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This is an animation for just a link to a project

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Reposting for portfolio

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Coffee Lounge: Bethany I: Working Analogue

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Birmingham Live: Scandal of Birmingham's 4,575 abandoned homes

There are 4,575 abandoned homes in the city of Birmingham, with so many homeless families that could live there, but like with the home that got burned 12 years ago and was left the rats, they don’t. These homes are left in horrible condition by previous owners, and this is during the pandemic and housing crisis at the moment. In Birmingham, it reached a decade high.

Instead, these families are living in hostels and B&Bs, which are amounting to over £33million in local authority back, from just 2019/2020. This is outrageous amount of money to spend, where as there are so many empty homes that could be used.

Councillor Sharon Thompson says it’s “scandalous” and she’s also disgusted, because these horrible conditions aren’t doing any good for the neighbours and neighbourhoods around that property.

However, a Birmingham City Council's empty homes team was set up, where they will track down the owners to improve the state of the house that they left it in, but failing to do so on multiple occasions may result in the council buying or taking over the home if they don’t restore the property. This however can be difficult is someone passed away or the owners are abroad.

Nationally it’s 100,000 homeless families that are homeless and 268,000 homes are practically empty if not abysmal across the UK.

Gouk, A. (2020, November 22). Scandal of Birmingham's 4,575 abandoned homes as families struggle in hostels and B&Bs. Retrieved February 1, 2021, from Birmingham Live: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/scandal-birminghams-4575-abandoned-homes-19310163

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I AM BHAM: Almost 24,000 people in West Midlands are homeless

Shelter (an organisation that helps with homelessness) has revealed some terrifying data, on the crisis that is homelessness. The number of people who lack shelter has risen by 64% since 2016, ever since the charity sent out it’s first annual report. It gets worse, as even more data reveals that over 17,000 people, were threatened to be homeless in the last year (this article was in 2019, so this would have over 2 years ago). 

Although these figures are shocking on their own, the fact is that there’s still of a lot of undocumented cases of people going homeless; we may never know the actual scope of homelessness and it can be even higher than it is now, not counting sofa surfing or rough sleeping.

Shelter is trying to warn us and the government that if this isn’t addressed and sorted sooner, this will have and even bigger impact. 

During Christmas time’s winter, it can get dangerous as they risk getting illnesses and possibly face death, where 24,000 are currently on the streets during these festive times, where they’re going to have to make room for more coming (I AM BHAM, 2019)

I AM BHAM. (2019, December 17). Almost 24,000 people in West Midlands are homeless, according to national charity. Retrieved February 1, 2021, from I AM BHAM: https://www.iambirmingham.co.uk/2019/12/17/almost-24000-people-west-midlands-homeless-according-national-charity/

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Bartolomeo Del Bene’s Civitas veri sive morum: City of Truth and Birmingham’s Abandoned 5 Way Shopping Centre

Bartolomeo Del Bene wrote an interesting publication called, ‘Civitas veri sive morum’ and it’s all about the concept Utopian concept, but also based off the Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle. Although this was made in 1587, it wasn’t published until 1607 and was edited by Alfonso, the bishop of Albi (who was also Del Bene’s nephew).

The publication is all about the ‘ideal city, a city of perfection and a great society, a Utopian land; Civitas veri sive morum was inspired by Thomas More’s Utopian books, but presents itself to speak towards artists and architects, with their issues and how important architecture is. 

The main thing I wanted to focus on is the City of Truth, with 5 ends that are portals, which are a different sense each. The sense idea comes from Aristotelian maxim, Nihil in intellectu quod non prius in sensu, meaning ‘there is nothing in the understanding which was not first in the senses’. Aristotelian tradition is stating, that when we think and a process in out minds, that comes from ours senses. Senses can be guardians of the soul, and take the shape of portals, doors or windows, and that the architectural belonged to the present (most likely referring to current times).

I take this as a way of different places have different instincts and feels, but they all share the same ideal perspective on perfection and beauty.

This idea can also be used for the group project, around Birmingham’s old 5 Way Shopping Centre, that was abandoned. This could be used to link 5 places that were also abandoned in Birmingham, and have them all present different sense but be connected.

Stimac, J. (2020, July 15). “The City of Truth”: A Closer Look at Bartolomeo Del Bene’s Civitas veri sive morum. Retrieved January 15, 2021, from PRPH BOOKS: https://www.prphbooks.com/blog/del-bene-civitas-veri

Birmingham Live. (n.d, n.d n.d). 51 captivating images of Birmingham's abandoned buildings. Retrieved January 27, 2021, from Birmingham Live: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/nostalgia/gallery/51-captivating-images-birminghams-abandoned-8456156

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Abandoned Placed: Birmingham Home for Lost and Starving Dogs.

Birmingham Home for Lost and Starving Dogs provided shelter, warmth and love for homeless dogs, from 1892 to 1987. The place was abandoned and left to rot, but 2013 had the finished it off.

The building was engulfed in flames and burned from the inside out, with 25 fire fighters trying to ease and put out the flames, though it wasn’t saved.

Currently this is a new Dogs home in New Bartholomew Street, which opened around the exact same time this one closed, but staff members have commented they were upset by this event that transpired, as it was a piece of history.

Hopefully when if and when our group uses this for our project, we can reimagine it as a new utopian place for dogs.

Yoing, G. (2013, October 9). Arson probe launched into blaze at former Birmingham Dogs Home. Retrieved January 31, 2021, from Birmingham Mail: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/ex-birmingham-dogs-home-arson-probe-6155098

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Abandoned Places: Royal School for the Death

The Royal School for Deaf Children was established after a lecture by Dr. Jean Gabriel Marie de Lys, who worked at Birmingham’s General Hospital. It opened in 1814 where 15 pupils first attended and grew on from there, sadly closing in 1984, after several name changes and expanding upon a nursery school.

The school did provide a lot of good materials, having annual reports, meetings, committees, and housing pupil and staff records. It also provided great practice in the evolution and perception of teaching kids with disabilities, as well as with the children of war project showcasing lip reading.

The school also had curricular activities, such as learning how to dance, swim, play music and even scout, along with workshops of tailoring and suit making. Though these were still the olden times and while some boys got these subjects, girls had to work in dress making and ‘domestic subjects’. 

This school made them feel as if they fitted in society and were able to adapt skills to evolve and find a place, also being surrounded by people that understand them.

Though it’s a shame it closed, we can find A way to bring it back in our concept and change it into a more utopian like society.

The Iron Room. (2019, December 9). The Royal School for Deaf Children. Retrieved January 30, 2021, from The Iron Room: https://theironroom.wordpress.com/2019/12/09/the-royal-school-for-deaf-children/

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Abandoned Place: Kingsway Cinema

The Kingsway Cinema was one of Birmingham’s oldest buildings, and though it was attempting to open with outdoor screenings, the building still remains closed permanently.

It was opened in 1925, but closed in 1980 due to a campaign to save it failed. It became a bingo hall for a while, but closed in 2007 again. 

In 2020, the outdoor screening seemed to tried to be pop up cinema to show off modern and classic films, but it didn’t last too long and maybe if it wasn’t for Covid, it could have popped up more.

We can find ways to fix and adjust it, to make it more posh and utopian like.

Young, G. (2020, August 4). Demolished Kingsway cinema reborn for outdoor screenings in Kings Heath. Retrieved January 30, 2021, from Birmingham Mail: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/demolished-kingsway-cinema-reborn-outdoor-18704798

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Abandoned Place: Typhoo Tea Factory

This is a factory that was abandoned around Digbeth. This was for producing Typhoo Tea. It was founded in 1903 by John Summer, but when Typhoo merged with Schweppes in the 1960s, will lead to the factory being closed in 1978. Which is surprisingly as it was one of the only few places to survive the bombing during WW2.

Although there was a £14 million plan to restore the building and turn it into a creative innovation centre (originally it was going to be a University Campus), which can be good for the artistic side of Digbeth (Walker, 2016).

Although, this was back in 2016 and I found 2 videos from 2018 (upalevel productions) and 2020 (C Macey) on Youtube, of people exploring the factory and there’s a lack of construction and development. So this means they haven’t started yet or it was scrapped.

