Redmak Architecture + Urban Design

Project Ethos

This Project opened up the exploration of architecture and the creation and vision of landscape beyond the conventional teaching or studio space to a group of young people, artists, architects and photographers.
Project Theme

The project started with a talk by international artist Edwin Zwakman and a visit to his studio to see his work in progress.

Workshop Weekends

Using Zwakman’s work as inspiration for their own work the group went onto work with Farida Makki from Redmak Architects to dream up buildings places and spaces. Redmak kicked off the first three weekends of 1 day workshops.

Week One

The first week started with various games to help the young people to get to know each other and the architect. Gradually a team was built who then felt confident enough to talk about their studio visit and impressions of Zwakman’s work, find out what architects do and discuss their ideas for their buildings.

Week Three

Each group member started to finalise and refine their models making them more stable, going beyond one storey and unusual ways of moving around (slides, bridges and ladders). They then began to mark their own character by signage, collaged textures, Manga drawings, plasticine people, see through fabric and gold paint.

The Next Stages

By the end of REDMAK’s workshops the group were ready to move on to work with modeller artist Jeni Smith to finish decorating their buildings and create the landscape around. They then set up a mini photography studio with photographer Jon Legge to document their buildings within a landscape using huge painted skies and land and experimenting with lighting and camera position. The last workshop was with Digital Artist Darius Powel to add atmosphere and people to their photographs.

The Final Show + Wider Involvement

The SPARKS project resulted in a public presentation of the young peoples work at Q Gallery alongside the exhibition of new works Tales from the Grid by Edwin Zwakman, at this event the young people talked to visiting members of the public and invited family and friends about their work, their themes, the process undertaken, about the SPARKS group and what they hoped for the future

Project Participants and Feedback

Main project users are self referred at risk local young people between the ages of 13 to 16 many of whom are from disadvantage backgrounds experiencing difficult home lives. They are keen and ready for the next SPARKS project!

The Artists + Credits

Edwin Zwakman: Artist

Farida Makki: Redmak Architects

Jeni Smith: Artist

Darius Powel: Digital Artist

Jon Legge: Photographer

Angela Terris: Support

Amanda McLaren: Support + Coordinator

Clive Wheeler: Documentation + Photos

Project Background

This unique project is for young people living in Upper North Belfast, off the Crumlin road, near to the former Crumlin road Courthouse, Gaol and Girwood Barracks. These politically iconic buildings are now closed and much debate has been and is taking place about how they will be used in the future. This project gave young people a voice in a politically sensitive environment.

Art and Social Justice

To ensure the voices of young people are heard, Upper North Belfast Community Empowerment Project, which is part of the North Belfast Action Unit approached Gerri Moriarty, a Community Artist and Stakeholder Developments for their assistance

The Space Project

The Space Project was created and Redmak was asked to design and run the Space Vision Workshop. For 3 hours in a community center in Belfast, Farida Makki helped the young people put their thoughts into visual messages to create a poster to kick start their campaigning.

The Vision Workshop

The project group of young people were very enthusiastic about getting the opportunity to travel to Gateshead for inspiration and then back in Belfast to work with an architect, a cartoonist, musicians and a film maker. Although this way of working is very new to them the project is shaped round their interests and talents. For Redmak the Vision workshop was a real example of what an explosion of talent and drive these young people have and using drawings, graffiti, words, sculpture and poetry they encapsulated their dreams for a future space for young people

Creating a Voice

The young people feel there is a lack of facilities for young people and are asking :

‘Where can we go? Where we can learn and create? Where can we meet our friends and make new friends? We’ve seen how other places work for young people and help them build a healthy lifestyle’. This group wants to know if adults are thinking about young people when they are drawing up their redevelopment plans?

The Bus Tour

Belfast’s familiar red tour buses were put to a very unusual purpose on the afternoon of Friday December 1^st ; young people took over as the tour guides, showing decision-makers round their area, as part of telling them about their ideas and hopes for the future re-development

The Film

The buses left from the Vine Center, Crumlin Road at 13.45 on Friday afternoon and was followed by a film which the group have made to sum up the strength of their feelings. The central message of the film is ‘Give Us a Future; We Deserve Better’

The Space Group

Deborah, Jolene, Danielle, Jacqueline, David, William, Samantha, Paul, Natasha

Neil, Jordan, Stephanie, Leah, Jamie, Jackie, Leeanne and Mark. Supported by youth workers Janice Beggs and David Surgenor.

The Artists

John Comerton (film-maker)

Farida Makki (Redmak Architects)

Kate Pankurst (cartoonist)

Klaire Jamieson (music producer)

Credits

The project concept was by Ruth Moore (UNBCEP) and was designed and co-coordinated by Gerri Moriarty (community artist) and Louise Reddick (Stakeholder Developments)