Students from The London Metropolitan University's Interior Architecture and Design BA course visited SPAB HQ in Spital Square recently. They had a tour of the building with Matthew Slocombe and then completed a measured survey of several key rooms.
We interrupted Aszanti-Jordan Downes and Vera Gholam to find out how they felt about historic buildings and their aspirations as designers.
Aszanti: I wasn't really interested in heritage buildings when I started thinking about design as a career. It's fun as a source of inspiration - coming here reminded me of school trips to Buckingham Palace. Growing up in Brixton - it's not far away but feels so different from fancy Georgian places.
Vera: I set out on my studies wanting to design people's houses but realised that's not practical in most cases. Designing commercial spaces is a great opportunity but never feels as meaningful. It's interesting to come here where the building has had so many different chapters.
Aszanti: I'm interested in using design for social and health benefits - I did a project creating indoor-outdoor spaces for people with mental health and sensory issues. Lots of natural materials - which feel more timeless.
The whole cohort were busy with tape measures and laser distance measurers, working up detailed drawings of our boardroom and other spaces.
Both: It was really different measuring up here to a newer building: working in a space that's gone through so many changes. Even though we're just starting our course, coming here feels like a real project not just 'homework'. The level of detail and the way everything's got wonky over time means you have to pay really close attention. Nothing's square or level!
Vera: If I was to make Spital Square a better space for the people that work here now, I'd focus on lighting and colours! The clash between the institutional LEDs and period features does not feel welcoming to me.
Aszanti: Coming to Spital Square has made me look at older buildings differently, both for the aesthetic inspiration and for understanding the stories. The challenges of making the space attractive and usable are much more intricate.
This is the fifth cohort of London Metropolitan University students have come to our Spital Square headquarters as part of their studies. Hopefully, Aszanti, Vera and their colleagues will be encouraged to embrace working with historic buildings as their careers develop.
CEO Matthew Slocombe will explain the story of 37 Spital Square when he goes to deliver a session for this cohort of students on campus in a few weeks. Understanding a building is an essential part of the SPAB Approach to conservation. No doubt he'll also address comments on our institutional lighting too!