Walker, J. (2016, March 21). Former Typhoo Tea factory in Digbeth to become university campus in £14m makeover. Retrieved January 30, 2021, from Birmingham Mail: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/former-typhoo-tea-factory-digbeth-11057095

Video Tours of the Factory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk2wjC0TK40&list=LL&index=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMRFKJDMaWs&list=LL&index=2&t=715s

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Abandoned Placed: Kent Street Baths

The Kent Street Baths were created in the 1840s and open in the 1850s, and were very popular among the citizens. They were the first one in Birmingham and the design of the house was based around that of 16th century architecture, using red brock, stone, iron cast windows.

The houses apparently had 2 large pools, 69 private hot and cold baths, 25 washing stalls, 3 plunge pools and more. Around 1857, there were more private and first class baths and mechanical laundry rooms.

In the 1930s, the old baths were demolished and replaced with a new one in 1933, sadly however on December 4th in 1940, the bath houses were by enemy forces and one of the most popular sites of Birmingham, was taken away, never to rebuild or reopen (Baths and Wash Houses, n.d). 

However, Glenn Howells tells us that there is a plan build new homes, apartments, cycle storages, studios and a positive environment for people around the city of Birmingham. This was expected to begin production around 2019 (Glenn Howells Architects, n.d)

Though there are already plans, we can spin this in a new light and see what we could do.

Baths and Wash Houses. (n.d, n.d n.d). Birmingham – Kent Street Baths. Retrieved January 30, 2021, from Baths and Wash Houses: https://www.bathsandwashhouses.co.uk/archive/your-local-buildings/birmingham/birmingham-kent-street-baths/

Glenn Howells Architects. (n.d, n.d n.d). Kent Street. Retrieved January 30, 2021, from Glenn Howells Architects: https://www.glennhowells.co.uk/project/kent-street/

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On Track 5 SMP and Brief

The On Track 5 brief wants a new brand identity, but they want a new banner and profile picture for the LinkedIn page and a editable PDF poster document. But since their are also teams chats, I will design a icons for them too.

Here are the list of words that were on the brief (to create the SMP):

First 16

Ambitious

Platform

Creative

Relationship

Territories

Categories

Networking

Events

LinkedIn

Visual Communication

Share

Employability

Positive

Inclusive

Colourful

Promotion

Second 8

Visual Communication 

Share

Positive

Promotion

Relationships

Colourful

Inclusive

Networking

Third 4

Visual Communication

Share

Promotion

Networking

Last 2

Visual Communication

Share

SMP: “Create a new brand identity for On Track, for people of Visual Communication, to share their work and experiences”

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Birmingham’s Abandoned Buildings

After my tutor provided some interesting links to some websites on Birmingham, and I found a part of Birmingham Live’s site that captured my eyes, which was the abandoned buildings of Birmingham.

We were discussing the topic of Utopia for our module theme and we decided to look at the abandoned buildings Birmingham had. 

Royal School for Deaf Children

Aston Tavern

Kent Street Baths

Elliot Brown (on Flickr) took a pictures of The old Royal School for Deaf Children in Church Road, Edgbaston, The Aston Tavern in Aston Hall Road, and The remains of Kent Street Baths in Southside

The Kingsway

Birmingham Home for the Lost and Starting Dogs

Neil Turner (on Flickr) took a photo of the Birmingham Home for Lost and Starving Dogs on New Canal Street, Digbeth.

All of these seem are significant relics that had been destroyed or lost to time, providing entertainment, help or down time in the city. These could have stayed up longer if their issues were resolved or were provided more support. 

However, these could be restored and reimagined with the right design and design idea, perhaps altering their purpose or erasing what went wrong.

I chose these 5, because the rest were unidentified, didn’t have a striking description or didn’t stand out amoung the rest, as these 5 have a lot more idea generation that can be built.

Birmingham Live. (n.d, n.d n.d). 51 captivating images of Birmingham's abandoned buildings. Retrieved January 27, 2021, from Birmingham Live: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/nostalgia/gallery/51-captivating-images-birminghams-abandoned-8456156

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Places in Birmingham that can be considered Utopia: Thinktank

The Thinktank is a place of history, not only on the past but present too. It displays the wonders of how life and machinery works, along with what we once had and never got to see for ourselves.

This was a place I went to myself as a kid, and I enjoyed almost every minute of it. Though I may not remember my entire experience, I can tell and feel that it was wonderful and informative.

What does the Thinktank have? 

there are about 10 different experiences to look.

