Students Showcase Visions For Regenerating City Site
22 June 2012
A general view from the exhibition of how the Becket Well area of the city could be regenerated.
Dr Boris Ceranic, University Programme Leader for Architectural Programmes.
Architectural student Toni O'Donnell's work for exhibition.
Architectural student Sean Brady's colourful concept.
Visions of how to redevelop a major city centre site will be exhibited by University of Derby students at the QUAD centre in Derby.
Final year BA (Hons) Architectural Venue Design and BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology and Practice degree students at the University were challenged by Derby City Council Regeneration Department to come up with designs for the regeneration of the Becket Well area of Derby city centre.
The 3.5 acre site includes the former Debenhams store in Victoria Street and Duckworth Square, and has yet to be redeveloped despite a number of proposals. This site is a priority project in the City Centre Regeneration Framework adopted by the Council earlier this year.
More than 40 designs by students were displayed at the University's Markeaton Street site in Derby earlier this month for its 2012 Degree Shows (June 1 - 12) - and a second two-day public exhibition of the designs will now be held at QUAD, in Derby's Market Place, on Monday and Tuesday (June 25-26).
Funded by Derby City Council this event will feature students' proposals for the Beckett Well area and a public panel discussion, to be held from 8.30am-10am on June 26.
It will be an opportunity for urban design and architectural practitioners, regeneration professionals, developers and decision makers to discuss the collaborative role of the University in helping to shape Derby's future, the value of good design in the urban environment and the redevelopment space's future.
The QUAD exhibition is in partnership with the Nottingham and Derby Society of Architects. It follows on from the national 2012 Love Architecture Festival (June 15 to 24), a series of events across the UK aimed at raising awareness of and celebrating British architecture.
Dr Boris Ceranic, University Programme Leader for Architectural Programmes, said: "In our courses we relish the challenge of live regeneration projects, encouraging students to think about place and space making, which aspires to make a difference and change people's lives for the better.
"It is about creative visions and technical resolutions, using what is learnt on the degree courses in the context of real living spaces. The proposals shown in this exhibition demonstrate that students are really taking this message to heart."
Councillor Sara Bolton, Chair of the Council's Planning Control Committee, said: "As part of Derby City Council's continuing commitment to partnership working it has been working with students at the University of Derby to raise awareness of the importance of good design in the city, as well as preparing plans for the challenging Becket Well site in Derby city centre.
"The University plays a key role in the city's economic development, and the purpose of this collaboration is to retain and nurture talent in the city, and to involve them in shaping Derby's future."
Media requiring more information should contact Press & PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk
