Congratulations to Marina Strotz for passing her Masters in Architecture course at Birmingham School of Architecture and Design at Birmingham City University (BCU).
Following 3 years working and studying part time, Marina has successfully completed the post graduate course at BCU’s School of Architecture and Design, also qualifying her with RIBA Part 2. Marina now plans to proceed directly with the next stage of her Architectural education and will enrol on the Post Graduate Diploma in Architectural Practice, also at BCU to qualify her with RIBA Part 3 enabling her to register as an Architect.
Marina’s University Thesis Project:
“Since the sea-side town of Morecambe’s heyday, it has seen many public facilities close. With the exception of the town hall, there are no publicly accessible buildings in Morecambe which have upper floor access offering views to the sea. This thesis project aims to reintroduce a leisure facility, subsidised for local use, that would provide a swimming pool, gym, nursery, restaurant and offices with a sea view.
The massing and elevation design responds to context, views to the sea and the existing architectural language of fronts and backs along the esplanade. The undulation of the bay windows to the esplanade frontages, heights and vertical emphasis of neighbouring buildings has inspired the tectonic language of the project with oriel windows and contemporary ornate piers. A private courtyard to the rear reflects the service yards found at the rear of its historic neighbouring properties. The project creates a street to the front of the old station and celebrates the existing context of the town with a strong reference to its art deco past.
In parallel, the interior design was developed through model making and sketching to create spaces with a transition and sequence from the extensive front elevation and open courtyards for the fresh sea air to more intensive and inward looking rear housing nursery and spa spaces.
The ground floor has publicly accessible changing rooms, offering health and leisure facilities for beach-goers. The project, with its dense and diverse programme aims to offer activity throughout the year for what is otherwise a very weather dependent town for outside leisure activities.”
Marina Strotz
