Page 15 - Project Birchwood, Melbourn

Blurring the boundaries-
the spaces in-between

Over the past 10-15 years, our learning and research based clients The traditional central, spine corridor with minimal natural light has
have been demanding facilities that are able to support their need evolved into an active environment which enables individuals and
to be able to perform at their best in an increasingly collaborative groups to stop, chat and work. Daylight, along with views up, across
environment – there is an ever more intricate web of interdisciplinary and out of the space all promote a better sense of community,
connections that constantly evolve as ideas and programmes are activity and collaborative spirit. Ease of movement and connectivity
instigated, adapted and implemented. We believe that our most (visual as well as walkable) are essential ingredients within any
successful solutions to fulfil this need are based on simple strategies research environment – movement spaces should encourage the
for the structure, servicing and zoning of research and work space. casual serendipitous encounter between unrelated occupants,
In our ‘first thoughts’ section we briefly describe some of these slightly wider stair landings, window seats at key points with a
strategies. In essence, we are always attempting to design facilities good view, balustrades with places to perch and chat – all small
which provide carefully shaped and configured spaces that deliver but significant gestures that help towards making a facility a truly
a highly connected and varied environment. One that will allow collaborative and stimulating place.
individual endeavour, quietude and focus as well as the ability to
work as a group in either closed or open space. Technology rich The external spaces in and around any new building or campus
environments that have excellent daylight, good external awareness should also be seen as an extension of the working and collaborative
and, wherever possible, natural ventilation including an element of environment. Sitting alone under the shade of a tree to finish a
user control over the environmental conditions. paper, connected wirelessly, should be a natural thing to do. Equally
‘collision space’ for sparking ideas could be around a table tennis
We recognise the importance of being able to establish identifiable table or basketball cour instead of a meeting table.
and securable space for particular research groups but this should
not preclude others from being able to see ‘what’s going on next
door’ and more importantly for separate groups to use shared
facilities – such as meeting rooms and kitchen/coffee places -
blurring the boundaries between otherwise discrete groups of
people. Our experience tells us that it is always the connective
spaces, ‘the spaces in-between’ within any building which are
ultimately the primary contributors as to how the building feels and to
whether the building ‘works’ or not. The advent of the ‘collaborative
agenda’ has brought these connective spaces to ‘centre- stage’.