Unit K

The grid is imposed on land, territorialising and rationalising it: from ancient cities to modernism, from the Romans to Superstudio. Creating radical masterplans for communities from afar through an ordered geometry of a grid is presented as an imposition of logic, often aiming at architectural monumentality. But what about the logic of the unplanned, the self-organised, the accidental? 50 years on, we look for the damages in its famed grid. We look for the lived-in, the unplanned, the hi-jacked, the unexpected to propose and curate an in situ radical response to the utopian masterplan.

Milton Keynes was celebrated for its visionary modernist approach in its making, but criticised for years to come as a soulless suburb and ‘non-place’. A response to the housing crisis, and an increasing example of a solution, Milton Keynes is a system made of ten ‘horizontal’ and eleven ‘vertical’ roads with a ‘round’ roundabout at each intersection. Each grid section is 1km2. Milton Keynes is designed as an un-hierarchical grid, accessible and detailed radically decentralised city. A great state funded expense, should it be untouched and preserved as a dead masterpiece or challenged and broken up?

Tutors: Nichola Barrington-Leach, Marko Milovanovic, Eiman Elbanhawy

Year 3 Students

Mair Evans, Hannah Finnmore, Melissa Parsons, Seraphima Papademitri, Shubaib Pudiyamalyakkal, Elisabeth Ramussen, Charles Spall, Aisling Ward, Lauren Wright, Zoe Jordan-Tank, Chia Yu,

Visitors

Caroline Esclapez, Colin Priest, Katerina Albertucci, Fearghus Raftery, Christopher Bisset, AA School Diploma Unit 10, Hopkins Architects, Emma Fraser, Charlie Palmer, Stephanie Misseri, Olivier Jauniaux

A Space to Reconnect

Mair Evans

Addressing the issue of mental health, this project introduces a space for rest, relaxation and meditation in the centre of Milton Keynes.

Exploded view - A Space to Reconnect - Mair Evans

Milton Keynes Political Debate Center

Hannah Finnmore

Questioning democratic processes and public engagement in the policy making, this project proposes a new kind of platform for free speech, connecting the library and the city hall.

A new key for Milton Keynes

Charles Spall

Where is the infrastructure for electric vehicles in Milton Keynes? Companies invest millions into the production of electric vehichles but the city’s are unable to support the demand. The proposal addresses these issues by creating a central ‘headquarter’ for electric vehicles in the UK, to try and increase the demand and infastructure for these cars. This is an important development in our current world due to increasing greenhouse-gasses.

Second floor plan - A new key for Milton Keynes - Charles Spall

MK Centre for Well-being

Melissa Parsons

This project introduces a new kind of working environment, incorporating it with the baths and relaxation activities, in response to high levels of work related mental heath issues.

Site view - MK Centre for Well-being - Melissa Parsons

The New Point

Shubaib Pudiyamalyakkal

Taking apart and rethinking the Point, central Milton Keynes community centre scheduled for demolition, this project proposes a new way of reusing structures as well as creating a new typology of social space.

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3D section - The New Point - Shubaib Pudiyamalyakkal

Milton Keynes Library

Seraphima Papademetri

The proposed Library is a direct response to the declared strategy of Milton Keynes to invest into establishing its role as a formidable academic hub. The design re-develops the existing listed library building andintroduces a new extension and civic landscape for the city.

Library View - Milton Keynes Library - Seraphima Papademetri

Stripped

Elisabeth Ramussen

Democratisation of bathing experience is at the centre of this project which aims to introduce a new leisure typology and new levels to the city of Milton Keynes.

Milton Keynes: Domesticating Architecture

Aisling Ward

Through additions, removals and modifications of an existing but abandoned office building, a new typology of combining work and living is created in the centre of Milton Keynes.

WeConnect

Lauren Wright

Through play of light, levels and surfaces, this project rethinks the office environments and collaboration more generally to propose a building fit for the future of work.

Perspective view - WeConnect - Lauren Wright

The Maintenance Machine

Zoe Jordan Tank

Focusing on re-integrating the workers, specifically in the Town Maintenance Sector, into the central administration and community of Milton Keynes. The design incorporates all essential parts of a working urban area and celebrated that demographic for which Milton Keynes was originally built fo in 1967: The Workers.