Delft Study Trip 16th June 2011

Turves Green Boys School enjoyed a Future Vision study visit to Delft, visiting the offices of the Library of Birmingham architects, Meccanoo and a famous Library completed by Mecanoo at Delft Technical University.

Mecanoo Architect, Patrick Arends had forewarned us of the amazing spectacle that is the cycle store at Delft Train Station. Patrick allowed plenty of time for us to observe and marvel at the many hundreds of bicycles .... Birmingham New Street, take note.

We enjoyed a guided and narrated tour of the short walk along the canal-side hearing tales of the historic city

However there had been little to prepare us for the exciting visit to Mecanoo's Offices

Personally, I found the experience of the office quite overwhelming. We were given insight into how this friendly, open and collaborative office works, seeing dozens of models, drawings, samples and presentations ..... in every part of the office.

We were given an engaging insight into the design process behind the new Library of Birmingham with the Delft-based team showing us current works, conceptual sketch models and explanations for the development and resolution of the Library design.

Tu Delft Library

Patrick from Mecanoo also guided us around the wonderful university library with his colleague Sofia. As university examinations were being held, we tip-toed around in pairs which probably emphasised some aspects of what it feels like to work and study in the building. Quite different to the *peoples palace* that the Library of Birmingham is intended to be TU Delft Library is a technical library aimed solely at university graduates and PHd students.

The office visit was a fascinating insight into how this architectural practice works and has escalated my own excitement for the Library of Birmingham; which frustratingly will not be open until 2013. In the meantime there are other Mecanoo projects that can be enjoyed such as the TU Delft Library that we went to see as well as seeing the Future Vision models at the Symposium on 7th July 2011.

Oslo Study Trip 7-8th June 2011

We encountered the Operahouse first from a pedestrian bridge over the busy roads. This provided a dramatic revealing of the scale and ingenuity of the building. Externally, the forward facing, public parts of the building resemble a landscape transformed. Large planes of public space twisted and lifted to form usable space.

The most satisfying part of the trip was probably at this moment, when it took a short while to encourage the pupils down from the bridge so we could go and get inside the building; they were instantly excited and energised, snapping photos chatting and laughing.



Inside, our guide explained the vision of a building you could stand on as "to stand on something gives the sense of ownership ..." The project was state funded and as the state represents the people then it should be a peoples' building. The foyer is large & bright and this is emphasised by the low entrance threshold; it almost feels like you're sneaking in.



The auditorium is entirely clad in Oak both internally and externally; the 'wooden heart'. As we crossed the threshold into the timber realm the reaction amongst pupils and adults alike was moving with everyone touching and feeling the wooden walls.

Our visit to the opera house was fully rounded as our guide took us through to the backstage areas, seeing props and stage panels, great backdrops and the installation of the temporary ballet floor. We would then watch the last performance of Romeo & Juliette for the complete building experience.

You can find out more about the Snohetta designed Operahouse here