Dudley Time Portal

Items tagged: Collage
From the research that I collated, I found that the High Street was a very under-valued place that lacked both colour and nature. Therefore, the origami plant holder was a gift designed to bring natural elements such as flowers to the High Street, which could be taken home by the public. - 1_zM15Z5pnVg2-U1-sRh9YNw.png
From the research that I collated, I found that the High Street was a very under-valued place that lacked both colour and nature. Therefore, the origami plant holder was a gift designed to bring natural elements such as flowers to the High Street, which could be taken home by the public.
Model Other visual delight Collage Gift Making Creativity Colour Nature Plantlife Homes
Provision House paper facade model - Michelle Gartside Paper Facade Model Provision House model.png
Provision House paper facade model
Collage Drawing Model Aesthetic Architecture Creativity Craft Making Material
The interior of the community kitchen would be inviting and colourful to create a positive atmosphere. The colours were abstracted from one of our group collages of food. The kitchen counters are not considered as a back of house element; they have been combined with seating as we are trying to embrace the cooking process. The kitchen desk is designed in a way so multiple people can work together from all sides, with central storage for herbs.

The facade of the kitchen contains a small window so food can be sold outside. We have also created a vertical herb garden so it can be used in the community kitchen. We wanted to keep these below eye-line so people outdoors have a clear view into what’s going on inside.

This street section shows activity from the back of the community kitchen to the other end of the street and how all these elements are working coherently. The street is filled more with people rather than cars. We believe that the outdoor seating, more trees, canopies and street lights can attract people to connect with the High Street. - 1_FhlTHeqQ2vTYTBYjPskjSg.png
The interior of the community kitchen would be inviting and colourful to create a positive atmosphere. The colours were abstracted from one of our group collages of food. The kitchen counters are not considered as a back of house element; they have been combined with seating as we are trying to embrace the cooking process. The kitchen desk is designed in a way so multiple people can work together from all sides, with central storage for herbs. The facade of the kitchen contains a small window so food can be sold outside. We have also created a vertical herb garden so it can be used in the community kitchen. We wanted to keep these below eye-line so people outdoors have a clear view into what’s going on inside. This street section shows activity from the back of the community kitchen to the other end of the street and how all these elements are working coherently. The street is filled more with people rather than cars. We believe that the outdoor seating, more trees, canopies and street lights can attract people to connect with the High Street.
Imagining Collage Drawing Actions Change Colour Community Culture Curiosity Food Future Imagination Interacting Invitations People Potential Taste Nature Plantlife Connection Opportunity Low Commerce Consumption Growing Views Vehicle Traffic Shelter Aesthetic
The image shows what this space could look like as a productive landscape. Where all the space is used. Vertical growing space can be utilised for pollinators for heights out of human range and for fruit and herbs in the lower regions that lie within our grasp. Trees can provide shelter, pollen and fruit, as can shrubs. - 1_I1Zo_eW9Ylo2G6KP5uxbfw.png
The image shows what this space could look like as a productive landscape. Where all the space is used. Vertical growing space can be utilised for pollinators for heights out of human range and for fruit and herbs in the lower regions that lie within our grasp. Trees can provide shelter, pollen and fruit, as can shrubs.
Collage Photo Drawing Imagining Change Creatures Food Future Growing High Imagination Life Low Nature Opportunity People Plantlife Potential Shelter Views
LAYERS TO THE HIGH STREET - To introduce covered, sheltered areas on the high street. Making the high street welcoming for the entire family and adding topographical value to the high street that is visually interesting. Adding another layer to the high street that will encourage exploring spaces for children as well as adults. - 1_uHX3-RDbo4tI8fS04tzp9g.png
LAYERS TO THE HIGH STREET - To introduce covered, sheltered areas on the high street. Making the high street welcoming for the entire family and adding topographical value to the high street that is visually interesting. Adding another layer to the high street that will encourage exploring spaces for children as well as adults.
Collage Imagining Access Aesthetic Beauty Big Things Change Curiosity Future High Imagination Invitations Layer Opportunity People Potential Shelter
The whole High Street would be dug out to make way for this new kind of “street”. The idea, as stated, is to alter the way that people use this street, so that they can learn about the legacy of Dudley. This would mean that there would be a canopy that sits on top of the cut, that would also act as a means to shelter everything underneath, but would also be made in Dudley to promote local craftsmans. This canopy can then hold something like Theatre Curtains with the history of Dudley presented on them. As you walk through the cut, you go through all the different parts of Dudley’s Legacy - Saxon, Middle Ages, Industrial Revolution, Modern, and you would end the walk on the “Future”. You would start at one end, up by the top church, and as you walk through towards the market place, you would walk through the eras in chronological order. Then, once you exit the tunnel, you would leave the Modern era, and come out into the reclaimed green space, which would represent the future of Dudley’s Legacy. This would be a Miyawaki Forest that would be expanded out through the streets, taking over the spots where cars used to drive, to now benefit Dudley, it’s people, and the world as a whole.

Dudley’s High Street is about 240 metres long, about 9 metres wide, and rises about 8 metres. This would provided a very prominent feature for the High Street if it was dug out and recommissioned.

An added aspect to the dug out street would be that of the canopy that would reside above it. While thinking of the design, two ideas stood out - one that would stand raised, at about the same level as the end of the street, which would create this arcade styled archway that would reside high above the street. The second was having the canopy be flush with the pavement all the way up, except at the end that would then provide a small increase around the steps.

