Architectural statements – what’s the message?

While we consider the potential perception of education through typography, the wider picture of education emerging in South Wales through architectural design, intrigues me. Three new education ‘constructs’ have been created recently, which it could be argued sets out a blueprint of education in the 21st century, where any ‘message’ of what education is, could, or might be, is wrapped-up in quite exotic form (see below).

Previously I have argued that learning is a product of education, where, ‘product positioning’ in terms of aspirational markets could be used positively to help reach out to groups within the widening participation agenda. Two of the examples below are university campuses (City Campus, Newport and the Atrium, Cardiff), which effectively are ‘pay-per-learner’. One uses serif type in its make-up and the other sans serif; the school (Archbishop McGrath Catholic School, Bridgend) also uses sans serif. Here perhaps are examples of a mixed message or disagreement in aligning any visual graphical style to architectural form and function (similarly, any of these new campuses might simply be adopting its corporate language).

In addition, where Archbishop McGrath School, has expended significant cost to its building’s fabric, intriguingly, very little has been applied to its prospectus – this being almost homemade in appearance.

What is the message projected by these temples of learning? I am reminded of my initial council debate of how inappropriate application (of type) could be deemed a ‘barrier to education.’ I would still contest this for some learners within the WP framework, and wonder whether this other visual design ingredient – architecture – cements any educational barrier or connects to the aspiration of learners.

Advertisement