Local firm have grand designs on Midlands
A prominent firm of Shropshire architects have just arrived on Twitter, and have been using the site to tweet about worldwide architectural breakthroughs as well as exciting local projects they're working on.
A prominent firm of Shropshire architects have just arrived on Twitter, and have been using the site to tweet about worldwide architectural breakthroughs as well as exciting local projects they're working on.
Johnson Design Partnership in Bridgnorth, who tweet from @JDPLTD, have been in the spotlight this week since their visionary designs for a footbridge linking the north and the south of Wolverhampton's city centre were launched.
The 'Old Gold Bridge' features a sweeping, iconic structure that splits into several directions, rising up over the city's road network.
"We hope the bridge project will carry on, but we're just finishing a feasibility study at the moment," explains Matt Spinks, Associate Architect at the firm.
"Having an iconic structure like the footbridge would boost the city's image in the same way that the Millennium Bridge has done for Gateshead and the Bullring has done for Birmingham.
"These are buildings and structures that people remember, and they can kick-start the regeneration and economy of the whole area."
Matt says there's been a strong focus on architecture in London over the past few years, but believes that the 2012 Olympics will create opportunities closer to home as well.
"It's a good time for the West Midlands because once things start to happen with the Olympics, there should be an influx of opportunities in our region too – I don't think London can cater for it all."
Matt has been keen to put Shropshire and the West Midlands on the architectural map since he qualified four years ago.
He names Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic 'Falling Water' house as his favourite design, and believes we should start to embrace more imaginative architecture.
"Sometimes people are quite stuck in their ways and don't like change, but we try to get people to think outside the box.
"There are lots of buildings that could be amazing, such as the Telford Shopping Centre," says Matt.
"What they did at the time was the best and most cost-effective way they could have done it, but if Telford was ever considering becoming a city, they would need to do something really dramatic to compete in terms of architecture."
Matt and his colleagues have been involved with a diverse range of projects costing from £100,000 to £5.2 million, from a college in Greenwich to a large-scale factory extension in Welshpool.
Johnson Design's Managing Director, Vic Johnson, has also given a series of talks in Hong Kong to bring the city's authorities up to date on the building standards of eco architecture.
"It's an exciting industry to be in," says Matt. "And it's great to see your projects come to life.
"When you're training to be an architect, you only see your drawings and models, but it's quite a weird experience when you're walking through a brand new primary school you've designed from scratch!"
Follow the Johnson Design Partnership on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JDPLTD
By Lara Page