Both ideas serve the same purpose, but provide drastically different means of doing so. - Oscar Law Parti Diagram.png
The whole High Street would be dug out to make way for this new kind of “street”. The idea, as stated, is to alter the way that people use this street, so that they can learn about the legacy of Dudley. This would mean that there would be a canopy that sits on top of the cut, that would also act as a means to shelter everything underneath, but would also be made in Dudley to promote local craftsmans. This canopy can then hold something like Theatre Curtains with the history of Dudley presented on them. As you walk through the cut, you go through all the different parts of Dudley’s Legacy - Saxon, Middle Ages, Industrial Revolution, Modern, and you would end the walk on the “Future”. You would start at one end, up by the top church, and as you walk through towards the market place, you would walk through the eras in chronological order. Then, once you exit the tunnel, you would leave the Modern era, and come out into the reclaimed green space, which would represent the future of Dudley’s Legacy. This would be a Miyawaki Forest that would be expanded out through the streets, taking over the spots where cars used to drive, to now benefit Dudley, it’s people, and the world as a whole. Dudley’s High Street is about 240 metres long, about 9 metres wide, and rises about 8 metres. This would provided a very prominent feature for the High Street if it was dug out and recommissioned. An added aspect to the dug out street would be that of the canopy that would reside above it. While thinking of the design, two ideas stood out - one that would stand raised, at about the same level as the end of the street, which would create this arcade styled archway that would reside high above the street. The second was having the canopy be flush with the pavement all the way up, except at the end that would then provide a small increase around the steps. Both ideas serve the same purpose, but provide drastically different means of doing so.
Imagining Map Drawing Collage Change Craft Past Future Potential Imagination Identity Industry Memory Learning Shelter Nature Plantlife Growing Architecture
New use for cars — As part of pedestrianisation we would like to suggest a memorial of sorts to cars. The feature would sit in the middle of the High Street and would consist of an old out-of-use car, being used as a planter and being filled with plants. This gesture symbolises the movement of the High Street’s priorities shifting from the automobile to plants, people and food. - 1_5qV59l-Z2_O-_1DJy2oNgw.png
New use for cars — As part of pedestrianisation we would like to suggest a memorial of sorts to cars. The feature would sit in the middle of the High Street and would consist of an old out-of-use car, being used as a planter and being filled with plants. This gesture symbolises the movement of the High Street’s priorities shifting from the automobile to plants, people and food.
Collage Drawing Imagining New Transport Vehicle Memory Unused Plantlife Nature Growing Change Moving People Food Creativity Imagination Opportunity Future Potential
Dudley was pretty much at the centre of the Industrial Revolution. It had many advantages like making things faster, leading to technological advancements, a wider distribution of wealth and the social changes that came with this. However, it also had its own set of problems that are still relevant today which we need to acknowledge and address to successfully move forward, mainly: overpopulation, housing, water, air pollution and depletion of natural resources.  - 1_DKKRYjcJTsB-G2mICyI8qw.png
Dudley was pretty much at the centre of the Industrial Revolution. It had many advantages like making things faster, leading to technological advancements, a wider distribution of wealth and the social changes that came with this. However, it also had its own set of problems that are still relevant today which we need to acknowledge and address to successfully move forward, mainly: overpopulation, housing, water, air pollution and depletion of natural resources.
Collage Economics Play Technology Waste Fairness Material Past Commerce Industry Speeds People Homes Water Nature
A sketch showing workshops utilising the empty spaces, street furniture, canopies on the side, and street art to brighten and liven the current High Street. - 1_lZXcIupYLTB5bBnb5G-adg.png
A sketch showing workshops utilising the empty spaces, street furniture, canopies on the side, and street art to brighten and liven the current High Street.
Collage Imagining Drawing Actions Future Growing Imagination Nature Opportunity People Plantlife Potential Colour Conversation Interacting Sustainable Lingering Unused Creativity Life
A vision for the High Street - Michelle Gartside Vision for the High Street.png
A vision for the High Street
Collage Creatures Stillness Lingering People Nature Imagination Plantlife Life Growing Opportunity Future Architecture Waste Regenerative Sustainable
PRODUCTIVE LANDSCAPE
To create a safe family friendly pedestrianised space on Dudley's high street. By changing up the landscape and introducing micro ecosystem on the high street we aim to improve the health and well-being for the planet as well as the people of Dudley. - 1_mkCAvjf8W9Ou3S7RRn6QEQ.png
PRODUCTIVE LANDSCAPE To create a safe family friendly pedestrianised space on Dudley's high street. By changing up the landscape and introducing micro ecosystem on the high street we aim to improve the health and well-being for the planet as well as the people of Dudley.
Collage Text Imagining Abundance Actions Care Community Connection Friendliness Future Gift Growing Happiness Imagination Invitations Life Moving Nature People Plantlife Potential Safety Speeds Stories Health Creatures
The third Stepping Stone project attempted to design the community kitchen in one of the empty shops on Dudley High Street. We all know that food is an essential factor in our life and eating and cooking the food is not an abstract activity we do, it is part of our everyday routine. In our initial research, we found that many people live alone in compact housing on the High Street. We thought the kitchen connect the residents with society. We decided to make the process of preparing food more enjoyable. As our aim was to grow food on the street wherever possible, we can use these vegetables for the community kitchen. This will encourage residents to come down onto the street and engage with it. This could also be a new experience for the visitors of the High Street. - 1_hvQXOY39qWZ19g07wz8ung.png
The third Stepping Stone project attempted to design the community kitchen in one of the empty shops on Dudley High Street. We all know that food is an essential factor in our life and eating and cooking the food is not an abstract activity we do, it is part of our everyday routine. In our initial research, we found that many people live alone in compact housing on the High Street. We thought the kitchen connect the residents with society. We decided to make the process of preparing food more enjoyable. As our aim was to grow food on the street wherever possible, we can use these vegetables for the community kitchen. This will encourage residents to come down onto the street and engage with it. This could also be a new experience for the visitors of the High Street.
Imagining Collage Actions Change Colour Community Culture Curiosity Food Future Imagination Interacting Invitations Life Opportunity People Potential Taste Growing Nature Plantlife Abundance Homes Connection
We feel that our local High Streets should be the focal point for our local community. They should be seen as places of interest and a place where you can go for both essential items and leisure. Therefore, we feel making the High Street pedestrianised would mean that there is a larger space to work with on the High Street and that it will not only allow locals to shop but also congregate and relax with family and friends. - 1_BYP-iq3dJvhR7z3Se_NaBg.png
We feel that our local High Streets should be the focal point for our local community. They should be seen as places of interest and a place where you can go for both essential items and leisure. Therefore, we feel making the High Street pedestrianised would mean that there is a larger space to work with on the High Street and that it will not only allow locals to shop but also congregate and relax with family and friends.
Collage Imagining Imagination Interacting Change Future Commerce Consumption Growing Nature Plantlife People
The themes I investigated were the Connections, Movement, Routes and Ways. My gift explores those themes through a figurative expression hidden within the structure of the dreamcatcher, allowing for a flexible interpretation by the audience, and to aid the imagination.