Planetarium: There is a Planetarium, which is giant overhead dome you look at while lying back on a special chair. It takes you through the cosmos and and outworld, looking behind the stars and finding out how small we truly are in comparison to the rest of the universe. But it’s not a bad thing as the universe is so beautiful.

MiniBrum: This is small city of Brum, where the kids can take care of it themselves; they can build their own dens and work at their own construction zone, go to the post office, find lost animals, become doctors, dentists or vets, play dress up and work at a salon for hair. This is a good way for kids to learn what work could be like when they get older.

Spitfire Gallery: This part is where we learn about the story and history of the Spitfire plane, as Castle Bromwich factory had created over 10,000 of them. These planes plated a crucial part in the second world war, and this experience isn’t just about their anatomy either, but also their conception. 

Marine Worlds Gallery: The Gallery is dedicated to showing off old and new species of marine life, from arthropods to even the modern walrus. But it’s main and most prized attraction is the Ichthyosaur, which over 200 million years old; the Ichthyosaur is on full display and though it’s seen as an ancient dolphin, it is in fact an ancient reptile.

Smethwick Engine: This is also a ‘jewel’ of the Thinktank, as back in the 17th century, this was the world’s very first engine (also marking the industrial revolution), using expansive force and created a vacuum at the same time. The Smethwick Engine was locates at a canal at  Birmingham-Wolverhampton and was designed by Boulton & Watt (which were a firm). It was so powerful it lifted over 1500 buckets of water every minute and them back up the canal of Smethwick, allowing 250 boats to go back up the locks. This was so important, it was restored back in 2018.

Science garden: This is a small play area, where children can play and mess with 30 pieces of various machinery outside hands on, after 3pm. This teaches them about renewable energy, force of bouncing balls and whistles, and what it’s like riding a square wheeled wagon.

Discover the Past: This area is all about looking at all the machines, vehicles and items from the past, not just the spitfires, but boats, cars, trains, engines and web canals, all the way back, including from the time of the Industrial Revolution.

Investigate the Present: The past is nice to think about but, the present still matters; Investigate the Present, is another part of the Thinktank where you discover so nature’s habitats and wildlife, as to what there is and used to be, even including a giant deer skeleton and triceratops skull. There a part on human anatomy where you understand how your body works and even get to grips with how your stomach, muscles and taste buds work. 

Find the Future: Times have changed with how technology and medical equipment. This section will show off the advances in how medical equipment has helped and how lives have improved. Not just that, but also how we made advances in drones and space tech to explore planets and other places.

How can this be a Utopia?

This can be a Utopia in the sense that it’s a place of history and monarch of information, both metaphorically and literally; this can be seen as a technology Utopia for children.

Trip Adviser

I enjoyed it as a kid, but it’s important to see what other people think.

Though it got a 4 star rating, a lot of people were disappointed by it. Saying it was broken underwhelming, cheap or boring.

There were very few 5 stars and the average was 2-3 stars. 

Birmingham Museums. (n.d, n.d n.d). Think Tank. Retrieved January 26, 2021, from Birmingham Museums: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank

Trip Adviser. (n.d, n.d n.d). Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum. Retrieved January 26, 2021, from Trip Adviser: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186402-d559604-Reviews-or10-Thinktank_Birmingham_Science_Museum-Birmingham_West_Midlands_England.html#REVIEWS

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Places in Birmingham that can be considered Utopia: The Utopia Pub

When doing research of the topic of Utopia, I wanted to find location in or around Birmingham, that be considered a a Utopia to people. And so I found The Utopia Pub.

At the very front, it’s referred to as “the country bar in the city” implying it has a country theme to it.

The website tells how it provides pub classics, such as sandwiches, platters for people to share and puddings you should leave room for. There are battered haddocks, burgers, curries, chips and steaks, with extra sides to go with them.

As for drinks, there are your typical pints of beer, but also rums, whiskeys, gins and Vodkas. 

The interior looks very comfortable and home like, providing a enough room to roam and provide a eat for family and friends. The amount of pictures signify a love and appreciation for art, with toned but a large array of colours around the pub, to give off a vibrancy that doesn’t hurt the eyes (chairs, seats, walls, floor, ceiling and even table glasses).

Some of the chairs have lovely patterns with take bookshelves behind them, giving off vibe of modesty and toned mannerism, with lighting inside and outside, hitting just right to show you’re not in a solid building of walls but you’re not too out in the open either.

