Birmingham City Archives

During the visit to the Birmingham City Archives we were able to explore the culture and transformation the beautiful building had gone through. The particular area of interest within the archival space was the old images of what the school of art used to look like and how different the restoration and transformation took. My area of interest particular lies within the way in which the space we learn changes the way in which we create.

- How did the space effect the students in their time?

- was it more effective then?

- is there anything that can be done now to aid in more productive, creative and calm spaces?

-is there anything we should go back to that no longer is within the building?

I personally believe that the way in which we taught back then was allot more structural and confined, freedom of expression wasn't as free as it is now and I feel that it Really reflects within the space in these images.They are structural in their layout and form, with tightly packed desks and one view point only, this would surely limit the students ability to expand their mind creatively?

This style of education reinforced the systematic way of learning and in some respects is more of a productive way of teaching with less absent students, more productivity and less procrastination, in some respects it is a better way to structure a space for learning but it also restricts and confines the students within the establishment of creating freely which would reflect in the type of work created.

I believe that taking away the desks creating a more natural and free environment would not only give the students the freedom to explore any topic but would also give them a choose of how they like to work catering to all needs where possible. In this respect I think that some areas of the university would serve this style of teaching well such as the lecture rooms and possibly a drawing or live modelling spaces.However creating more creatively open, natural plant based environments alongside would be more effective in opening the students minds and giving them a choose in where best to work.