cottown houses one of the finest surviving examples of traditional earth wall and thatch roof cottages, and its survival is in jeopardy.
We look forward to presenting our progress of these project in the near future.
macromicro2014.wordpress.com 
