keith andrews

The Architecture School, Abstract Machine Studio, has been involved in the design and funding of a new cricket pavilion for St Chads Broomfield Cricket Club. The project has provided an armature for public engagement and collaboration, across a range of disciplines and community groups. The design was generated by students of the studio, in response to the feedback from, both the club, all local, civic community groups and council representatives. The project received planning permission in 2019, with building work beginning in March 2023. The completion date for the project is October 2025. 

My current research goals involve the taking the lessons of community empowerment, derived from St Chads to a wider canvas with community groups, interested in self-build developments.

I recently read and was captivated by Reciprocal Frameworks Tradition and Innovation (gta Verlag). Reciprocal structures enable one to make large span structures with cheaper smaller pieces, the book is a comprehensive guide.

With an interest in the adoption and application of computational and computer-aided manufacturing in real-world projects it’s been a goal of mine to collaborate with Stage One. Stage One are a manufacturing and engineering company outside of York who are world leaders in computational and computer-aided manufacturing, known for their ubiquitous involvement in the annual Serpentine Pavilions London.

The Abstract Machine Studio's ethos promotes the adoption and application of computational and computer-aided manufacturing in real-world projects. The challenge with the cricket club project at St Chads, was to use these said methodologies and reduce the complexity of a building, down to a flat-pack instruction set, thus empowering the community/club to self-build their pavilion.  

The outcome of this was a computationally designed timber cassette system for the superstructure, (walls and roof), produced in collaboration with BlokBuild Ltd Hull. 

The project was the first instance where the system was used in a self-build scheme. The housing co-operatives, WeCanMake, sent teams to Leeds to train up at St Chads.

The work of Amin Taha at Groupwork Architects is particularly exciting, they are pioneering the reintroduction of stone into architecture and using it to replace the use of reinforced concrete for walls and framed construction. The thing that really chimes it that stone is both more sustainable and cheaper than either concrete or brick.

Abstract Machine Studio is working with the Anglican Leeds Diocese Leeds, producing designs for the enhancement of three of their existing Church buildings including new build facilities. The output will be design guide, to be adopted by the Anglican Church across the country.