Footprint

This is from Meredith of BLACK Architecture, also former intern at the AJ :

Having had the luck to graduate in a recession, I finally found myself a Part 1 position in the closing months of last year.

My main responsibility at Black Architecture has been to design and manage the refurbishment of their office building. As a practice specialising in sustainability, it was a major concern that the office should be developed in a sustainable way, too. The materials used were environmentally friendly, and the designs were specific to Black and the possibility that they might move offices again within a few years.

The kitchen, made by Milestone, is made out of recycled vending machine coffee cups and electrical components (which create the speckled effect) – a product that Black had recently specified for its CAFOD HQ.

The coffee cup plastic can be machined using ordinary woodworking tools, and as a solid surface, it can also be sanded down to mend any knocks or scratches that occur in a well used kitchen. The builders were very enthusiastic about the product which is always a good sign of a good material. The cabinet carcasses are made from 98% recycled chipboard and the taps are made by Vola.

The chance to work from the initial design ideas all the way through to the construction (and inevitable snagging) of the project was a fantastic opportunity to be given in my first architectural job. I recommend any Year Out student to grab a small project if you can get one - to have actually designed and built something is a great thing.

Oh, and as I am moving on, there’s a job for a Part 1 going at Black - anyone with a passion for sustainability should definitely get in touch.

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