Inspiring lecture given by Design Engine Architects Director Richard Jobson to the Manchester Society of Architects on Thursday 29th June. Referencing influences from Concorde to Richard Serra, he explores the design process behind the practice's many award-winning projects including the Stirling Prize midlister the John Henry Brookes Building at Oxford Brookes University.

1. Design Engine Architects

2. projects and process
Richard Jobson Director

11. projects and process

12. process
A process is a sequence of interdependent and linked procedures which, at
every stage, consume one or more resources (employee time, energy,
machines, money) to convert inputs (data, material, parts, etc.) into outputs.
These outputs then serve as inputs for the next stage until a known goal or
end result is reached.

18. Scale - small

19. Chapel

23. 23
Pattern - precedent 1
Winton chapel - West window geometry
Analysis
We have studied the geometry of the gothic revival windows within the
existing building to source a pattern that is referential to the existing
architecture, and a contemporary interpretation appropriate for the 21st
century additions.

24. 24
Pattern - precedent 2
Winton chapel - East window geometry
Analysis
We have studied the geometry of the gothic revival windows within the
existing building to source a pattern that is referential to the existing
architecture, and a contemporary interpretation appropriate for the 21st
century additions.

29. Chancel step
Height1000max
1840 (Foundation)
1865
1890
1915
1940
1965
1990
2015 (175th anniversary)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
The severn sections could also
form number imagery within the
Christian faith.
7 is the number of perfection.
God rested on the seventh day.
Paul lists seven gifts of the spirit.
Jesus spoke seven utterances
from the cross.
The joints between sections are expressed as a ‘V’
joint so that the severn sections can be read.
As a celebration of the anniversary the severn
sections could represent severn 25 year time
periods making up the 175 years from 1840 until
2015.

34. Scale - medium

35. Arts University Bournemouth

36. Talbot
Trust
Presence?
Entrance
Bournemouth
Uni
Site Context

38. O
G
Accommodation Block infill
D
University House roof extension
F
Pitched Roof Original remodelling
Arts University Bournemouth
Building Interventions

40. Arts University Bournemouth
Photography Building Extension

47. Arts University Bournemouth
Photography Building Extension
Presence?
N

57. Scale - large

58. Oxford Brookes University

59. Existing condition

63. Masterplan

64. Reference
Eduardo Chillida

65. Pegs and Box

66. Prototype

67. Prototype

68. Prototype

69. Prototype

70. Prototype

71. Massing and Form

75. Orientation
and
Procession

81. ‘Drawing is taking a line for a walk’
Paul Klee

82. Process

84. Fulcrum Bishopgate London
Richard Serra

86. Production

87. Testing

96. KEY:
NOTE: The contractor is responsible for the chec
checked prior to ordering of any components an
discrepancies should be brought to the immedia
1
PERFORATED SCREEN PATTERN
West elevation, outer skin. 1:20
2
30
2830 2800 2800
FFL +99.92
+105.140
+105.165
eq. A eq. A eq. B eq. B eq. B eq. B
eq.Ceq.C
D09
30
2830 2800 2800
eq. A eq. A eq. B eq. B eq. B eq. B
D09
2
1
PERFORATED SCREEN PATTERN
Key exploded axo
1
Note:
Panel patterns aligned
to allow view through
Position of site weld between panels (ground flush)
black dashed line
Preliminary locations of factory welds between laser-cut
panels (based on constraint of maximum laser cut sheet
size 2m x 1m) grey dashed line
FFL +99.92
+105.165
PERFORATED SCREEN PATTERN
West elevation, inner skin. 1:20
2
1100
eq. A eq. A eq. B
remaindereq.C
CREEN PATTERN
Area of inner (east) skin of pattern under review
Note:
West elevation of inner skin shown to indicate
alignment of pattern between the two skins.
In reality the inner skin will be viewed from the east
elevation.

101. Research

102. Research

103. Box

104. OAK LEAF PATTERN

110. concept
Diagram illustrating the principle change within the revised
scheme. The original box, which the various building
!pegs! penetrate has been stripped back to expose more of
the library "peg!

