Project 02 - Folkestone Revisited

Did a quick follow up trip to Folkestone yesterday for four main reasons: 

1) To catalogue the demolition works, per my friends’ advice
2) To take note of the site’s solar access of an evening
3) To relive childhood memories of being battered by the elements
4) To hear a friend sing

And much to my chargrin, I may in fact have to take a rest day today, to ensure that I am fully functional next week. I am *tired*. Really tired. I know we “lost” an hours sleep last night due to the bureaucratic amusement that is DST, but still. 

Anyway. Folkestone yesterday was lovely - being bashed around by the winds (>30mph in some cases) by the Lighthouse was exhilarating. It was also useful to remind my self of the physical site itself (it always looks and feels different when you are down there in person, than from a photograph, or model). It was also useful to note exactly how solar access effects the site of an evening - as solar access is one of the key themes I’m running with in the project.

It was also lovely to hear Jeri play again - hadn’t heard her singing or guitar playing for a good while. Amazing.

Project 02 - Folkestone Survey (cont.)

Project 02 - Folkestone Survey

First week back, and I don’t feel like my brain has fully engaged. Uh-oh.

Last week felt incredibly busy and all too quick. We were provided with our new project brief - Synoptics - that will last us until the end of the year (17 week project). The focus is on Folkestone this year, and converting the Old Customs House on the Harbour into a youth hostel/community centre space.

Folkestone itself is undergoing a “regeneration”/”regentrification” at present, funded almost entirely by a single private backer. The harbour and seafront is to undergo a large redevelopment (planning permission has been granted), and parts are currently in the process of being demolished and zoned off.

Our first survey/scouting day was on Thursday, which was particularly dreich, and quite a test of weather preparation. Still, we managed to get quite a lot done - measurements, photography, filmography, scouting - prior to sunset.

I returned with Zoe (a friend) on Saturday, and we enjoyed some much better weather and got some more filmography, photography and audio recording done.

We have our Architectural Technologies exam tomorrow, I’m hoping all goes well. I am aware that I have some gaps in my knowledge, but hopefully there won’t be too many curveballs.