DESIGN ME HAPPY
We see the importance of discussing and caring for our psychological health at WT Architecture. With this in mind, ASPECT:Cinema returned to the stage for this year's Architecture Fringe Festival with a short film screening and discussion that explored how our architectural environments can affect our mental health and well being. We set out to uncover the influences that space and structure have in uplifting the human psyche, or suppressing it. Joined by our panelists, Paul Stallan from Stallan-Brand, Edinburgh based artist Olivia Turner and Wil Tunnell from WT Architecture, we discussed the perception of space in the everyday and the feelings of joyfulness, peace, struggle and unease that we can experience in our built environments.
The screening was held in the old courtroom of the incredible Oxford House in Glasgow (also home to Stallan-Brand’s studios) and thanks to a huge amount of support from our host, our panelists, filmmakers, our engaging audience, those at WT Architecture and all other contributors, the evening was a great success.
The list of films screened on the night can be found in the programme featured in our previous blog post.
Photographs by Eoin Carey
Through the films and panel discussion we put architecture under the microscope and shared our personal experiences to define the ways that space can uplift each and every one of us.
We were fortunate to gain the incredible insight from one of Stallan-Brand’s founding directors, Paul Stallan, who’s work in practice seeks to “turn our mirrors into windows and halls into hallways” and provide a new outlook and direction to avoid and help people suffering with poor mental health. Paul offered his reflections on the relationship between our physical and spatial environment, the people around us and our wellbeing.
We were also proud to have Olivia Turner join us from Edinburgh and offer her creative and professional insight on the perception of space and design and the affects on the human minds. As well as an artist, Olivia is a co-founder of DOK Artist Space, a grass roots contemporary exhibition and studio space in Edinburgh. After graduating from Edinburgh College of Art in 2015, she became a notable artist in Edinburgh’s creative scene and now exhibits her work across the U.K. With a multitude of awards to date, including the Open Contemporary Young Artist Award with an exhibition showing this September, Olivia is also a key member of the Architecture Fringe team, The Royal Scottish Academy and the Society of Scottish Arts.
We would like to say a huge thank you to Paul and Livvy, Wil at WTA and our incredible audience for making ‘Design Me Happy’ such an engaging night!