Romana established an architectural programme that presents resident artists both as factory workers of craft and as the machine itself. She exceeded the brief by showing a sophisticated level of understanding, revealing that the 'process of making' can be the artwork itself. This was communicated through an excellent personal process of making - her concept sketches and parti diagrams are as effective as her final polished visuals. Embodying Sheffield's identity as the 'City of Makers', the idea represents the two industries that mark the character of the city: the steel industry of the past and current creative industries. The rigid steel structure acts as a skeleton, hosting a bundle of creative activities that attract people and give life to the structure. The building can be identified as a reinterpretation of an art gallery, where the artistic process becomes the exhibit displayed. The spaces are programmed not only to nurture the creative act but also to encourage engagement and collaboration between the artists and the public. A primary inspiration for the project was Cedric Price's Fun Palace, his description of which drove the design development process: 'Choose what you want to do - or watch someone else doing it. Try starting a riot or beginning a painting - or just lie back and stare at the sky.'
展开▼
