Chapter - front page of AJ

Out today this months copy of Architects Journal presents Cardiff's Chapter Arts Centre on the front cover with a great photo of the handsome 1970's interior treatment in the 'Cwtch' bar which was lovingly designed and created by Angela Gidden & Marc Rees under the Gidden+Rees collaboration.
AJ have featured the project and work by Ash Sakula architects. I [Angela] met with Robert Sakula and AJ's journalist Rory Olcayto to chat about the new Chapter space in all its dimensions and the relaxed collaborative style of working with Robert & Canny of Ash Sakula. Of course AJ predominantly talks about AshSaks' architectural approach to the redevelopment of Chapter but it's good to see that Rory has also highlighted Chapter's culture, it's purpose, it's roots and it's importance as an key arts and community destination. He's also 'ready to go back'!

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The House for the Future

Project - The House For The Future
Client - National Museum Wales
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

This is where design for sustainability all started for the attic 2 Studio


We were commissioned to work on the furniture and interior concept for the Museum of Welsh Life project, House For The Future working with London architects and winner of the House For The Future architecture competition and Redrow house buliders sponsors and builders of the actual house within the grounds of the Museum, Cardiff.

The project was our first real intensive sustainable design project - where every design solution threw up a whole new set of environmental challenges and every twist and turn in the project questioned the sustainable viability. The result was an innovative approach to the design of products for living in the future - without the 'oats and muesli' aesthetics and an over-dependence on hi-technology.

This project was filmed from start to end and beyond by BBC Wales as a TV series The House For The Future where they introduced a real life family to live in and test drive the house for a few weeks. Some of solutions and ideas were more successful than others but what we learned from this point on was as designers we were responsible and that we must design with sustainability and a focus on the future at the core. This was the start of design for sustainability for the attic 2 Studio. This is where we began to shape our 'Future-Thinking' sustainable and environmental policy.

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Union Undeb

Project - Union Undeb private owners club 2003
Client - Manic Street Preachers & Mean Fiddler Group
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

We were commissioned to create a complete bespoke furniture concept for 4 floors of an old bonded store in the heart of Cardiff's city centre including 3 bars, restaurant, VIP area and reception as part of the conversion into a private members club owned by the Manic Street Preachers. We were also commissioned to create the colour scheme throughout the club as well as design some bespoke lighting for the reception area, the VIP area and a lightbox to the bar on level 2.

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BBC Wales canteen

Project - BBC Wales Canteen redesign and refurbishnent 2003
Client - BBC
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson working with Roger Witchell Architects

The project was a major re-design and refit of the BBC canteen which had not been refurbed since the 1970's. The challenge was to create an environment that inspired staff to use the space for eating, meetings and networking, to increase seating capacity, to improve the efficiency of the daily running of the canteen and to create an environment that would feel comfortable and fresh. We designed and produced a range of soft-seating, canteen tables, dining tables and stools as well as working on the layout and the colour scheme.

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Wales Rocks Sydney - NSW, Australia

Project - Wales Rocks Sydney a contemporary showcase of Wales 2003
Client - Wales Assembly Government
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

Angela Gidden was commissioned to create a contemporary showcase within the Museum of Contemporary Art in Circular Quays Sydney. The brief included a key element - genealogy.
The exhibition took place within the American Express Hall in the museum. We designed a reusable cocoon structure in order to envelop 'an experience of Wales - the landscape, the people, the soul, and sound of Wales' in a contemporary context.

The entrance to the main exhibition experience - a purpose designed and constructed aluminium truss structure within which an abstract graphic map of Wales was laid to the floor, a short film commissioned with a piece of music composed specially were played on a loop, a gallery of people in Wales with the 10 most popular surnames was presented. The whole space evoked a spirit of Wales and drew people in to enable connections to be made.

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Casa Foa - Buenos Aires, Argentine

Project - 'Cartref' Wales contemporary loft apartment showcase 2005
Client - Wales Assembly Government
Designers - Angela Gidden, Jonathan Adams, Lynsey Jackson, Matt Jones

Casa Foa is an interior exhibition that takes place each year in Buenos Aires Argentina. Wales were invited as the 2005 Guest Nation to create an apartment interior within the exhibition space. Casa Foa took over the early twentieth century derelict Piccaluga textile factory in the Barracas area of Buenos Aires prior to its restoration and urban redevelopment as loft apartments, cafe's and bars. The Wales Assembly Government commissioned Angela Gidden and architect Jonathan Adams to design a contemporary loft apartment called 'Cartref" showcasing art, design, literature, film and music from Wales to mark the 140th anniversary of the Welsh colony in Patagonia. The design inspiration was drawn from the organic form and materials of the landscape of Wales. The concept was both dynamic and unique. Over 70,000 people visited Casa Foa and 'Cartref' was voted the best interior space by the public as well as winning an honorary award at the Casa Foa Awards Ceremony.

The upper landscape of the main living space. The whole living space was and principal structural elements were planked with timber strips complimented with a stacked glass wall to the side.

A view from the upper level with the main sleeping deck at the top moving down to the chill-out level with water feature then down to lower and main living space with kitchen.

Aspect from living space up rising to upper levels. All furniture, art and interior products were sourced, designed and made in Wales.

The dining counter was made in Corian along with the kitchen area to the back.


Along the glass stack hallway and to the rear of the main living space on the ground level a therapy bedroom was created with a photographic light box and included an ensuite shower area within a forest of suspended timber logs


The Piccaluga textile factory reinvigorated with Casa Foa bringing it to life

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Portfolio Inside-out

Portfolio Inside-Out presents a snapshot of interior, exhibition and events projects which also include examples of bespoke furniture solutions designed for specific projects.

CASA FOA - BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Project - 'Cartref' Wales contemporary loft apartment showcase 2005
Client - Wales Assembly Government
Designers - Angela Gidden, Jonathan Adams, Lynsey Jackson, Matt Jones

WALES ROCKS SYDNEY - NSW, AUSTRALIA

Project - Wales Rocks Sydney a contemporary showcase of Wales 2003
Client - Wales Assembly Government
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

BBC WALES CANTEEN

Project - BBC Wales Canteen redesign and refurbishnent 2003
Client - BBC
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson working with Roger Witchel Architects


UNION UNDEB

Project - Union Undeb private owners club 2003
Client - Manic Street Preachers & Mean Fiddler Group
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson


THE HOUSE FOR THE FUTURE

Project - The House For The Future
Client - National Museum Wales
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

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