Take some old Edinburgh interiors, and turn them a philosophy library, a mindful dance club, an island of knowledge…
Something youthful and joyous here - some proposals (collected by Dezeen) from this year’s graduates at the Edinburgh College of Art, profoundly transforming the interiors of some old Edinburgh buildings (mostly the Freemasons Hall, used often as a Festival venue).
Enjoy their idealistic flights of imagination. Architectural and design wonder doesn’t always mean ripping it up and starting again.
The Island of Knowledge by Alkistis Brountzou, MA
"The Island of Knowledge is an open, public space inside the Freemasons Hall for sharing knowledge and learning, which explores the spatial intersections of the physical and the digital world.
"Inside the main hall, or 'nest', new hybrid experiences are generated by utilising new technologies such as augmented reality inside of an expanded cinema, various multilayered exhibitions and lecture halls.
Email: brountzoualk@gmail.com
Viaticus by Mari Nasif, MA
"Inspired by the idea of Masonic degrees, the brief re-imagines the Freemasons' journey towards knowledge and translates this into spatial settings based on the learning domains proposed by Benjamin Bloom.
"The proposal, broadly defined as a philosophy library, occupies the voids inside of an existing staircase volume. Its verticality mirrors Bloom's hierarchical learning model where higher levels house more complex learning. Each degree is uniquely designed to activate the senses and help individuals resolve the cognitive challenges along the journey to mastery."
Email: mari_nasif@outlook.com
Website: marinasif.com
The Astronomy Culture Centre by Echo Zhu, BA
"The Astronomy Culture Centre is designed as an interior 'station', where the public can engage with sky events and explore the world above with interactive galleries and simulation technology, despite the light-polluted skies of Edinburgh. It helps visitors to investigate and understand our role in the universe and ultimately care about the future of humanity.
"The design strategy revolves around gravity, the dominant force in the universe, which is closely related to the birth of life on earth. This theoretical underpinning is integrated into the design in the form of flow routes to encourage experiencing and pursuing activities within the designed interior environment."
Email: echoecho0716@gmail.com
Portfolio: linkedin.com/in/echo-zhu-67091a184
Scottish Literature Centre by Jiawen Zhang, BA
"This project aims to create a new literature centre for the city of Edinburgh. It hopes to connect and provide a central hub for all of the existing architectural spaces on the literary trail in Edinburgh Old Town.
"This interior proposal for the Tron Kirk church provides a central, easily accessible location for promoting local literature by providing spaces for interaction between local writers and literary tourists."
Email: jiawenz@umich.edu
Website: 924370879.wixsite.com/website
Wax Lyrical by Bethany Harle, BA
"I am interested in how interior spaces can shape our wellbeing and behaviour. Alongside the alarming rate at which UK nightclubs are closing, this guided my graduate project. Called Wax Lyrical, this day and nightclub consists of five venues that focus on different aspects of nightlife culture: drinking, drugs, sex, dance and music.
"The design concept aims to reduce the risks to the physical and mental health of visitors, which are usually heightened within these environments. Informed by the experimental interiors of 1970s disco clubs, the spaces hope to create a healthy escape."
Email: bethany.harle@hotmail.com
Website: bethharle.com