The structure of the dreamcatcher symbolizes the relationship between the destination and the journey the user undertakes, but while it highlights the importance of the destination, placing it in the centre as the biggest piece, it emphasizes the significance of the journey over the destination in the ratio of one big element vs many small elements.

This can be relevant to the High Street, if the connections are thought of beyond the transport means, and can relate to anything from the layout of the landscape of the High Street, to the interactions between the users.

The web symbolizes the connections between the pieces, plotting the blue foam pieces around the different lengths of the thread, off the centre where the destination piece is plotted. This is meant to show how the connections can be made in various ways and that there is no set order or pattern, meaning that the movement is individual and the connections are adaptable.

The blue foam pieces can be viewed as points or highlights of the journey, or they can represent different ways of getting to, and from the centre, suggesting that the journey doesn’t end with the destination.

Another way in which the web can be interpreted is that the small foam pieces are the destinations, the thread is the connection between them and the big piece symbolizes the decision making. - 0_kW-5L8zNDic2CWkq.jpeg
The themes I investigated were the Connections, Movement, Routes and Ways. My gift explores those themes through a figurative expression hidden within the structure of the dreamcatcher, allowing for a flexible interpretation by the audience, and to aid the imagination. The structure of the dreamcatcher symbolizes the relationship between the destination and the journey the user undertakes, but while it highlights the importance of the destination, placing it in the centre as the biggest piece, it emphasizes the significance of the journey over the destination in the ratio of one big element vs many small elements. This can be relevant to the High Street, if the connections are thought of beyond the transport means, and can relate to anything from the layout of the landscape of the High Street, to the interactions between the users. The web symbolizes the connections between the pieces, plotting the blue foam pieces around the different lengths of the thread, off the centre where the destination piece is plotted. This is meant to show how the connections can be made in various ways and that there is no set order or pattern, meaning that the movement is individual and the connections are adaptable. The blue foam pieces can be viewed as points or highlights of the journey, or they can represent different ways of getting to, and from the centre, suggesting that the journey doesn’t end with the destination. Another way in which the web can be interpreted is that the small foam pieces are the destinations, the thread is the connection between them and the big piece symbolizes the decision making.
Collage Model Text Thought Making Material Moving Gift Creativity Imagination Connection Big Things Tiny Things Transport Interacting Pattern Difference
270 Castle Street paper facade model - Michelle Gartside Paper Facade Model 270 Castle Street model.png
270 Castle Street paper facade model
Collage Drawing Model Aesthetic Architecture Creativity Craft Making Material
This visual represents Dudley High Street re-imagined; a new vision of a re-wilded, food-centric town centre. The green canopy will begin as a frame that will encourage the growth of plants. Smaller scale units will be integrated at the start and build towards the final vision. - 1_8oJ0eISAIDZ0uX4_VksliQ.png
This visual represents Dudley High Street re-imagined; a new vision of a re-wilded, food-centric town centre. The green canopy will begin as a frame that will encourage the growth of plants. Smaller scale units will be integrated at the start and build towards the final vision.
Collage Imagining Abundance Access Big Things Change Food Future Growing High Imagination Layer Life Lingering Material Nature Opportunity People Plantlife Potential Regenerative Relaxing Shelter Sustainable Views
These are stepping stones that we wanted to achieve, with a scale of intervention, starting with small changes that could still have a big impact e.g. street furniture. At the other end of the scale is topography, where larger adaptations can be made for what we want to achieve. - 1_aCYWhkx_P64AMPeLQJIBqw.png
These are stepping stones that we wanted to achieve, with a scale of intervention, starting with small changes that could still have a big impact e.g. street furniture. At the other end of the scale is topography, where larger adaptations can be made for what we want to achieve.
Collage Imagining Drawing Access Actions Agency Care Control Future Growing Imagination Layer Nature Opportunity Ownership People Plantlife Potential Shelter Unused
Our collective vision for Dudley is to support a creative community that is connected through our internet of things; creating spaces that allow for the collection and redistribution of materials that locals can use to construct products with. Community engagement is central to this design network with local businesses encouraged to get involved in manufacturing. 

We decided to bring alive this vision through a series of pavilions positioned through the High Street, following a process through recycling, storing constructing and manufacturing. To take this idea further, we allocated several empty units along the High Street to become spaces involved in the open factory, from workshops, educational centres and co-working hubs. Since we wanted to show the journey people would be able to take, we decided to create a storyboard for our final visual.

