This next set of exercises is designed to look at how people use indoor space. People can be included within the shot or there can be evidence of human activity. Viewpoint and composition will be important. I was looking forward to this set of exercises, although on reflection, I thought this set of exercises would be challenging. “Narrative” sprang to mind, and I thought these images should help to tell / complement a story rather than be a collection of rooms and buildings.
Having read through this set of exercises, I realised I needed to start planning some buildings / spaces to look at which would help when it came to my assignment. Ideas would hopefully form a shortlist to work from and keeping my eyes open when out and about would be useful. A mix of old and new buildings was a must.
Cresswell Crags Visitor Centre, Derbyshire
Wollaton Hall, Nottingham
Windmill – height Heage, Green’s Mill, Nottingham, North Leverton, Notts
Watermill – Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
Industrial Heritage – Papplewick Pumping Station, Notts, Lea Holloway Pumping Station, Derbyshire, Industrial Heritage Museums – e.g. framework museum, Notts,
Nottingham Contemporary Art Museum
Derby Quad museum
Nottingham Railway Station
Sherwood Forest Arts and Crafts centre
Thornton Lodge, Thornton Reservoir, Leicsetershire
David Mellor Cutlery Factory, Hathersage, Derbyshire
Cricket pavillion
WI Meeting – East Bridgford, Notts
WI House, Newark, Notts,
work
Garage
Next door neighbours summer house
Aircraft Hanger – Newark Aviation Heritage centre
Village church
First World War Trench reconstruction, Sherwood Pines, Notts
This first exercise looks at the function of an indoor space, how successful the space is and whether it is being used to its full advantage.
I visited Wollaton Hall in Nottingham; an Elizabethan house built in 1588 and extensively remodelled with the last major change taken place in the 19th century for The 6th Lord Middleton. It opened to the public in 1926 and is now home to Nottingham’s natural history collection. From what I remembered of it, it was a two story (accessible) building with a large entrance hall and some rooms off it – most of which hold taxidermy exhibits and a story of the Middleton family who used to reside here. I always found it dark and sinister and was not surprised that the house front was chosen for “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012).
Thinking about the entrance hall, what did I want the space to do? I thought it should be welcoming, introduce people to the building, it could be used as an exhibition hall and should display relevant paintings or armoury. There should be a “wow” factor in that the tourist would know that they were visiting something special. The visitors will be of all ages – tourists, university students, children and local residents. How should it appeal to everyone? The website suggests that there are trail sheets that children can do which change periodically. Events happen which need advertising and tourists need directing or questions answering. Provision needs to be made for people to sit and look at the artifacts or architecture.
I stood and watched the people who passed through the entrance hall to see how they used the space. As they entered through the door, they were greeted with a small exhibition. This was about a dinosaur theme park. Most people glanced at it and walked off. I felt that for the size of the room, the exhibition stand was too small. the writing was difficult to read and it looked looked CAD drawings with not much explanation. There did not appear to be much about the owners of the house (but this was displayed in other rooms).The lady making badges at the white trestle table was sat on her own and children were not encouraged to make a badge. The paintings were in keeping with a natural history collection, although they were not being looked at. There were a couple of benches where people were sitting, and at one point a lady carried out a nappy change on one. The “meet and greet” chap was on hand to answer questions and guide people through the room.
I stood and waited, watching people and took a few images on how the room was being used. This shot to me demonstrated the size and height of the room, the isolation of the badge maker, the gait of the meet and greet person and some visitors striding purposefully across the room. I went back about an hour later and the room was still being used in the same way.
I felt that the space was not being used to its full advantage. More use could be made of the space and children encouraged to participate in activities. The exhibition could be more eye catching and larger so that people looked at it. "Batman" was relegated to the gift shop and one dressing up costume in another room.
Bibliography
http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/article/22204/About-Us#history accessed 1/8/14
http://www.thedarkknightrises.com/dvd/home.php accessed 4/8/14
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1345836/locations accessed 4/8/14
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