Planning permission was granted on 15 March 2018 for 16 new houses at Fairlight near Hastings, Sussex. The development replaces a former market garden on a sloping site at the centre of the village. MBA were appointed after a previous design for the site was refused permission and a second scheme withdrawn. After extensive public consultation a new design was developed which draws on local building types and materials, creating a variety of housing types to meet the urgent need for new housing in the area. Critical issues for the site included drainage, wildlife, and preserving the character of the village.  More information here.

Wimbledon College of Art have posted an article about the first artist-in-residency at MBA in 2017.

To view the WCA article click here.

Janine Hall, the artist in residence, has also posted some notes. To view Janine Hall’s blog click here.

Site works have begun at the Morris building in Oxford. Completion is expected in September 2018.

The scheme includes a new garden building providing fully accessible rooms, the conservation of four adjacent listed buildings, re-landscaping the Morris Yard, adjusting the collegiate offer to provide improved student accommodation and cluster flats including three fully accessible suites.

The new Garden building sits within the area of the outer ditch of Oxford’s medieval City Wall which dominates the New College campus.
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The Merton Priory Chapter house project will start on site in November 2017. Works will continue until April 2018.  The work involves rebuilding the glass wall at the south of the enclosure, and improving internal facilities so that the education and heritage centre can be opened for the public. Further information about the project can be found here.

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Artist Janine Hall has been awarded the inaugural Marcus Beale Architects Drawing Prize 2017.

The prize is awarded to a student on the MA course at Wimbledon College of Art for depicting space. Janine’s works which include etchings, graphite, ink, and wool showed an accomplished and imaginative engagement with the invisible three dimensions – ‘Alternative Worlds’. Hers was one of six very strong submissions and we would like to thank all the contributors for their fine and throught-provoking work.

Here is Janine’s description of Blob and Shadow, illustrated: