Journal Posts - Jamie Fobert Architects

Jamie contributes to Pamela Buxton’s article on how the Covid-19 pandemic has influenced and may affect museums and galleries, as they begin to open their doors once more to visitors. Topics from safety to funding and sustainability are discussed, along with some possible changes we can expect to see put in place moving forward.

Jamie comments that “The one positive thing that might happen is that when they [galleries and museums] do come back, people will appreciate the experience they offer all the more.”

Read the full article in The RIBA Journal.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been spending time creating observational studies in pencil and watercolour. They are reflections on the nature of the light as it alters through the day on the tiled facade of our building at Tate St Ives. The tiles were hand-glazed in multiple layers of green and blue onto pale yellow ceramic. Tilted gently upward they capture the light and shifting sky of St Ives. In series – Dusk – Midday – Dawn. These studies are, as has been noted, very much influenced by the work of the great Agnes Martin, who is without a doubt one of my favourite artists. But for me they remain architectural drawings, grounded in the language of the measured drawing and material representation. @tate @tatestives #tatestives #watercolour #elevations #cornwall #ceramics #glaze #architecture #architecturedrawings #measureddrawing #ephemeral #shifting

We are very happy to have been appointed to the new Southwark Council architectural services framework; from a ‘fiercely competitive’ shortlist, we have been selected for ‘Education, social care and community projects’ over £10m.

The framework, administered by LHC, is open to any contracting authority in London. It intends to be an antidote to typical local authority frameworks, opening up public sector opportunities to ‘the best architectural practices able to deliver innovative construction services’. Certainly, the line-up of designers appointed is very impressive. We are proud to be among them and excited for the future opportunities offered.

Read more in the Architects’ Journal.

Jamie recalls fond memories of visiting Louis Kahn’s Salk Institute in San Diego for the first time, when discussing buildings that we will look forward to seeing again after the coronavirus pandemic.

‘With its extraordinary setting and views, as well as its immense physical form, is the most powerful reminder of the importance of the direct encounter’.

Read Amanda Baillieu’s full article on Dezeen here.

Following on from my last post I thought I would share the material explorations we did in the studio for the ceramic cladding for the Dublin house. The first three shots are of a study where 16 pieces were hand cut in foam at 1:1 but with a reduced height. These allowed us to study the effect of various stacking formations. The last three photos are of a 1:1 study we made in the studio in clay. The form was made by dragging a cut timber plate across the surface of the wet clay, simulating the extrusion process. Next to it, in the last shot, is the first prototype in a pale ceramic, that @ceramicacumella produced from our design. #architecture #ceramic #ceramicstudy #clay #experimentation #contemporaryarchitecture #dublin #house

We are very excited to be tasked with bringing a new Maggie’s Centre to Coventry, serving Warwickshire and the West Midlands.

Warm and welcoming and full of light and open space, Maggie’s Centres are designed by leading architects to be uplifting places for people with cancer and their families and friends. Professional staff at each centre offer free practical, emotional and social support.

Fundraising is currently underway to deliver the new centre at University Hospital Coventry. The project was launched publicly at Coventry Cathedral on 23 January.

What a difficult task I was set yesterday! Nine young people, all under 19, spoke for 10 minutes each about a work of art they admire. Nine amazing, passionate and powerful talks, and I was asked to adjudicate, deciding who would go forward to the London finals. The whole uk wide event is called ARTiculation, and it is an inspired initiative; giving young people a platform to hone there skills in public speaking and the confidence to put their own ideas forward with clarity and passion. What an amazing thing to see. But horrible to chose two to go forward when, honestly, they were all amazing. Thank you to the team of ARTiculation for making this great event happen all across the UK. #articulationprise #articulation #art #arthistory #publicspeaking #v&a https://www.articulation.org.uk/. @articulationprize

Last weekend the JFA team travelled to São Lourenço do Barrocal, a family run estate in the heart of Portugal’s Alentejo region, to visit the site of our new residential project. The house, which is currently in design, will take full advantage of the extensive views of the surrounding countryside. Cattle roam free and Neolithic dolmen dot the rustic landscape, amongst olive trees and shrubs, which the house plans to sensitively manoeuvre. After looking at the proposed drawings together, we walked the marked out site and got a real sense of this beautiful place.

Our project at Kettle’s Yard has been confirmed as a successful project in the 2020 Civic Trust Awards.

The redevelopment has enabled Kettle’s Yard to curate exhibitions with major artists from around the world and to display 20th and 21st century art in optimal gallery conditions. The high-quality visitor facilities enable even more people to enjoy this much-loved House and Gallery. And the new Learning Centre has transformed Kettle’s Yard’s work with children, young people and community groups.

Established in 1959, the Civic Trust Awards scheme identifies projects which exhibit strong sustainability credentials and a high level of accessible and universal design, and which have provided a positive civic contribution.