Dezeen · Creativity & design

UAL Transforms Guest Apartment into Student Design Archive

The University of the Arts London (UAL) has converted its Atterbury Flat guest quarters into a unique, 'live-in' archive showcasing student and graduate design work. This initiative aims to collect and value a wider range of student creations beyond traditional fine art.

The Atterbury Flat, located on the Chelsea College of Arts campus, was previously used for visiting professors. UAL lecturer Zoë Tynan-Campbell, along with co-curators Abigail Rigby and Bhairavi Yogasivam, involved over 400 students and graduates from 58 courses to acquire 117 works for the archive.

Acquisitions include a color-changing chair, a coffee table made of stacked paper, and commercially available products from UAL alumni businesses like refillable soap and hand-molded cookware.

Custom pieces for the flat feature bathroom tiles and a sink by Emma Louise Payne and a giant pencil for the guestbook by Neha Ratanchand. Even small items like scissors and tea towels are included.

The project questions institutional collection practices, which traditionally focus on 2D fine art. Tynan-Campbell stated the goal is to collect the diverse narratives and objects produced by all UAL's disciplines, utilizing the existing space efficiently.

The Atterbury Flat, unveiled at the London Design Festival, continues to host guests while functioning as an evolving archive. Initial acquisitions were purchased with 91.98% of the total budget, amounting to £61,686 paid directly to students and graduates.

The interior design, including a color palette adapted from a student's work, was managed by the curatorial team. Tynan-Campbell described the project as an act of 'radical trust' in student capabilities.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.