Choosing A Topic

In the summer I started to look at what I could do as my final project.

I generally wrote down anything I had an interest in and also looking on ArchDaily, what categories I could look into.

From these initial topics I also gathered images that were related to it, or a certain architect for future reference.

The main areas that I felt I could develop on were health, food (multi-use centre’s primarily) and sports. Also, films and books were at the back of my mind.

I was struggling to pick a topic that really grabbed me, so I decided to find a site instead so I could potentially fit a topic to that.

I wanted to pick a site in Derby as I've grown up there so I'm passionate about the area. Also, Derby has been going through regeneration, in particular the Intu shopping centre (Westfields until recently), and soon to open is the new velodrome near the football ground.

I found a derelict building in a central location. The Friargate Goods Warehouse. Derby has a strong rail history and it's location and size gives it a lot of potential, so I thought I might be able to find a concept/use from the site.

The warehouse doesn't have a particularly exciting history. It was used to store a range of produce - coal, steel, timber, tin and livestock. The railway itself was used to connect major coalfields in the region. It closed in 1968 to all traffic.

I had a look into coal but being a non-renewable resource, it's not a particularly exciting topic so I've put the site on the back burner for the time being.

I don’t have any particularly active or fascinating ‘hobbies’, but I do like eating and watching films, and I got back into reading when I was commuting to work in London. So I decided I wanted to look into something down those lines.

#topic #use #site