Bartlett - Architecture of Seduction
Catrina Stewart

Despite its status amongst some architectural practices, the Bartlett is not praised by all architects and has caused much controversy since it opened in 1841. The school became famous in the 1990s when it employed professor Peter Cook, the founding member of architecture magazine, ‘Archigram ‘, which was released in the 60s. Although he no longer holds the post, the Bartlett continues to ask important questions tackling the essence of architecture; challenging its function in culture and society and redefining what architecture can and should be.

The Bartlett’s ethos encourages students to push the boundaries and explore the parallel qualities between architecture, art, photography, film, science, engineering, writing and illustration, which is complimented by its structure. The Bartlett is divided into 13 units, each comprising of approximately 2 tutors and 15 students. Each unit deals with a different subject, according to what the tutors specialize in – there is a film unit, landscape unit, 1:1 scale model unit, history unit and design unit, to name a few. Throughout the years, students move between units to experience each niche and challenge their preconceptions of architectural practice. Collin Fernier, a design tutor, who currently runs Unit 18, told his students:

“So we challenge you in this brief to explore the feelings that can be perceived through the physicality of the material world - emotions of pleasure, well-being, serenity, surprise, longing, love, exhilaration, erotic excitement and intimacy, but also, perhaps, anxiety, sadness, solitude, fear, anger, aggression, pain, pride, boredom, alienation and indifference. Explore how these emotions can be expressed and stimulated by using all the sensorial means at the disposal of architectural design: form, materials, light, colour, movement, acoustics, etc…”

Ever since my first day at the Bartlett, in 2006, I have been inspired by its teaching and working ethos – we are free to produce work that is more speculative and conceptual in order to evoke emotions and seduce the observer. In tutorials I have been encouraged to go back to my childhood and free myself of conformity and style and overcome my inhibitions, in order to truly invent and innovate. We are taught that architecture should act as more than a shelter and an assembly of building materials – that it can evoke emotions and reside in the memories of those who have experienced its spaces. As technology has advanced and the mediums of architectural representation have increased, the constraints ensued by programmatic imperatives brought about by construction do not have the same weight. Therefore, there is more potential for creative and experimental design, allowing us to imagine what was previously impossible.

The following project, LA Stunt School, was produced during my second year at the Bartlett, whist in unit 5. LA Stunt School was to be a place where actors came to learn and train to simulate fights, car crashes, flying, fire, explosions, etc… It is sited on the concrete banks of the Los Angeles River, towering over the suburbs on stilts to allow the water to rise and fall without affecting the function of the building. The drawings represent the spaces, but also function to convey the images of a city full of bright lights and ecstatic energy. The piece is largely hypothetical because it is built upon the premise of seduction rather than following the strict rules of construction. Conceptual architecture exists as a means for experimentation and offers inspiration – a different, more playful approach for future constructed architectural projects.

Most students who graduate from the Bartlett either begin work for a practice, where they can use their studies and research as inspiration for future work, or they decide to carry on drawing Hypothetically, and become what is known as ‘paper architects’. The latter often remain in education becoming tutors, like the architect CJ Lim who teaches Unit 10 at the Bartlett. He is able to carry on his research without having to deal with the constraints that will prevent his proposals from being built in the ‘real world’; planning permission, clients and property. Next year is my final at the Bartlett, and whilst it is important that I do not forget my work at the school and it is easy to become overwhelmed by the practical, administrative, financial and bureaucratic issues surrounding architecture practice, I feel very strongly that work must also be constructed so that everyone can enjoy it. The Bartlett has installed an important ethos into my practice and creative thinking, and I appreciate its ideologies, but we must not forget that if ideas cannot be realized, we cannot improve the lives of those who inhabit the spaces we design. After all, this is why the practice of architecture was invented.

Catrina Stewart is a fourth year diploma student at the Bartlett School of Architecture. Her current work explores using architecture as a way of animating the weather with inflatable structures. Her Diploma show, the 'Bartfest' will be running from 25 June- 3 July.

Images from top: Archigram, Instant City, 1968; Catrina Stewart, Archetectural plan for LA Stunt School, 2007; Catrina Stewart, Section plan for LA Stunt School, 2007