Architecture
"Retold" in the Community
The BSc Architecture Graduate Show of 2024 showcases the exemplary work produced by our students, exploring dynamic proposals for a range of community projects working exclusively in the historic town of Merthyr Tydfil.
The students produced a series of urban design and town centre redevelopment strategies to enable further investigation to develop a suitable design brief to support the needs of the traditional, post-industrial valleys community.
This year’s projects span a wide range of proposals, including a vertical community farm, a health and wellbeing centre through to sporting activities and a theatre. The briefs were developed independently by the students.
The work on display also includes a developed understanding of construction methods, technical appraisal, and practical application to support the students’ progression into the workplace and set them up for a career in architecture.
We at Swansea School of Architecture wish them all the very best in their future endeavours.
Staff Team
BSc(Hons) Architecture
Class of '24
Our Work
Acting as a permanent residence for the stagecoach theatre school in Merthyr Tydfil who currently use local schools during evenings and weekends., this theatre will give local children a place to learn and experience what the performing arts can be. With a mix of spaces for both dance and acting, students are able to perform and showcase what they have learnt in the building’s theatre. This will also be used by local performers such as small bands, drama groups, or even comedians.
As part of a wider masterplan which contains restaurants, bars, and outdoor performance spaces, the theatre school acts as part of a new quarter in Merthyr Tydfil with the aim to add to and enhance the historic town.
The use of local slate on the ground floors act as a base for the contrasting upper floors to sit upon with their white finish. A large amount of landscaping has also been introduced to promote wildlife and create an inviting space for visitors.
A vehicle and technology centre based on the concept of how sponsorship in Merthyr from an electric car or bike business could help create jobs, community, education, leisure, and sustainable solutions.
The design is based on the concept of Sir Clive Sinclair, inventor of the Sinclair C5, whose family business sponsors development in Merthyr. The C5 has recently been redeveloped by his nephew to compete against today’s eBikes, creating the IRIS eTrike.
The design of the Armitage is intended to be part of a pedestrian and cyclist friendly cityscape, so eBikes can be a safe alternative in the near future and reduce carbon emissions.
Facilities include a large exhibition hall, workshops for vehicle manufacturing, a car lift, laboratories, a café, disabled and child friendly facilities, and a Circuit Hall for teaching electronics for all ages.
- Email bwsteward192@gmail.com
Ben Steward Quote
Throughout my time at UWTSD I have really enjoyed the whole experience. The course supports employability, skills development, builds confidence, and prepares you for the work environment.
–Ben Steward
Our Work 2
A new fashion house will be introduced to the heart of Merthyr. It will showcase some of works of Julien McDonald (a strong Merthyr boy); for example, some shiny, glamorous and newer works that he has created through the years. Inside the building, it will include moving shop fronts that can change to showcase any fashion brand held in Merthyr. This will give you a hint as to what the building will provide.
The Fashion Theatre is a place where the community comes together to welcome all. The building will include spaces for younger generations and older generations to study fashion, hang out, and explore a catwalk full of displays of fashion. There will be space for a restaurant to take in the breath-taking views.
Located adjacent to the River Afan, Port Talbot, this project aimed to create a creative arts centre, accessible to all, sprouting new life in the heart of the town. With Port Talbot’s art culture thriving, this project aimed to become a place to host and share the town’s creativity. The colourful bridge, conjoining office space and education space, became the main feature of the project, allowing the colours to change due to layered glazing, depending on the user’s perspective.
The building provides a culturally sensitive and vernacular design, focusing on the steel works in materials used.
This design reformats the horizontal nature of traditional farming and applies it to a vertical building to produce strong extruded floor planes enclosed with a curtain wall system. This idea of transparency aligns with the concept to reveal the aquaponic farming processes to the public, allowing them to see into the building and provide opportunities for education.
The building is designed based on a journey where the water services are used as a guide, bringing the public up through the core with each floor representing a different stage in the process: fishery, seedlings, mature crops, and restaurant.
Drew Dennehy
The course has been incredibly engaging, encouraging strong personal development and becoming something I thoroughly enjoyed throughout my time at UWTSD.
–Drew Dennehy
Our Work 3
A new theatre in the heart of Merthyr’s town centre creates a new home for the musicians, choirs, and performing arts of Merthyr, offering studios for rehearsals, a restaurant, and a café. The principle was to make the building accessible and open to the public.
The building will have a large glass front under an overhang protecting the entrance. Its basic geometry is designed like a bridge. This allows for access around the building and through it, while retaining the functionality of two blocks connected by mezzanines. The rusted steel shell unifies the mass of the building holding the new large public square and aims to reconnect the scattered art communities and form a new social hub for Merthyr.
A new art gallery facility, at the heart of Merthyr Tydfil town. The purpose of the development will be to display the history of Merthyr through historical art pieces and new art pieces by local artists that are unable to be displayed at the local art gallery and museum, Cyfarthfa Park, and castle.
With the ambition to bring in more students from the surrounding towns, the art gallery provides opportunities for local students and members of the public to be able to work closely with local artists and professionals, through either running workshops or classes in large studio spaces. Inside the gallery, there is a permanent gallery and a temporary exhibit that is changed regularly.
The art gallery is designed to showcase three different facades, with each material being chosen for its sustainability and visual appeal, providing a simple but unique design. The building’s main art gallery on the second floor is on a cantilever that extends out seven metres. To support the cantilever there are large lattice beams hidden in the parapet wall on the balcony.
The second floor is stepped back allowing for a large balcony space and has a steep north-facing pitch roof with skylight to allow for the north light to access the studio space at all times of the day.
Bethan Davies Quote
I have developed a wide range of knowledge, software and drawing skills, and I am glad to be a part of UWTSD.
–Bethan Davies
Our Work 4
Introducing the Matchstick Arena, a state-of-the-art sports and wellness centre located in Merthyr Tydfil, designed to honour the legacy of the renowned local boxer, Johnny Owen. Spanning four floors, this innovative facility blends robust functionality with beauty and nature. The Arena features a dynamic range of fitness and therapeutic spaces, including a fully equipped gym, specialised therapy rooms, and tranquil mindfulness pavilions on the rooftop garden.
Emphasising sustainability, the building incorporates energy-efficient technologies, green roofs, and biophilic design elements that foster a deep connection with nature. Timber louvres envelop the structure, enhancing its energy efficiency while offering a natural aesthetic that promotes health and wellbeing. Designed to serve as a community hub, the Matchstick Arena is not just a gym, but a cornerstone for revitalisation, aiming to boost local health, wellness, and economic prosperity.
It’s a testament to sustainable architecture, driving forward a legacy of wellness and community engagement.
