Big Noise Yard Build
The Big Noise Yard Build was a project that utilised Building Together CIC as the umbrella for a group of architecture students In The Making who wanted to facilitate a Live Build and series of workshops with a local charity, Big Noise in Govanhill in Glasgow. They approached Building Together CIC for help in running such a project and providing the knowledge, expertise and H&S required. The design hadn’t been fully developed by the starting day, so we ran with a previously tried and tested panel system we had implemented in another of Building Together’s projects The Sitooterie.
The project was a great success involving a handful of enthusiastic and hands-on teenagers from Big Noise. The workshops coordinated by In The Making involved the teenagers to the full extent and they managed to build and finalise the project within the time frame, completely transforming their un-used back yard into a place for the kids to enjoy some fresh air, and socialise outside.
Involvement
I helped the students with the gaps in their knowledge and experience of setting up and running such a project. In turn providing them with various roles so as a team we could deliver the project on time and on budget.
I provided the design sign-off, structural support, budget management and overall mentoring for them to feel comfortable in delivering this kind of project.
I also provided tools, knowledge and training in how to build the structure and solutions for design and structure to implement with unskilled labour. I think the project was a success and the students left feeling a lot more confident in running a similar project in future.
Gallery
The Process
We used recycled scaffold boards from Glasgow Wood for the majority of the frame, with some Scottish larch for the sole and wall plates. We utilised a workshop day to ‘decorate’ buckets so that when we poured concrete in for our bucket foundations it would create interesting patterns. We finished the space off with some bark underfoot to give a more enjoyable feeling and ambience to the space.
