tomkerno.co.uk
THOMAS KERN
DIPL.ING. ARCHITECT(ARB)
LECTURER AND EDUCATOR IN ARCHITECTURE
© Thomas Kern 2024
CIVIC
A selection of projects.
Public commissions challenge the architect’s communication, negotiation and intersocial skills. Many interests and opinions need to be heard, respected, evaluated and eventually integrated in the design.
Larger public commission are mostly decided by restricted, invited, and open competitions. This is extremely challenging for smaller practices who commonly have limited resources to produce a comprehensive proposal in a limited time frame.
As sole practitioner I participated at one open EU-wide competition for a cultural centre in a midsize city. I was eliminated with 100+ other competitors in the 1st round. There were more than 100 participants, some globally renowned parties, dramatically reducing any chance of success for smaller practices.
Specialism and participating in restricted or invited competition were an opportunity though. I scored one success as sole parctitioner: a village hall in an invited competition. A selection of five local architects. The project was "small but beautiful". It was a very enjoyable experience to work with the community, who brought in substantial DIY contributions. The design had a unifying quality, brought together the city council and the local community.
HARTON academy (former Harton Technology College)
South Shields, South Tyneside
The design concept was an educational boulevard between, an architectural dialogue between the dignified traditional 1930s redbrick building and the contemporary yet restrained proposed new built. For the community the old school building carries significant memory and is a central element of the local identity. Therefore the decision was made to retain and refurbish the building rather than to demolish.
Despite the contrasts between these two buildings, there is balance and a sense of harmony as the old and new form an architectural narrative.
Technology College with 6th Form 2008 - 2010
With Ryder Architecture, South Tyneside Council
RIBA Stages 1 - 8, and BSF advisor
'Colonnade' for a partially shelter exterior - south façade.
Different materials and textures to make the architecture 'readable’.
Light-flooded multipurpose / dining area, custom designed furniture.
To highlight the technology specialism, exposed construction and contrasting materials were used.
1930s School Building and newbuilt Technology Centre with 6th Form
Groundfloor: The layout offers well-lit conventional teaching spaces as well as flexible breakout areas.
Concept sketches
ST WILFRIDS RC College
South Shields, South Tyneside
Mixed secondary school and 6th Form 2007 - 2009
With Ryder Architecture, South Tyneside Council
RIBA Stages 1 - 6
The original 1960s building was organised with two separate L-shaped wings, as a boys’ and girls’ school. A small multipurpose hall and dining facility served connecting of these two wings. Being a mixed school for some time, and with maintenance and technical issues in parts, the design task was to referbush and rebuilt major parts, to unify the still function parts , to provide and improved sports and dining facility, an IT cluster, more breakout space and an improved schoolyard with a welcoming and inspiring landscape arrangement.
The design concept was to build a connecting ‘spine’ between the wings, joining all buildings, and connect the new compact sports hall. The proposed design offered a generous well-arranged exterior area and a bright and airy raised spine building, offering a smooth circulation and plenty of breakout space.
Concept sketches: schoolyard, new entrance and spine building
Concept sketches: Faith Space - a spiritual and inspirational chapel
A key element of the clients' needs, was to provide a designated Faith Space, a compact chapel, a place for contemplation but without austerity and formality. My upward directed cuboid design was the preferred and was also recognised by the company praised as an intriguing solution, I had to scale down to a more feasible curved solution. Still, it was the most intresting adn rewaring part of the design concept.
Left: New 'Saint's'Cafe and dining area Right: The new 'spine' corridor and breakout space.
COMMUNITY CENTRE
Beching-Zell, Germany 1999 - 2000
Stages 1-8, as independent architect
A successful contribution in a limited county-wide design competition. The task was to design a flexible multipurpose facility for the community of two neighbouring villages. A stage, two volleyball pitch size hall space, sufficient height for various ball sports, auxiliary rooms for council meetings, a professional kitchen, generous storage space and an attractive exterior and landscape design.
Located in rural region, both villages picturesquely situated on a river bend in the Danube-valley typical yet sensitive context. The surrounding structures mainly older traditional farmhouses with big barns, residential buildings, and beautifully detailed baroque churches
The design concept was inspired by the local vernacular, the big barns, the calm roofscape, the colour scheme reflected on the surrounding arable fields, the red-tiled roofs, the pastel-colours of the traditional houses, and the river Danube. The latter connects these unassuming tranquil villages with the heritage of this famous and mighty river: Regensburg, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade and finally the Black Sea.
Until today the design is highly appreciated by the users, last but least because of the clarity, flexibility, and durability of this reduced and modest design.
Village Hall Beching-Zell, Germany 1999 - 2000
