Writing | Symposium Video

Sameness: The Indian Transgression

A short talk discussing my experiences of domestic life (dwelling, eating, bathing and sleeping) in India with feedback from Roger Tyrrell and former head of school Professor Geoffrey Broadbent of the University of Portsmouth, and Adrian Carter and Lars Botin  of the University of Aalborg.

Writing | Symposium

Sameness: The Indian Transgression

“Modern architects have been harping continually on what is different in our time to such an extent, that even they have lost touch with what is not different, with what is always essentially the same.” Aldo van Eyck

These words ring true now more than ever. There is nothing banal about the familiar, and nothing poor about honesty. Simplicity can be sensual, and the truth can be humbling. There is beauty in everyday objects and occurrences, which in turn will become relics and rituals. By celebrating everyday architecture, the secular will become sacred.

Through a dialogue of differences between his experiences in India and the UK, Simon hopes to distill the underlying principles of architecture through identifying a prevalent human condition.

For more information visit facebook.com/event.php?eid=184744891540778

Domestic Transgressions | Model

Domestic Transgressions | New Havant Linear Marketcross (with Paul Cashin)

Predicated upon a apocalyptic scenario in which Christianity has imploded and sea levels have risen by ten metres; a levee has been erected through the centre of Havant - and the extant St. Faith’s church - dividing land and sea dwellers.

I worked with Paul Cashin to design a place for these two distinct civilizations to dwell and trade in the post-apocalyptic era, which surmounts the levee and is accessed through the bell tower.

The hearth is used as an anchoring device, both for individual families and the new commune as a whole.

Follow Paul's blog at emergentstudiopcc.blogspot.com

Publications | Coming Soon

Tectonic Transgressions

A photobook recording the unique qualities of light found whilst on study trips to Finland, Denmark and Estonia (the North) and Morocco (the South).

INDIA Summer 2010 (with Vinesh Pomal)

A photobook recording our travels from inception (Vinesh being awarded the RIBA Barrington Smith Travel Award 2010) to reflection (Vinesh and I giving a lecture at the Portsmouth School of Architecture).

Domestic Transgressions | Post-Apocalyptic Film Night

Nordic Transgressions | Orestad Church Competition (with Paul Cashin)

I worked with Paul Cashin to design a non-denominational church for a new community in a Copenhagen suburb. The congregation would first find a site in the scrubland outside the town, then build a fire which they would use to fire bricks made from clay on the site, which would then be used to build the church.

The central hearth is accessed from a tunnel starting beneath the bell tower in the town square, from which horizon and sky chapels radiate.

I also designed a clay votive candle to light an otherwise dark world.

Follow Paul's blog at emergentstudiopcc.blogspot.com

Indian Transgressions | Lecture

Vinesh Pomal and I gave a lecture on our travels to India at the Portsmouth School of Architecture in aid of the Hope Foundation School in Bhuj where Vinesh and I ran an architectural workshop with the pupils.

Nordic Transgressions | Linen Handkerchief

Nordic Transgressions | Finland Day 2

Walking through Turku Cemetery one autumn morning, it became immediately apparent that the Finnish people have a pragmatic attitude towards death. In contrast to the grand Victorian gravestones that populate London's graveyards, the ones here were far more humble in appearance; blocks of stone carved only with names and dates in sans serif, along with the occasional simple cross. The Resurrection Chapel (Erik Bryggman, 1941) stands on a hill nestled in a small coppice of trees, beyond which an understated bell tower protrudes. Like the headstones surrounding it, the building itself is presenting in a matter-of-fact manner; the white monolith sits contentedly in its surroundings. The visual focus of the congregation is split between the low-key altar and timber crucifix ahead and unobstructed views of the surrounding woodland to the side.

A short distance away is The Chapel of the Holy Cross (Pekka Pitkanen, 1967); the concrete crematorium consists of a number of austere chapels of varying scales, each commanding views over the landscape. Perhaps of more interest here were the service areas, which were treated with the same architectural rigour as the more sacred spaces; although out-of-view from the mourners, the mortuary, furnace and urn rooms were rational and somewhat methodical in their organisation. The chimney from the furnace room expressed outside as though mediating between heaven and earth.

From there we headed for St. Henry's Ecumenical Art Chapel (Sanaksenaho Architects, 2005) which is unique in that - as the name suggests - it houses both a chapel and an art gallery.  Again, the building is placed in the landscape; this time surmounting a rocky outcrop taking its form directly from the contours of the site. A series of laminated pine ribs form the structure, which can be likened to a whale clad in copper scales; implicit with connotations of Bible stories such as the feeding of the five thousand and Jonah and the whale. Upon entering the chapel, one moves towards the altar from darkness into light; in contrast to this a limited amount of light is admitted above the door, the spirit of which seems to linger between the beams. Again, the crucifix is understated suggesting a faith far removed from the ornamentation of Christian architecture in mainland Europe.

After a prompt visit to the Turun Sanomat Building (Alvar Aalto, 1930) and Turku Central Library (JKKM Architects, 2007), we left the city limits for the renowned Paimio Sanatorium (Alvar Aalto, 1933).  Originally conceived as an infirmary for patients with tuberculosis, the building is now used a conventional hospital. Before the discovery of penicillin later in the twentieth century, the accepted treatment for tuberculosis patients was sunlight and fresh air; similarities can be drawn here with the Modern movement in that the top floor of the building rises above the tree canopy providing a generous sun deck where patients could be taken for treatment. The building is set away an appropriate distance from the forest edge so that shadows never fall on patients' bedrooms. For this project, Aalto designed the infamous Paimio armchair made from laminated plywood, which supposedly encouraged the correct posture for breathing effectively - something similar can be found at your local IKEA!

Nordic Transgressions | Basgvaerd Church (with Joshua Kievenaar and others)

Follow Joshua's blog at emergentstudiojk.blogspot.com

Thesis Foundation | Hilsea Community Hospice

The site is split along its east-west axis by a colonnade – a metaphor for the journey of life - with the Community Centre wing and sensory gardens to the south, and Hospice Wing, Sanctuary and woodland to the north.

These two vastly contrasting conditions create an intimate relationship between the Community Hospice and its natural setting: earth, air and water. By creating a static sense of place the architecture seeks to enforce the idea that human beings exist here and now, focusing on the ‘being’ rather that the ‘doing’.

The bedrooms are deliberately domestic in scale, with familiar typologies and materials throughout. Each pair of rooms share a breakout space for relatives.