Opening of the refurbished UCL Bartlett School of Architecture

As part of my continuing association with The Bartlett I was asked to photograph the official opening of the refurbished 22 Gordon street by HRH Princess Anne and take some architectural photographs as well for the comms team. 

Busy day with a whistle stop tour of the building with Princess Anne being shown around by Hawkins Brown Architect Euan MacDonald. Meeting and chatting with the Provost, Dean, Head of School, various Lecturers, students, project managers, site  manager, Architects from Hawkins Brown Tom Noonan and Hawkins and Brown themselves. Then speeches and unveiling a plaque (her not me), everyone could then let their hair down and enjoy a drink, some lovely food and have a look around the building.

Having switched from Pr/Press mode to Architectural Photographer mode I now had the chance to photograph the building , well I had a couple of hours to run around but will go back when there are people in it to photograph it again. Having spent a lot of time in the old one, the new incarnation is a real breath of fresh air. Large windows, lots of open spaces for students to chat, collaborate and share ideas in. Bright fresh unit spaces that have been well thought out, cafe/bar, Gallery that has various hidden moveable walls, large workshop , offices and lecture spaces and a huge steel staircase. Every area can and no doubt will be used by students to experiment in, build and exhibit . A Catalyst space

The Bartlett has got to be the most tricky client Hawkins/Brown have ever had with everyone wanting to put in their opinion/ideas all deftly filtered by Prof. Mark Smout of the Bartlett who acted as conduit between the School and Architects ( his hair is definitely greyer now). I'm sure their will be plenty of people that complain about it for one reason or another but ultimately Hawkins/Brown have created a huge space full of useful areas out of a tiny cramped space.