These visuals show how the pavilions could sit in the High Street, starting at the market place, past CoLab Dudley’s base, and ending up at Top Church. We wanted to show how people would be able to interact with these different spaces and navigate between them. - 1_VMp1Jai-Vr7tZ4pe8U752Q.png
Our collective vision for Dudley is to support a creative community that is connected through our internet of things; creating spaces that allow for the collection and redistribution of materials that locals can use to construct products with. Community engagement is central to this design network with local businesses encouraged to get involved in manufacturing. We decided to bring alive this vision through a series of pavilions positioned through the High Street, following a process through recycling, storing constructing and manufacturing. To take this idea further, we allocated several empty units along the High Street to become spaces involved in the open factory, from workshops, educational centres and co-working hubs. Since we wanted to show the journey people would be able to take, we decided to create a storyboard for our final visual. These visuals show how the pavilions could sit in the High Street, starting at the market place, past CoLab Dudley’s base, and ending up at Top Church. We wanted to show how people would be able to interact with these different spaces and navigate between them.
Collage Map Drawing Imagining Community Creativity Technology Doughnut Regenerative Material Making Connection Economics Unused Ownership Learning Agency Abundance Actions Change Future Imagination Industry Interacting Invitations Opportunity People Potential Shelter Architecture Difference
Pond — At the northern reaches of the High Street lies a raised bed with nothing but a sterile patch of grass. We suggest as a miniature stepping stone, we replace the grass with a pond. The sounds of water can soften the noise of the traffic and it will invite pedestrians onto the high street by having this point of interest. It also works with the plans for re-wilding and growing food along the High Street as it aids pollination. - 1_nMGRrDR-iuxSL-9S7MgWHw.png
Pond — At the northern reaches of the High Street lies a raised bed with nothing but a sterile patch of grass. We suggest as a miniature stepping stone, we replace the grass with a pond. The sounds of water can soften the noise of the traffic and it will invite pedestrians onto the high street by having this point of interest. It also works with the plans for re-wilding and growing food along the High Street as it aids pollination.
Collage Drawing Imagining Nature Plantlife Water Sounds Traffic Imagination Invitations Opportunity Potential Future Growing Food
Social issues present ... between the two ends of the High Street, one recently improved in terms of materials, recreational areas and spaces for sitting, the other remains in disrepair and is heavily trafficked with completely transitional movement, lack of stopping and communication. - Team Social Street Elevation.png
Social issues present ... between the two ends of the High Street, one recently improved in terms of materials, recreational areas and spaces for sitting, the other remains in disrepair and is heavily trafficked with completely transitional movement, lack of stopping and communication.
Collage Imagination Future People Curiosity Care Actions Emotion Decay
By placing a community garden in this space space you can learn how to plant food and it will lead to more edible spaces on the High Street that will then lead to the re-wilding of Dudley. - 1_RI1cRE5_PNCwHyNETHVKkw.png
By placing a community garden in this space space you can learn how to plant food and it will lead to more edible spaces on the High Street that will then lead to the re-wilding of Dudley.
Collage Drawing Imagining Abundance Access Architecture Care Change Community Creativity Creatures Culture Curiosity Food Future Growing Imagination Invitations Learning Life Lingering Nature Opportunity People Plantlife Potential Regenerative Relaxing
Seen as the heart of the town, Dudley High Street stretch- es from the Dudley ASDA, all the way up to the St. Edmund King & Martyr Church. Although, the street has seen better days.

Along the High Street itself, there are 28 abandoned shop fronts, accounting for 1/5 shops being neglected. It is also home to a few of Dudley’s landmarks:
The Drinking Fountain, a Grade II listed fountain, which had a portion of a £4.6 million funding from the HLF European 2015 funding go towards to its restoration (Richards, 2017).

The Market Place is a fixed centre of trading and selling at the heart of the market square. It too benefited from the funding, allowing for permanent fixings.

The Top Church, St. Thomas and St. Luke, overlooking the entire street, and most of the surrounding town itself. - Oscar Law Group 1.png
Seen as the heart of the town, Dudley High Street stretch- es from the Dudley ASDA, all the way up to the St. Edmund King & Martyr Church. Although, the street has seen better days. Along the High Street itself, there are 28 abandoned shop fronts, accounting for 1/5 shops being neglected. It is also home to a few of Dudley’s landmarks: The Drinking Fountain, a Grade II listed fountain, which had a portion of a £4.6 million funding from the HLF European 2015 funding go towards to its restoration (Richards, 2017). The Market Place is a fixed centre of trading and selling at the heart of the market square. It too benefited from the funding, allowing for permanent fixings. The Top Church, St. Thomas and St. Luke, overlooking the entire street, and most of the surrounding town itself.
Collage Architecture Care Water Commerce Big Things Views Past Unused
Explore The History Of Site Voids - This will provide an opportunity to reimplement these to allow vertical green corridors to occur.

Explore Vacant Buildings - To avoid damaging an already deteriorating high street, I aim only to take over vacant plots.

Investigate the opportunity for Miyawaki planting - understand the conditions required to grow a sustainable material source on-site, including ground, water, and space conditions.

It takes over a building that leads directly to an open space where a community hub is the centre of the thesis, offering education, community engagement and material celebration. - Ryan Cooksey Material Celebration Hub 1.png
Explore The History Of Site Voids - This will provide an opportunity to reimplement these to allow vertical green corridors to occur. Explore Vacant Buildings - To avoid damaging an already deteriorating high street, I aim only to take over vacant plots. Investigate the opportunity for Miyawaki planting - understand the conditions required to grow a sustainable material source on-site, including ground, water, and space conditions. It takes over a building that leads directly to an open space where a community hub is the centre of the thesis, offering education, community engagement and material celebration.
Collage Diagram Drawing Imagining Map Text Photo Sustainable Regenerative Potential Opportunity Architecture Change Energy Decay Unused Nature Growing Plantlife Water Community Past Archaeology Learning Health Aesthetic Biodiversity Imagination Climate
High Street Development

The following images represent the high street development over the next 10 years. 

Green Corridor
The hard standing throughout the high street is quickly converting a field of seeding of wild grasses and wildflowers, in the mix is also a high density of tree saplings. These will then grow to become the high streets Miyawaki forest and the centre point of Dudley’s green corridor.

Vertical Farming
Initially one vertical farm would appear on the high street and as the idea of urban farming becomes more widely accepted more and more buildings will either be converted, extended or built as new farms.

Apartment Conversion
As the population increases and more people are predicted to live in built up towns and cities, apartment blocks will pop up in new environments. As for the high street this will become a desired place to live as there are already most common amenities ready to use. As more blocks are created they themselves will become semi self sustaining. - Matthew Hewitt Green Corridor.png
High Street Development The following images represent the high street development over the next 10 years. Green Corridor The hard standing throughout the high street is quickly converting a field of seeding of wild grasses and wildflowers, in the mix is also a high density of tree saplings. These will then grow to become the high streets Miyawaki forest and the centre point of Dudley’s green corridor. Vertical Farming Initially one vertical farm would appear on the high street and as the idea of urban farming becomes more widely accepted more and more buildings will either be converted, extended or built as new farms. Apartment Conversion As the population increases and more people are predicted to live in built up towns and cities, apartment blocks will pop up in new environments. As for the high street this will become a desired place to live as there are already most common amenities ready to use. As more blocks are created they themselves will become semi self sustaining.
Collage Drawing Architecture Biodiversity Nature Growing Plantlife Imagination
Lichen as bioindicators

Lichen Vs Carbon. These concept models look to document both the current state of Dudley Highstreet and the vision looking towards the future within this thesis project.

