Welcome to a new year.
First thank you to all of you who made last years summer show a success. The show was very well reviewed and seemed to capture the spirit of the Department. Also congratulations to Anna Page who was one of the BD class of 2008 and Stef Rhodes who won the RIBA Boyd Auger research award to carry out work in Bosnia.
The New Year promises much. We have new staff including Diana Cochrane, Jane McAllister, Signy Svalastoga and Peter Carl all whom have been appointed to take areas of the Department forward in new directions. We have also focussed this year on bringing exceptional graduates into the department to teach and we welcome back Nina, Ulla, Hana and Alex.
Eden Grove
Over the summer we have secured a new building, Eden Grove. Recently 4 units and 1 studio moved in to the first floor. It’s rough and ready at present but in time will provide more formal studio space for many of you. MA& DE have been central in helping to get Eden Grove working. So many thanks to Linda, Anna, Caroline and Tabitha. MA&DE are also sharing control of our lectures and exhibitions this year. The positive effect can already be seen and our Caruso St John exhibition which opened on 10 October.
As we await the results of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) research and live projects have been flourishing. Florian and ARU are one of three winning teams to design a new city in South Korea, Bo and Shamoon have returned from India where they have started work on sanitation projects for the Water Trust and ASD projects have been appointed to work with the RIBA and the Department of Children, Schools and Families on research into the nature of future school provision. All very exciting.
So a good start to the year and I hope free from the pressures of RIBA visits and the ARB we can look forward to a creative and exploratory year. Good luck.
Robert
