I super like spaces designed for educational institutions. I still have enough faith in humanity to hope that they are not used for the stupid shit that the designers say they are.
This renovation for the University of Bangkok in Thailand by Supermachine Studio have is very fun indeed but is marred by the sales pitch of 'education is everywhere'. 'Knowledges have been way easier to access in the era of internet and social networks. Schools and universities are adapting their environment to the new epoch.' boasts the Supermachine Studio Website.
I'm sorry but this is rubbish.
People have been controlling their own learning since learning was freaking invented. Just because everyone has the internet on their phone does not make them more clever or have easier access to knowledge. I just do not understand where this insane notion comes from. Just as everyone has access to the library but not everyone reads the books. In fact the library is probably more useful because at some point in time everyone who has been to a library has been taught how to use a library. No one is taught how to use the internet, you just get presented with it and told to google it.
The spaces in this project are well proportioned and really fresh in their aesthetics but why the trashy sales pitch?
In side the project, the main lounge is on the ground floor underneath lecture rooms and auditoriums, a central focus and important transitional boundary for everyone with in the university. These spaces where previously professor offices but has been reappropriated accommodates a variety of student activities.
The lounge has been dubbed the “Reading cave”. The low ceiling being emphasised by thousand of OSB ribs creating form and controlling the acoustics.
In front of the cave is a customisable seating area where the pixel like stools can be formed in different ways for different use. In short the whole of the ground floor space is created with flexibility in mind to accommodate almost any conceivable use by the university.
It is described as a “youngsters’ ecology” by the official sources and I really dislike this as well, as if all students are young, dumb and difficult to understand. As if all that slack jawed stereo typing about other generations has any basis of fact. As if all students are young (I was a mature student for my sins)
All this gurning aside I really like this renovation. I understand that the sales pitch is what wins projects but sometimes it makes me sad, sick and really worried that people out their believe the hype. I absolutely do not agree with the hot desking, education is everywhere, bollocks that gets attached to this sort of space I do believe that by giving a space over to people to use as they see fit to aid their personal development is really important and empowering, so in spite of all the bullshit I expect that this project will work well for the university.
The lounge has been dubbed the “Reading cave”. The low ceiling being emphasised by thousand of OSB ribs creating form and controlling the acoustics.
In front of the cave is a customisable seating area where the pixel like stools can be formed in different ways for different use. In short the whole of the ground floor space is created with flexibility in mind to accommodate almost any conceivable use by the university.
The space on the upper level is for breaks from study in 2 main rooms that look like brightly coloured bird houses. These spaces are filled with the usual break out equipment; table tennis, pool table and some not usual; make up counter and pole dancing stage. Way to break down social and gender stereo typing.
It is described as a “youngsters’ ecology” by the official sources and I really dislike this as well, as if all students are young, dumb and difficult to understand. As if all that slack jawed stereo typing about other generations has any basis of fact. As if all students are young (I was a mature student for my sins)
All this gurning aside I really like this renovation. I understand that the sales pitch is what wins projects but sometimes it makes me sad, sick and really worried that people out their believe the hype. I absolutely do not agree with the hot desking, education is everywhere, bollocks that gets attached to this sort of space I do believe that by giving a space over to people to use as they see fit to aid their personal development is really important and empowering, so in spite of all the bullshit I expect that this project will work well for the university.
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