Merz Shed - Proposal B

3D DRAWING

This drawing explores Kurt Schwitters’ “Merz” in response to the Dada movement, whilst clearly communicating the building concept.

Alasdair Sheldon, Tahreem Amjad, Yousra Kandil
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Merz Shed - Proposal B

These drawings and models depict an art shed that will be a meeting point for artists and architects to come together to discuss their site analysis, artistic responses to the Merz Barn site, and share their ideas in a creative space.

We thought this space should be open plan, similar to the open studio spaces available at the Benzie building. However, given the Dada art theme that we explored throughout this project, we did not want to create a traditional and simple design. This led us to look at the interior interventions that Kurt Schwitters had planned for the Merz Barn, where he intended to create several awkward spaces, as seen in his sketches. This idea is what drove the rest of the design.

The walls that jut into the building are placed at awkward angles, creating obscure spaces for groups to gather and work inside the building. The walls extend outside the main building form, providing an opportunity for the building’s exterior to be used as an exhibition space. The interior walls create shading, and a space that, once furnished, will be suitable to use as a workspace, at all times of the year.

We have left some gaps in our proposal which we feel our clients should fill. We think an art shed should be personal to its user, so we have created a concept that our clients can mould to their will.

Alasdair Sheldon, Tahreem Amjad, Yousra Kandil
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Merz Shed - Proposal A

ATAXIA

The installation as a form of anti-architecture is meant to be reminiscent of Schwitters’ idea of having awkwardly angled interior walls within the Merz Barn. Wire and cardboard creates a malleable sculpture, which is arbitrarily included within the design proposal as a Dadaist element. This random placement immitates the awkwardness of Schwitters’ interior installations, and defines the programme of the space.

Eleanor Strange, Ivan Georgiev, Mohamed Sakr, Naomi Cohen
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Merz Shed - Proposal A

Merging the avant-garde ideas of the Dada movement and Kurt Schwitters’ technique of incorporating different found materials directly into his artwork, our proposal continues this artistic style, embedding it into the production of an ‘Art Shed’. The concept of the building is to combine a rectangular form and a mono-pitched roof with a sequence of crazy internal movements.

Whilst visiting the Merz Barn, we were intrigued by Schwitters’ visions to adapt the interior of the barn, and create awkward and small spaces where he would display his artwork and sculptures. Although these plans were never completed, there is evidence that he started to make these changes.

Taking inspiration from this, we initially thought about our concept and building, and decided that we would concentrate on, and emphasise the spatial experience inside the barn. This led us to our final concept: a simplistic structure reflecting the vernacular style of the Lake District, with a Dada-inspired sculptural interior that creates awkward, almost impractical spaces and niches, and influences the programme of the building.

When developing the design, we decided that the influence of Dada should be evident on the exterior. We adapted our idea so that the main sculpture protrudes out of the building and creates part of the structure, as well as the staircase, becoming one continuous form that connects the interior and exterior of the building.

Eleanor Strange, Ivan Georgiev, Mohamed Sakr, Naomi Cohen
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Merz Museum - Proposal B

MERZ CAVE

The model of the proposal is sculpted in clay and found objects, true to the method and material of the Merz Barn itself.

Felix Exton-Smith, Sarah Sharif, Anna Meerson, Shreya Kochatta
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Merz Museum - Proposal B

We aimed to capture the spirit of Schwitters and Dada in the design process itself, with the expectation that this would generate an alternative, yet appropriate proposal. This approach took the form of using unorthodox modelling materials from the outset, specifically working with found objects (“spoils and relics”, as Schwitters referred to them), in our case collected at the Merz Barn.

As well as following the principles of Merzbau, we looked to create a museum/gallery space that would challenge the concepts of interior and exterior, creating an ambiguous effect, with a structure that easily melts into the surrounding. We resorted to the subtractive (cave) method of primitive construction, where we essentially dug out the space from the natural environment. This also resulted in the creation of a natural labyrinth within the structure: an earthy setting for the artwork. ‘Museum walls’ emerge, as if tectonically forced from the hillside.

Felix Exton-Smith, Sarah Sharif, Anna Meerson, Shreya Kochatta
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Merz Museum - Proposal A

1:100 MODEL

The model was approached in the same manner as the renders, by keeping the material choices simple, and then painting the ramp yellow to make it fit in with the two other pieces.

Julie Teigen, Paúl Cedillo, Daniel Collinson, Abigail Fraser
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Merz Museum - Proposal A

Our brief was to design a museum that would compliment the Merz Barn, without stealing its spotlight. The museum will act as a space for various artists to display their work, as well as a space for visitors to have a break, and enjoy a coffee, after a tour around the site.