The lichen covered model looks towards a future in Dudley that is rich in texture, colour, nature and oxygen. Natural materials promote natural growth, and textures such as rough sawn timber and stone are the prefect hosts for lichen. All new buildings in Dudley would benefit massively from following a fabric first approach and adopt the use of sustainable and recycled building materials along with systems that use minimal energy.

The lichen model represents a vision for this thesis, buildings that are covered in natural materials and lichens that help sequester carbon and promote a healthier Highstreet. Suggestions of raised buildings also proposes less disruption to the ground and natural landscape, giving plants and animals the opportunity to thrive in an otherwise hostile concrete environment. Raised buildings also look towards a future planet with rising sea levels, future factors that will drastically affect the way we carry out daily lives and futureproofing all buildings for generations to come.

This second model uses the Shou Sugi Ban method of charring timber to waterproof it. In this case however it represents the embodied carbon and pollution within the highstreet as it exists now. The simplicity and repetition is also used to symbolise the plain nature of the highstreet with only a few materials exhibited, mainly brick & concrete. Once burnt the timber forms were brushed with wire wool to reveal the natural grain of the wood, a visual representation of degradation of layers of buildings that are built poorly or not constructed to last longer than a generation. - Michelle Gartside Model 5.png
Lichen as bioindicators Lichen Vs Carbon. These concept models look to document both the current state of Dudley Highstreet and the vision looking towards the future within this thesis project. The lichen covered model looks towards a future in Dudley that is rich in texture, colour, nature and oxygen. Natural materials promote natural growth, and textures such as rough sawn timber and stone are the prefect hosts for lichen. All new buildings in Dudley would benefit massively from following a fabric first approach and adopt the use of sustainable and recycled building materials along with systems that use minimal energy. The lichen model represents a vision for this thesis, buildings that are covered in natural materials and lichens that help sequester carbon and promote a healthier Highstreet. Suggestions of raised buildings also proposes less disruption to the ground and natural landscape, giving plants and animals the opportunity to thrive in an otherwise hostile concrete environment. Raised buildings also look towards a future planet with rising sea levels, future factors that will drastically affect the way we carry out daily lives and futureproofing all buildings for generations to come. This second model uses the Shou Sugi Ban method of charring timber to waterproof it. In this case however it represents the embodied carbon and pollution within the highstreet as it exists now. The simplicity and repetition is also used to symbolise the plain nature of the highstreet with only a few materials exhibited, mainly brick & concrete. Once burnt the timber forms were brushed with wire wool to reveal the natural grain of the wood, a visual representation of degradation of layers of buildings that are built poorly or not constructed to last longer than a generation.
Model Drawing Collage Architecture Material Nature Plantlife Growing Making Creativity Craft Colour Future Imagination Texture Air Energy Sustainable Creatures Life Water
A day out in Dudley
Time inside passes slow,
So we went out for the day,
My favourite place to go,
The high street in Dudley

I'm sure that you'd agree
It's not like any other town,
There is lots to do and see
And there's space to run around

There's a playground there
Just in the middle of the street
And fruit growing everywhere
The strawberries taste so sweet

There's lots of places for grown-ups
Where they like to chat and sit
They say 'hello ya right bab?'
And then Tarra a bit.

There is no need to in
When it's black over bill's mother
Because should the rain begin
The canopy is the perfect cover

The grown-ups pick the veggies
And call come get some grub
We jump down from our climbing trees
And head over to the food hub

We get the buz back home for tea
And get it down our wazzin
I look back on the day with glee
My Dudley town is bostin.  - 1_lR0vzbG74UXCjHggkLA9Xg.png
A day out in Dudley Time inside passes slow, So we went out for the day, My favourite place to go, The high street in Dudley I'm sure that you'd agree It's not like any other town, There is lots to do and see And there's space to run around There's a playground there Just in the middle of the street And fruit growing everywhere The strawberries taste so sweet There's lots of places for grown-ups Where they like to chat and sit They say 'hello ya right bab?' And then Tarra a bit. There is no need to in When it's black over bill's mother Because should the rain begin The canopy is the perfect cover The grown-ups pick the veggies And call come get some grub We jump down from our climbing trees And head over to the food hub We get the buz back home for tea And get it down our wazzin I look back on the day with glee My Dudley town is bostin.
Collage Poem Story Text Imagining Abundance Actions Care Community Connection Conversation Culture Emotion Expression Familiar Favourite Things Food Friendliness Funny Future Gift Growing Happiness Imagination Interacting Invitations Joy Kindness Life Moving Nature People Plantlife Play Potential Relaxing Safety Shelter Speeds Stories Taste Voice Words
Fountain Arcade paper facade model - Michelle Gartside Paper Facade Model Fountain Arcade model.png
Fountain Arcade paper facade model
Collage Drawing Model Aesthetic Architecture Creativity Craft Making Material
The first Stepping Stone project looks into designing multifunctional furniture for Dudley High Street to provide opportunities for a regenerative community, focusing on how the high street can be occupied with resilience. Initially, the stalls act as market stalls to provide opportunities for enterprises and small businesses to begin thriving and encouraging the High Street to become a place of inclusivity.

However, the stalls can extend out into outdoor seating arrangements, which can become an extension of the community kitchen and during events can become a part of the whole atmosphere.

