Architectural design practice, MoreySmith, recently launched a competition challenging students to design a particular aspect of the former Carfax Hotel on Great Pulteney Street.
Students on the Three Dimensional Design course (Idea Material Object, IMO) at Bath Spa University were shown the design plans for the hotel by the Bath-based design agency and were challenged to design an element for the reception area of the hotel such as a desk, key fobs, reception bell, lighting, seating elements and umbrella stands.
Francesca Rossi was named the winner at a ceremony on Friday where she was also awarded a £500 grant to create her design, Magnetile, a magnetic key fob and installation.
The students’ design proposals were judged by MoreySmith founder, Linda Morey Smith and design associate, Lesley Kelly, the hotel property developer, GECO Properties UK Ltd and Kate Authers, Editor of Bath Life.
MoreySmith, which celebrates its 21st anniversary this year, launched the award in 2013 in an effort to support the industry’s future talent. Last year, students were asked to design a clothing rail and display solution for major online fashion retailer, ASOS. The 2013 award was jointly won by third year student, Thomas Riddell, and second year student, Josh Ino, now in his final year and taking part in this year’s competition.
Winning student, Francesca Rossi, said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed this live project and am elated to have won. We have all worked so hard, it’s inspiring that MoreySmith and IMO have combined to create this award – giving students unique opportunities and a better understanding of industry.”
Three Dimensional Design Course Leader, Shai Akram commented: “Working on external briefs gives our students an invaluable taste of professional experience. We help them address the delicate balance of answering a client’s needs while maintaining their own voice as creative thinkers of the future.”
Linda Morey Smith added: “We are delighted to align our practice with the city’s upcoming design talent. Last year’s ASOS project was all about designing for a national fashion brand but, this year, we felt it was absolutely relevant that students of Bath Spa University should have the opportunity to influence design in their local city. Engaging them with this project felt appropriate as the Carfax Hotel is situated on one of Bath’s best loved streets, Great Pulteney Street.
“It has been amazing to see the designs and creativity that we can expect from our future generation of designers. It has been an exciting process in finding the winning design which really impressed us and we hope to see Francesca’s design incorporated into our scheme.”
GECO Properties UK Ltd purchased the Grade I listed building, formerly known as the Carfax Hotel, from The Salvation Army in September 2013. The hotel, a trio of Georgian houses, is situated in one of the most historical areas of the city. The developer has commissioned MoreySmith to redesign the property and create an elegant, design-led contemporary boutique hotel, sympathetic to the location’s heritage. Works are expected to commence later this year with completion in late 2015.
The BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design [Idea Material Object (IMO)] course is an experimental design course that seeks to explore ideas through objects, spaces and experiences. Creativity comes in many different forms and is often separated into categories such as ‘art’, ‘design’, or ‘craft’. IMO looks at all of these areas, and many others, as sources of inspiration – intentionally interlinking and overlapping between them. Over the three-year programme, students hone their design process and develop the skills to turn abstract ideas into physical outcomes.