The idea behind the design is simple: to create a space that will not compete with, but harmonise and contribute to the existence of the Merz Barn. A simplistic structure raised on poles enhances the landscape, as well as blending in with it, the poles being symbolic of the surrounding trees. The poles extend into the interior space, to further stress this idea. An organic form is introduced in the form of a ramp entrance, somewhat contrasting with the structure, and therefore celebrating the concept of Dada within the design.

Julie Teigen, Paúl Cedillo, Daniel Collinson, Abigail Fraser
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The exhibition is all set up on Benzie 2nd floor galllery landing...
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Chuffed to feature on Manchester School of Art's instagram the other day! #tbt
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Everyone is working hard towards finishing their exhibition pieces.
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Felix and Sarah are working up a sculptural model, using clay upon greyboard.
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Planning out our exhibition space on the 2nd floor gallery landing, Benzie Atrium. The exhibition will be comprised of the students’ conceptual schemes for the Merz Shed and Merz Museum, depicted through dada-esque models and drawings, in a variety of mediums. Alongside this, the event film will be projected.

The exhibition will be live from this Friday 31st, remaining up for the following week.
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Another sketch model, repurposing a candle from the Merz Barn. Quickly and effectively achieving dramatic spatial qualities, with a unique link to the site.
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Felix Exton-Smith, Sarah Sharif, Anna Meerson, Shreya Kochatta.
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Sketch model using materials found on site.
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Felix Exton-Smith, Sarah Sharif, Anna Meerson, Shreya Kochatta.
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We inflated 600 balloons, and, splitting into groups, the students devised two different interventions, to materialise in the Benzie building atrium.

The first intervention would fill a lift with balloons, recording people's reactions as the lift made its way down the floors, inevitably losing a few balloons as the doors opened on different levels.

The second intervention would use Jackie's balloon sack to orchestrate a balloon drop, from the fourth floor of the atrium. The balloons would each have a word written on them, so there was an ordered randomness to the way the balloons fell, then an interest in how passers-by would act with them. As Jackie observed, a "Dada poem".
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To introduce our "AIRHOLDERS" workshop, Jackie showed us examples of her previous balloon investigations. Here, Hugo the Ball (a word play on Dada artist Hugo Ball) sits atop the sloped roof of the Merz Barn.

Jackie uses balloons to occupy and draw attention to spaces in an alternate way, questioning their formality. Filling nets or large strongly-sewn sacks, she creates a large impact with a quick and lightweight medium.
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The Day of the Dada Poem (BALLOOOONS!)

Our morning started with a presentation from Manchester-based practicing Dada artist Jackie Haynes.
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Please connect to our facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/merz17/
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Hi everyone! Looking forward to meeting you all. Just a bit of preparatory info...

We are going to be staying overnight near the Merz Barn, Tues 21st-Weds 22nd. We are in accommodation with bunk beds, however, sleeping bags are required. If you haven't got one, you can pick one up in Argos for £8! Walking boots/wellies would also be useful.

We will be travelling by train from Manchester Piccadilly to Windermere. Would recommend buying your tickets now while they're cheap! Currently only £12 with railcard.

There: Tuesday 21st March, 09:15
Back: Wednesday 22nd March, 16:49

See you all this Thursday for ladder training (CH811 2pm).
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Just booked the bunk barn, our accommodation 5 mins walk from the Merz Barn! We will be staying overnight, Tues 21/03 - Weds 22/03. Exciting! Further information will be distributed to those joining our event....

"COUNTRYSIDE", Rem Koolhaas

"In architecture books we are bombarded with statistics confirming the ubiquity of the urban condition, while the symmetrical question is ignored – what are those moving to the city leaving behind?"

Recommended by our collaborator Ian, this lecture from one of the world's leading architects, on a subject often neglected in architectural discourse, is worth checking out.

http://oma.eu/lectures/countryside
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Ian and Krishna having a working breakfast in the Shippen.

First sighting of the (almost camouflaged) Merz Barn.
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Myself and Krishna visited Ian and Celia at the Merz Barn this weekend to discuss ideas for our collaboration. Great to get into the wilderness, learn some history, and chat about the future of the site over a couple of hearty meals!

Also checked out the nearby 'bunk barn' accommodation (http://www.greatlangdalebunkhouse.co.uk/), and had a tour of the local valley whilst we were there. Very excited to return in March when the weather will hopefully be a little less brisk!