We rounded out the first day of the ARCLIB Conference 2024 with a visit to the Farrell Centre, located in a Grade II-listed building on the Newcastle University campus. The Centre was opened in April 2023 with the support of Sir Terry Farrell, and aims to fulfil his recommendation in The Farrell Review of Architecture + the Built Environment (2013) that all cities have an “Urban Room” where people can learn about the place where they live and have a voice in shaping their city.
We were given an informative talk and tour by Owen Hopkins, Director of the Centre, with particular focus on their latest exhibition – “Building: An Exhibition Under Construction”. This is an innovative programme where the exhibition is constructed over its four-month duration through a series of live builds, installations, and workshops. Many groups are involved in the project, from local artists and architects to students from the university and Sunderland college.
In line with the purpose of the Farrell Centre, the overall aim of the exhibition is to help the public understand and engage with the construction processes constantly taking place throughout cities. This includes understanding the work of builders, the materials that are used and their environmental implications, where funding comes from, and so on.
While the visit was brief, it certainly made an impression as the exhibition was very different to anything I’d seen before. In one room, there was a pile of building materials holding space for an upcoming live build. In this exhibition, even the unremarkable temporary fencing became a feature, with one wall inviting visitors to help colour in the fence pattern, honouring a part of construction almost universally overlooked.
The exhibition integrates opportunities for interactivity and making at every opportunity. For example, visitors can take part in wallpaper printing, collage marquetry, floor plan design, and other activities at any time. These are supplemented by workshops and other events running throughout the duration of the exhibition.
The visit to the Farrell Centre was an enjoyable conclusion to the first day of the conference, providing valuable insights into the dynamic and often unseen processes of urban construction.
Review and photos by Corin Peacock | Arts University Bournemouth
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