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education. falmouth college of arts
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"Absolute has created a space which works. Their professionalism and design standards were consistently high throughout the project".
Wayne Teiken, Estates Manager
The existing refectory and bar at Falmouth College of Arts was more reminiscent of a hospital canteen than a forward thinking art college cafe. The building in which the eatery is housed is central to the main Woodlane campus, originally built in the early 1980s. It had been neglected and was in desperate need for refurbishment. Subsequently the area had become unpopular as a social area amongst students and staff over a number of years. There was an obvious need for a fresh focal point in the college.
In March 2002, the college invited a national, a regional and a local design company to create visual proposals for the project. The pitch was won by Absolute, whose design team consists of three ex-Falmouth College of Arts students. The brief for the refurbishment had relatively simple intentions. The Commercial Services Manager aims to generate renewed interest in the area as a whole by creating a relaxing environment, prolonging peoples' stay, and extending the space as potential to accommodate large conferences and dinners.
There was the need to consider accessibility and navigation for visually impaired and disabled users. Absolute consulted the RNIB at the initial design stages in order to implement appropriate guidance systems.
The space itself is the ultimate blank canvas, a shell in all senses of the word, a voluminous area with 4 metre high ceilings and light flooding in through floor to ceiling windows. Originally the small bar and spacious refectory were two separate entities, accessed by a dimly lit corridor. The first design decision was to combine the two into a free flowing entity and create an immediate experience. The corridor was opened up by the installation of tall glass panels into the existing wall, allowing visitors to have a glimpse at the inside before entering. Kathryn Tyler of Absolute Design said "Conceptually we wanted to create an environment sympathetic to the desires of the students, who are all naturally aesthetically minded people. As past students we had a good insight into what was lacking, and by amalgamating the areas we hope for a revival in college unity by providing a place for students and staff alike to meet outside of the classroom environment".
The fitting out of the interior was drawn from a number of sources from all over the country, injecting the space with contemporary fixtures and furniture. Deep teal and olive upholstery is mingled with dark walnut and chrome to give a subdued urban quality. Due to financial constraints there was no allowance to replace the standard ceiling tiles so carefully designed bespoke modern light pendants were commissioned not only to distract from the bland ceiling, but also add a unique decoration and detail.
The works of graduating students were selected to adorn the vast expanses of wall space. Specific pieces from Susannah Larke, Matthew Mahoney and Callum Sims portfolios were chosen to compliment the interior for their timeless qualities and visual sympathy with the rooms. It is hoped that in the future there will be regular subsequent purchases made to support the students in the coming years. |
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