OUGD505: Studio Brief 1 - Research: Exhibition Space

OUGD505: Studio Brief 1/ Licence to print money   

Exhibition Space  

Bank House

During the briefing tutors informed us of the space acquired for the exhibition, a recently grade II listed building in the centre of Leeds. Formerly the regional headquarters for The Bank of England it provides great contextual links to the nature of the exhibition.

The building itself is a bold example of brutalist architecture completed in 1971. The buildings form is typical of the 1960s trend toward dramatic cantilevered volumes and, together with its expensive finishes of polished Cornish granite and bronze, cleverly projects the visual strength that the bank demanded. Its powerful street presence is offset by the extensive use of good quality materials which was a milestone in British engineering in its time. 

This is a great space for the nature of the exhibition providing contextual links to its concept. The architecture of the building is impressively unique and could inspire potential design directions using the celebration of brutalist architecture as the concept for my resolution.