By extending the furniture, they can connect together and become a large spread where people can sit together and enjoy company. It creates a lowered centre space so children can sit together, or paint on the surfaces. We decided to focus on furniture because we felt the importance of it can go unrecognised. We felt through the design of this market stall, many memories can be created and attached to these items, and become valuable assets within the community. - 1_OZxPTXXsNAi7K07s8cozeQ.png
The first Stepping Stone project looks into designing multifunctional furniture for Dudley High Street to provide opportunities for a regenerative community, focusing on how the high street can be occupied with resilience. Initially, the stalls act as market stalls to provide opportunities for enterprises and small businesses to begin thriving and encouraging the High Street to become a place of inclusivity. However, the stalls can extend out into outdoor seating arrangements, which can become an extension of the community kitchen and during events can become a part of the whole atmosphere. By extending the furniture, they can connect together and become a large spread where people can sit together and enjoy company. It creates a lowered centre space so children can sit together, or paint on the surfaces. We decided to focus on furniture because we felt the importance of it can go unrecognised. We felt through the design of this market stall, many memories can be created and attached to these items, and become valuable assets within the community.
Collage Drawing Imagining Regenerative Community Resilient Opportunity Invitations Friendliness Fairness Food Stillness Lingering Connection Commerce Low Colour Memory Agency Change Conversation Creativity Culture Future Imagination Interacting Life People Potential Relaxing
In this post, we captured the street’s atmosphere filled with colour, activity, and pedestrianised streets.
(We decided to present our narrative through social media and instagram posts as we wanted to showcase what individual experiences might be like when experiencing the future High Street. Each of our posts captures a different element of experience on the High Street to form a collective scenario.) - 1_xiDPYDn8mSA_q0UYxmK9Zg.png
In this post, we captured the street’s atmosphere filled with colour, activity, and pedestrianised streets. (We decided to present our narrative through social media and instagram posts as we wanted to showcase what individual experiences might be like when experiencing the future High Street. Each of our posts captures a different element of experience on the High Street to form a collective scenario.)
Imagining Collage Drawing Actions Change Colour Community Creativity Culture Curiosity Difference Food Friendliness Future Sounds Imagination Interacting Invitations Life Making Memory Moving Opportunity People Potential Stories Taste Views Emotion
TAKING BACK OWNERSHIP - To utilise the empty spaces and units on the high street with a place to celebrate the local institutions work. A space to help build a stronger connection within the community, creating a sense of fulfilment with the people of Dudley. - 1_9JgTintaUr7IOK9b6A515Q.png
TAKING BACK OWNERSHIP - To utilise the empty spaces and units on the high street with a place to celebrate the local institutions work. A space to help build a stronger connection within the community, creating a sense of fulfilment with the people of Dudley.
Collage Imagining Community People Ownership Agency Change Creativity Future Opportunity Potential Imagination Unused Connection Happiness
First collage mock-up of one side of the highstreet - Michelle Gartside High St Collage.png
First collage mock-up of one side of the highstreet
Photo Collage Architecture
The Overarching Concept

Providing Dudley with a self-sufficient ecosystem improves
local biodiversity. It is producing enough materials to repair and construct new buildings/interventions within the area. This radical movement could be implemented across many other declining towns. The issue is that we have become too comfortable linking with surrounding areas. For example, importing materials has a vast embodied carbon, likewise for electricity and so on. This thesis aims to grow the required materials and harvests water, capture energy with PV to allow the town of Dudley to be self-sufficient. - Ryan Cooksey Overarching Concept.png
The Overarching Concept Providing Dudley with a self-sufficient ecosystem improves local biodiversity. It is producing enough materials to repair and construct new buildings/interventions within the area. This radical movement could be implemented across many other declining towns. The issue is that we have become too comfortable linking with surrounding areas. For example, importing materials has a vast embodied carbon, likewise for electricity and so on. This thesis aims to grow the required materials and harvests water, capture energy with PV to allow the town of Dudley to be self-sufficient.
Collage Sustainable Regenerative Potential Opportunity System Biodiversity Material Architecture Change Energy
The fourth Stepping Stone project focused on the design of 2-in-1 flower pot seating for the exterior of the community kitchen. The design also integrates a canopy for growing herbs to also use in the kitchen. Through a collaboration with another Time Rebel collecting reusable waste, we thought about how this could be integrated into the materiality of this concept. The product analysis of this design is that it has a detachable seat to cater for a variety of arrangements. The flower pot can be raised to create a seating area, and lowered to be become a flower pot on the High Street. - 1_eeu2cuz-jiHMU4N8pGR51Q.png
The fourth Stepping Stone project focused on the design of 2-in-1 flower pot seating for the exterior of the community kitchen. The design also integrates a canopy for growing herbs to also use in the kitchen. Through a collaboration with another Time Rebel collecting reusable waste, we thought about how this could be integrated into the materiality of this concept. The product analysis of this design is that it has a detachable seat to cater for a variety of arrangements. The flower pot can be raised to create a seating area, and lowered to be become a flower pot on the High Street.
Imagining Collage Future Imagination Opportunity Lingering Plantlife Nature Growing Waste Material Stillness Moving Shelter
The main structure would have various spaces such as the Museum space, possibly a place that people can pin up local activities, and maybe rooms for either changing or for performance practice. As the street is 11m wide on average, there is plenty of space to have the building
fill the space. As the sunlight comes from mainly the south, the south side buildings often shadow the street entirely, which would mean that something being built (especially as it will be dug down a bit) would not shadow out the other buildings. The biggest hurdle to tackle is
that the space shouldn’t not feel overwhelming to the other shops or those who walk down the pavement. Because of this, most of the building’s structure would be in the underneath area, and only parts of it would pop out over the pavement. As the design would be flush
with the pavement, there are also opportunities to have crossing bridges that are both useful by the public, but also incorporated with the design of the new street.

The back of the street would create a unique space for social activities. The space is wide enough and long enough for a performance theatre space to be erected there, but it also has the possibility of having some kind of altered shape to the area, like a raised platform that could house
seating and other social activities. However, the space can also perfectly fit a fully regulated tennis court, badminton court, and volley ball court. People have mentioned that there is also a lack of sport engagement in the area, so this could be used to provide that kind of space. - Oscar Law Proposed design.png
The main structure would have various spaces such as the Museum space, possibly a place that people can pin up local activities, and maybe rooms for either changing or for performance practice. As the street is 11m wide on average, there is plenty of space to have the building fill the space. As the sunlight comes from mainly the south, the south side buildings often shadow the street entirely, which would mean that something being built (especially as it will be dug down a bit) would not shadow out the other buildings. The biggest hurdle to tackle is that the space shouldn’t not feel overwhelming to the other shops or those who walk down the pavement. Because of this, most of the building’s structure would be in the underneath area, and only parts of it would pop out over the pavement. As the design would be flush with the pavement, there are also opportunities to have crossing bridges that are both useful by the public, but also incorporated with the design of the new street. The back of the street would create a unique space for social activities. The space is wide enough and long enough for a performance theatre space to be erected there, but it also has the possibility of having some kind of altered shape to the area, like a raised platform that could house seating and other social activities. However, the space can also perfectly fit a fully regulated tennis court, badminton court, and volley ball court. People have mentioned that there is also a lack of sport engagement in the area, so this could be used to provide that kind of space.
Imagining Map Drawing Collage Change Craft Past Future Potential Imagination Identity Industry Memory Learning Shelter Nature Plantlife Growing Architecture
This post develops what the community kitchen has to offer with street grown resources and community engagement.