112. NSCB parapet approx. 118.60
Top of Flue approx. 124.17
section at western boundary (overlay on planning application section)
University Campusline of boundary
22 deg
building pushed
back 1.6m
building lowered on
western edge by 3m
potential setback along
western edge (pink line)
outline of initial planning application
scheme (red line), lowered following
planning consultation
R

116. Bay Area taken
perpendicular to
columns
7.11sqm inc. floor slab
1.2sqm openable area
equates to 17% of facade
unit openable
8.32 sqm excl. floor slab
1.2sqm openable area equates to 14% of
facade unit openable
9.97 sqm inc. floor slab
1.2sqm openable area equates to 12% of
facade unit openable
1.2 sqm
openable
area
730
730
u/s slab
Colt LWST/ LWT louvre study
Bay Area taken as perimeter
of facade
5.94 sqm excl. floor slab
1.2sqm openable area
equates to 20% of facade
unit openable
perforated metal
panel (in cell
pattern) with
kapilux T glazing
behind
Colt LWT or
LWST glazed
louvre system
with solar coat to
glass
detailed studies of the library louvred facade

124. concrete
“a voyage of discovery”

125. concrete

126. Concrete
In developing and constructing the New Library and Teaching Building at Oxford Brookes University
the use of concrete has gone beyond it’s purely structural use to contribute both environmentally and
aesthetically to the quality of the building.
Concrete plays an important part in providing
texture and contrast with the more precisely
engineered components of the building.
Extensive studies were carried out to develop
the board marked concrete surfaces within
the main space of the building. This
approach makes manifest the means of
construction and places the building in a
tradition of modernist public buildings
The concrete frame of the building is
expressed externally in a dramatic gesture. A
diagonal slice is taken through one of the
building elements and the concrete
‘exposed’.
This is achieved with the use of very high
quality precast panels, where the geometry
of the panels has been carefully considered.
The use of exposed concrete throughout the
building is a key aspect in moderating the
temperature of the internal environment.
The monolithic nature of concrete also
creates a calm sense of continuity and
permanence and will contrast richly with the
use of other materials and colours within the
building.
The detailing has carefully accentuated the
monolithic nature of the material
The building makes extensive use of many
types of concrete; from precast lattice planks
and twin wall construction, to high quality
smooth and textured insitu areas.
The use of special concrete replacements
such as GGBS (a by-product of other
industrial processes) reduces the embodied
energy of the concrete but it also lightens it’s
appearance. This enhances the reflective
properties of the material and thus the quality
of light within the building.
Light Mass Texture Geometry
View looking up a core within part if the building. The
walls constructed from prefabricated twin wall
construction
The detail of the library coffers omitted the common joint
patterns to instead create a sense that they had been
carved from a solid block
Numerous samples were completed of the board marked
concrete to achieve the right level of texture
The precast panels were made at a brand new high tech
UK concrete facility to very fine tolerances
A 3D model of the buildings concrete frame

127. timber narrative : macro / midi / micro scale

128. project mock-up panel
Mock-up panels showing 6 pours (final 2 pours in centre) Tie-bolt alternative details

129. Hand nailed shutter

136. Process

137. 1:50 model under construction

138. 1:50 working model
Process

139. Process

140. AB DD
32953801750013055250
2940 400401012785222048803700250
12503003650300800
4004250400
4006720400
880150
3006360400
SSL: +107.670
SSL: +103.720
CL: +105.170
HL: +106.470
13001450
48253700
400mm thick sloping slab
400mm thick slab
300mmthickwall
300mm thick slab
SSL: +100.550
SSL: +107.210
ToC: +108.700
180mm high x 60mm deep recess along front face of
concrete for ARM-02B glass balustrade.
See detail 2 drawing DET-8352.
T.o.Upstand: +107.540
200mm wide x 320mm high
See detail 01 drawing DET-7
8580
55
3000
300
306
3950
9521020
2278
9521026
wide board at FFL
14
15
14
14+1
4.5
3950
10209521026
14
15
14
14+1
3950
10209521026
14
15
14
14+1
NumberofBoards
952952
+98.248
3950
10209521026
14
15
14
14+1
952

145. End