Visualising Old College

This proposal represents an exciting opportunity for students to participate in a live curatorial project within Old College, which aims to critically review its capacity to showcase alternative histories.* Through engaging with archival documentation, built fabric and heritage collections, students will survey and create a useful 3D model of key spaces within the building. The model, both in its final form and in the key observations, materials and questions that it raises, will facilitate decision making and the reconceptualisation of the spaces involved. The resultant model will become the testbed and operational stage on which future narratives and ideas for non-invasive installations can be played out to scale and in context.

The project builds on existing and ongoing pedagogies at the School of Architecture which aim to engage with the university estate and heritage collections in innovative, meaningful, and mutually beneficial ways. The benefit of this developing relationship extends beyond the remit of the project itself, opening further possibilities for pedagogical and professional collaborations which will be of benefit to the university and future students alike.

For this call, two undergraduate students are invited to apply to work alongside a select postgraduate student, a member of staff and a curator in a reciprocal, supportive and clearly defined team. The resultant experience, insights and output (in model, portfolio and report form) will provide students with professional and interpersonal experience of working within a collaborative team and staff with rigorous, robust and detailed information on which to propose future change.

*More information: https://library.ed.ac.uk/heritage-collections/old-college-artwork

Aims and Objectives:

The outputs to be produced by the successful student applicants were:

- To undertake an architectural survey of the spaces.
- To generate usable scaled digital models that allow the Old College Project Curator to visualise new displays and changes to the spaces.
- To review, digitise and incorporate, as appropriate, archival plans and drawings in the University’s Heritage Collections to build context for current details in the building.
- To identify elements of these spaces where non-invasive interventions may be possible. This work may assist or develop into the design displays (i.e. wall hangings, display cabinets, temporary walls and other armatures).
- To generate a portfolio of information including 2D drawings, project notes, reference images and associated materials that would inform the review of the spaces being undertaken by the Old College Project Curator.