The structure of the building seems almost (almost) perfect when it comes to it’s layout, sharp diagonal flooring and rims, patterns mixed and match but somehow blend, utilising nature aspects (animal pictures, plants, plant patterns and outside lighting and windows) and modernised looks together. This fits more along the lines of an ecological utopia and though not be exact, it falls alongside it.

Though I have stated as to what kind of Utopia it is, why in reality (disregarding the theme) is it a Utopia to some people? Pubs are a way of escaping; life can be hard and sometimes you need a drink, but sometimes they’re a way of just enjoying yourself and spending time with people, either that be for celebrations, parties, congratulatory events or mourning the loss of someone close. 

Possibly the idea of having a country themed pub, called Utopia, may have also ben an idea to bring back a simpler time where you can relax and not have to strain on the idea going back just yet.

(Images and Text) The Utopia. (n.d, n.d n.d). THE UTOPIA, BIRMINGHAM. Retrieved January 26, 2021, from The Utopia: https://www.bar-utopia.co.uk/

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Catalyst word: Utopia

Utopia was 1 of 2 words we were deciding on (the other was ‘Free’), but we stuck with Utopia, as we wanted to stay more positive and look towards an aspect of a fun, fantasy world, instead of being too stuck or focused on the current climate and trying find specific ways around it.

Definition

The definition of a Utopia is ‘a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions’. Although other definitions follow as ‘an impractical scheme for social improvement’ or ‘an imaginary and indefinitely remote place’ (Merriam Webster, n.d).

This gives the idea that Utopia is a location of perfection, no issues (or at least improved issues and social dynamics), a community of people who do not have viscous intent, and the idea that life is better. From the latter definition, the reality does make it “too good to be true”, as there’s never been a true Utopia.

Origin

A very interesting origin story of the word, comes from a book by Sir Thomas More, titled ‘Utopia’. The name was comprised of 2 Greek words, more ‘ou’ (meaning ‘not) and ‘topos’ (meaning ‘place’), which were combined together to mean ‘nowhere’. 

Books 1 and 2 came out in 1516, and were about a traveller named ‘Raphael Hythloday’. Hythloday was comparing the way of a communist city-state to the Christian Europe; the city-state was more just and political aspects were ruled by a sense of reason, where as the other was about selfishness and greed. But Hythloday’s only sought was to cure egoism with communism, and in turn the book’s dialogue ends up taking about how evil can be reduced, rather than looking for a cure, and that humans make mistakes.

This made readers consider what parts of the books were intended or a paradox (Britannica, n.d).

Examples: (Your Dictionary, n.d)

There are different types of Utopias, such as:

Ecological: Harmonious with nature.

Economic: Ideal take of of the 18th century with commercialism and capitalism, with social aspects of the 19th century.

Religious utopia: A concept of inter and intra-religious ideals existing together.

Scientific utopia: Life styles and physical health is drastically improved.

Technology utopia: Technology makes life better.

For examples of Utopias, there’s:

The Garden of Eden

Shangri-La

Datong 

The Golden Age by Lucas Cranach

The Golden Age by Hesiod 

Feminist Utopia of Gender Equality

Britannica. (n.d, n.d n.d). Utopia. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/utopia

Your Dictionary. (n.d, n.d n.d). Examples of Utopia. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from Your Dictionary: https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-utopia.html

Merriam Webster. (n.d, n.d n.d). utopia. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from Merriam Webster: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/utopia

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New Module Task: Collaborative Practice: Hidden City

This new module is all about the Birmingham as a whole, but the untouched or not as recognised aspects or places that are seen or heard of; we are grouped into pairs of 5-6 peers, to choose a catalyst word, and find an idea to centre a project on.

The idea of this module is that Birmingham isn’t united by a singular place, culture or facility, as it’s community is built on various amounts; every group will have an opportunity to explore an area of the city and figure out what sort of project could go about it.

The types of products that can be made are magazines, board games, merchandise, comics, apps, websites, invitations, photos, businesses.

It doesn’t need to be an existing place either, it could have been failed or never before seen project, which could have been a landmark.

Because of Covid 19, it’s a lot harder to collaborate or go to city to uncover these hidden places, so this may all online, but that will not stop us from potentially creating an interactive piece we can all make.