Alan Dunlop, is one of the UK’s leading architects and an educator, teaching architecture in architectural schools in the U.K. and as a visiting professor in universities around the world. He is also a gifted draughtsman and artist and his drawings are being exhibited at the Royal Academy in London. Alan Dunlop had joined forces with Murray Dunlop to create the gm+ad award winning architecture practice based in Glasgow, Scotland, until last year when they ended their collaboration.
The real reason why I am featuring Alan Dunlop is one of his latest work the Hazelwood School In Glascow, Scotland. Hazelwood is a school for children and young people, aged 2 to 18, who are blind and deaf – “dual sensory impaired”. Architecturally, it is a new type of project. Many of the school’s children are physically handicapped and they will probably need lifetime support. The aim of the architect was to create a place of safety and ambition that would free the teacher and inspire the child.
This project speaks to my heart as 5 years ago, for my thesis at architecture school I myself with my partner proposed a school for rehabilitation and education of visibly impaired people. We too had approached this project as a different type of architecture and after a long investigation process we came to similar conclusions as the ones I find applied in this school.
Ground, repeated, similar rooms, placed to create a fluidity in movement and united with this type of textured wall that is followed with ones' hand, vibrant colors with high contrast and a variety of textures where part of our proposal too.
That is why it is very emotional for me to see this type of school built and actually having real success. The children and young people respond well to their new environment, with the help of course of committed teachers and appear to be thriving.
You can find out more about the architect in his site here.
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