(We decided to present our narrative through social media and instagram posts as we wanted to showcase what individual experiences might be like when experiencing the future High Street. Each of our posts captures a different element of experience on the High Street to form a collective scenario.) - 1_TRZ52VkRCaxNYWyppD-lmg.png
This post develops what the community kitchen has to offer with street grown resources and community engagement. (We decided to present our narrative through social media and instagram posts as we wanted to showcase what individual experiences might be like when experiencing the future High Street. Each of our posts captures a different element of experience on the High Street to form a collective scenario.)
Imagining Collage Actions Change Colour Community Creativity Culture Curiosity Difference Food Friendliness Future Imagination Interacting Invitations Life Opportunity People Potential Stories Taste Learning Emotion Growing Vehicle Traffic Nature Plantlife Unused Lingering Relaxing Abundance Joy Happiness
A More-Than-Human Story of Dudley High Street
This story is a collective outcome after utilising completed Street Detectorism maps, and More-Than-Human findings to create of 'A More-Than-Human Story of Dudley High Street'. 
As part of a dissertation study, this workshop invited participants to share their imagination and develop stories from the previous findings on Dudley High Street. This story creatively archives nature on Dudley High Street, with emphasis for the value of storytelling and nature at the forefront of this task. - A More-Than-Human Story of Dudley High Street (08_12_2021).jpg
A More-Than-Human Story of Dudley High Street This story is a collective outcome after utilising completed Street Detectorism maps, and More-Than-Human findings to create of 'A More-Than-Human Story of Dudley High Street'. As part of a dissertation study, this workshop invited participants to share their imagination and develop stories from the previous findings on Dudley High Street. This story creatively archives nature on Dudley High Street, with emphasis for the value of storytelling and nature at the forefront of this task.
Collage Drawing Observation Imagining Story Poem Beauty Colour Creativity Creatures Decay Growing Imagination Light Making Memory Nature Plantlife Sounds Stories Tiny Things Weathered Words
The second Stepping Stone project focused on the representation of colour and revitalising frontages. During our group discussions, we recognised the negligence of existing colour on Dudley High Street. Colour is a key element we believe can bring a sense of brightness into the High Street, and an element that should be of focus when revitalising the frontages.
In this example, we have approached the frontage for the community kitchen we envision. The visual showcases a Community Kitchen in which different herbs and spices can be grown. These can then be used to cook the many dishes respective to the different cultures existing on the High Street. Each frontage can respond to the different uses of the buildings to promote individuality across the street. - 1_pm9_qBkIxwst2IcGMPeT4A.png
The second Stepping Stone project focused on the representation of colour and revitalising frontages. During our group discussions, we recognised the negligence of existing colour on Dudley High Street. Colour is a key element we believe can bring a sense of brightness into the High Street, and an element that should be of focus when revitalising the frontages. In this example, we have approached the frontage for the community kitchen we envision. The visual showcases a Community Kitchen in which different herbs and spices can be grown. These can then be used to cook the many dishes respective to the different cultures existing on the High Street. Each frontage can respond to the different uses of the buildings to promote individuality across the street.
Imagining Collage Change Colour Community Creativity Culture Curiosity Food Future Imagination Invitations Opportunity Potential Architecture Aesthetic
Dudley High Street is not only inhabited by human beings, but also by animals. Looking back on the formation of most cities, we can see the common attraction of urban landscapes to humans and and wild animals. I used recycled corrugated paper to make this creative painting. It shows the causal relationship between climate change and animals’ loss of habitat and forced into urban life when human beings are developing cities. It highlights the importance of protecting the environment while developing Dudley High Street in the future. - 0_u1aJqQVyjUUOkSH-.png
Dudley High Street is not only inhabited by human beings, but also by animals. Looking back on the formation of most cities, we can see the common attraction of urban landscapes to humans and and wild animals. I used recycled corrugated paper to make this creative painting. It shows the causal relationship between climate change and animals’ loss of habitat and forced into urban life when human beings are developing cities. It highlights the importance of protecting the environment while developing Dudley High Street in the future.
Collage Model Text Making Material People Creatures Homes Creativity Connection Nature Missing Contrast Future Gift
We initially collaged together all the facade images taken and then annotated them with further reference to key areas. The right hand side looking at materiality, street furniture and observations of people. The
left hand side looks at observing some of the most dominant features - the traffic, shopping centre and busy public market in the centre. - Michelle Gartside Initial response.png
We initially collaged together all the facade images taken and then annotated them with further reference to key areas. The right hand side looking at materiality, street furniture and observations of people. The left hand side looks at observing some of the most dominant features - the traffic, shopping centre and busy public market in the centre.
Photo Collage Architecture Material People Traffic
The Gift represents the two different typologies of building and its facade located on the High Street. One resembles St. Thomas Top Church and the other is the common modern building facade. The design of High Street buildings has evolved throughout the period. Its use, materiality, construction technique etc.

The High Street has always represented a role as a commercial and social hub. The concentration of public on the High Street provides the opportunities to designers to showcase creativity and innovation in design which impacts on visitors. We can say in other words, an ‘Exhibition’ of evolution of buildings in a row. So, facade plays a key role as it reflects the local identity of the town and its culture. So I did a little experiment to understand the street in the form of juxtaposition of facade by placing two different typologies of buildings located on the street. The voids on the facade have changed and adapted to more convenient rectilinear shapes during the past few decades.

The model made of plain paper can represent the periodical difference in buildings to which people of the High Street can easily relate and take a place within their memory. - 0_VZnqEpx8xTTZXQdp.png
The Gift represents the two different typologies of building and its facade located on the High Street. One resembles St. Thomas Top Church and the other is the common modern building facade. The design of High Street buildings has evolved throughout the period. Its use, materiality, construction technique etc. The High Street has always represented a role as a commercial and social hub. The concentration of public on the High Street provides the opportunities to designers to showcase creativity and innovation in design which impacts on visitors. We can say in other words, an ‘Exhibition’ of evolution of buildings in a row. So, facade plays a key role as it reflects the local identity of the town and its culture. So I did a little experiment to understand the street in the form of juxtaposition of facade by placing two different typologies of buildings located on the street. The voids on the facade have changed and adapted to more convenient rectilinear shapes during the past few decades. The model made of plain paper can represent the periodical difference in buildings to which people of the High Street can easily relate and take a place within their memory.
Collage Model Architecture Creativity Gift Making Material Aesthetic People Identity Culture Difference Contrast Memory
This gift aims to address the disconnect between Dudley and its industrial history. Once the ‘Capital of the Black Country’ its high street now looks like any other. With the intention of public engagement, this gift could be handed out at CoLab Dudley’s base. Starting from there, people would be able to follow the map and visit the places marked by stars — all of which hold some historical significance whether it be the location of an old factory or school — where one missing puzzle piece may be located. Only after visiting these locations would they be able to complete the puzzle and see the final image of Dudley’s high street. - 1_JRGmmld9CMD9KdDVyeyUPw.png
This gift aims to address the disconnect between Dudley and its industrial history. Once the ‘Capital of the Black Country’ its high street now looks like any other. With the intention of public engagement, this gift could be handed out at CoLab Dudley’s base. Starting from there, people would be able to follow the map and visit the places marked by stars — all of which hold some historical significance whether it be the location of an old factory or school — where one missing puzzle piece may be located. Only after visiting these locations would they be able to complete the puzzle and see the final image of Dudley’s high street.
Collage Other visual delight Model Connection Gift Industry Interacting Invitations Past Missing Play Making
This post promotes the opening of a community kitchen, supported by the Participatory City model.
(We decided to present our narrative through social media and instagram posts as we wanted to showcase what individual experiences might be like when experiencing the future High Street. Each of our posts captures a different element of experience on the High Street to form a collective scenario.) - 1_6sRUvu11L3X86f0sILXO8g.png
This post promotes the opening of a community kitchen, supported by the Participatory City model. (We decided to present our narrative through social media and instagram posts as we wanted to showcase what individual experiences might be like when experiencing the future High Street. Each of our posts captures a different element of experience on the High Street to form a collective scenario.)
Imagining Collage Actions Change Colour Community Creativity Culture Curiosity Difference Food Friendliness Future Imagination Interacting Invitations Life Making Opportunity People Potential Stories Taste Learning Emotion
This post captures the street qualities where the visitors experience the colour and aromas of the food.
(We decided to present our narrative through social media and instagram posts as we wanted to showcase what individual experiences might be like when experiencing the future High Street. Each of our posts captures a different element of experience on the High Street to form a collective scenario.) - 1_xTufD_UHcNclrjiOlfcOeA.png
This post captures the street qualities where the visitors experience the colour and aromas of the food. (We decided to present our narrative through social media and instagram posts as we wanted to showcase what individual experiences might be like when experiencing the future High Street. Each of our posts captures a different element of experience on the High Street to form a collective scenario.)
Imagining Collage Change Colour Community Culture Curiosity Difference Food Friendliness Future Imagination Interacting Invitations Life Opportunity People Potential Stories Taste Emotion Lingering Abundance Smell Joy Happiness
The yellow canary of the mines, a symbol of protection for miners spending time in highly polluted areas. The yellow lichen becomes the new symbol for Dudley, protecting inhabitants through carbon sequestration & clean air. - Michelle Gartside Concept Collage.png
The yellow canary of the mines, a symbol of protection for miners spending time in highly polluted areas. The yellow lichen becomes the new symbol for Dudley, protecting inhabitants through carbon sequestration & clean air.
Collage Drawing Imagining Model Architecture Nature Plantlife Growing Imagination Life Air Light Water Potential Opportunity Creatures Community Safety Industry Pollution
Stepping Stone 2 is about making the High Street bespoke to Dudley through street furniture. We wanted to make the High Street more sociable and colourful. By providing outdoor seating areas, people would be invited to speak to each other and bring back a sense of community. - 1_o3nY3c2woc53u0TgQDtpOw.png
Stepping Stone 2 is about making the High Street bespoke to Dudley through street furniture. We wanted to make the High Street more sociable and colourful. By providing outdoor seating areas, people would be invited to speak to each other and bring back a sense of community.
Collage Imagining Drawing Actions Future Growing Imagination Nature Opportunity People Plantlife Potential Colour Conversation Interacting Sustainable Lingering
This visual represents the vision for the thesis, buildings covered in lichens, air purifying plants and community activities held on the Highstreet. This visual focuses in on the proposed site for the building and shows expression of a raised new build component on site as well as a full and wild landscaping plan. - Michelle Gartside Visualisation.png
This visual represents the vision for the thesis, buildings covered in lichens, air purifying plants and community activities held on the Highstreet. This visual focuses in on the proposed site for the building and shows expression of a raised new build component on site as well as a full and wild landscaping plan.
Map Collage Drawing Diagram Imagining Architecture Nature Plantlife Growing Imagination Life Air Light Water Potential Opportunity Creatures Community
A collage response to a Co.LAB gift for the High St - “It was nice to be able to use the image for something else. It made me think about placing the cut-out roadmap onto a slightly brighter future version, with colour, vibrancy and plantlife, so that it reminds me what we are heading towards, but still with a hark back to the people and the industry that made Dudley the town it is...” - 2656268F-99B4-47D8-8FF5-953A7068378B (1).jpg
A collage response to a Co.LAB gift for the High St - “It was nice to be able to use the image for something else. It made me think about placing the cut-out roadmap onto a slightly brighter future version, with colour, vibrancy and plantlife, so that it reminds me what we are heading towards, but still with a hark back to the people and the industry that made Dudley the town it is...”
Collage Imagining Abundance Aesthetic Beauty Agency Change Colour Connection Contrast Craft Creativity Expression Familiar Future Gift Identity Imagination Industry Interacting Emotion Joy Life Making Material Memory Nature Opportunity Past Plantlife Potential Moving Stories