30 April 2009

A new look for Dundee architecture show

An interdisciplinary art school utopia and an examination of how allotments can aid diversity and community spirit in the urban environment are among the themes to be explored at this year’s University of Dundee Architecture School Degree Show.

The Degree Show will be held at the Matthew Building, part of the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design from Friday, May 22nd to Saturday, May 30th. This is the first year that the architecture exhibition will be held separately from the rest of the Duncan of Jordanstone Degree Show.

While the bulk of the art student’s work will be displayed at the Vision Building in Seabraes, the School of Architecture will have the whole of the Matthew Building to themselves.

The external view of the building gives the impression of a rather utilitarian, concreted block, but the School are keen to show to the public that it is in fact a facility that helps to foster creativity, and contains many interesting, hidden features.

Prospective employers will be among attending the event, and taking the opportunity to meet with exhibiting students.

Dean of the School of Architecture, Graeme Hutton, praised the quality of the students work, saying 'The media used by students range from drawings to models, film and photography. Architecture has never been more exciting, and this is reflected by the quality of work produced by our students.'

'The 2009 Dundee Architecture School Degree Show will exhibit a diverse and challenging range of design projects - from towers to tea rooms - each affecting the way we view our built environment.'

To mark the additional exhibition space available, this year’s Degree Show has been expanded to include the work being carried out right across the School of Architecture.

As well as showcasing the work of graduating students, a ‘Best In School’ display will exhibit the designs of top undergraduates from each year group, which will be curated by two recent architecture graduates.

The architecture course challenges students to come up with innovative ideas to develop, and the exhibited work contains some arresting visuals and truly innovative work on both conceptual and practical levels.

Fourth-year student Stephen Mackie’s eye-catching designs for an arts school envisaged as a kind of interdisciplinary education utopia - will be among those on display. Final year student Emma Hickey has been examining parasite structures in the Roseangle area, and will be exhibiting the results of her studies.

Her classmate Callum Robertson has been studying allotments in Dundee as part of a project looking at how these amenities can be used in urban areas to increase diversity and enhance community spirit while offering an alternative to simply building on gap sites.

The building can be accessed via the front door at the south side of campus, and from the back door, at level 5 of the building. The official preview night takes place on Friday, May 22nd, and the show opens to the general public the following day. Visitors will be able to access the exhibitions between 9am and 6pm until Saturday, May 30th.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk