Their Voice
This particular design was for our final major project (FMP) during the final year of university.
The site chosen was The Generator Building located in Finzel's Reach, Bristol.
For my previous project I looked into the global issue of human trafficking and wanted to follow the subject through, resulting in finding a charity to base my designs around. Their Voice is a charity which helps the victims of modern slavery- sexual exploitation in particular- by providing clothes, toiletries and necessities for them. In most cases, the victims who are being benefited by the charity have had children or are pregnant, having been conceived through sexual exploitation.
After months of research I decided it would be incredibly beneficial to design a Gallery, Workplace and Reintegration and Socialisation centre for the the charity, its employees and their users.
Reintegration is a vital step that all victims go through, while it being very difficult to trust others, it can become much easier process when successfully provided.
The gallery space is a way visitors can learn about the pressing issues on human trafficking within and outside of the UK. Donations and spending profits will go to Their Voice to help towards more beneficial items for their users. The workspace is the area for the employees of Their Voice to organise pick up and drop offs of care packages, assemble the care packages and speak to their users.
The Reintegration and Socialisation centre for the victims holds a classroom, computer room, creche, library and lounge area for those visiting.
Concept drawings of human trafficking routes across the world.
Drawing of private entrance area of the ground floor of the Socialisation and Reintegration Centre.
Ground Floor rendered floor plan. I have designed separate entrance areas for the public and one for the users of the centre for safety purposes.
The curved forms resemble the human trafficking routes across the globe.
V-Ray and Photoshop render of private entrance area of the Socialisation and Reintegration Centre.
V-Ray and Photoshop Render of the gallery and events area on the ground floor.
First floor rendered floor plan of the cafe and bar which overlooks the public entrance of the gallery space.
The café and bar area can be used by all users of the site. Certain times of the day, such as evenings the area will be closed to the public for the use of the survivors to have a more private use of the facilities due to their level of reintegration with society.
Their Voice’s workplace is a vital part of the establishment due to being the connection point those who are in need. The workspace is flexible and provides a contemporary style of working.
The care package assembly room is used by members of staff and volunteers. Clothes, toys and other essential items are donated by the public and packages are put together using the charities guidelines such as; Maternity clothing, toiletry set and new born neutral clothing.
Other areas of the workplace for Their Voice are for more sensitive areas of the charity which focus on more confidential information such as moving survivors into rehabilitation facilities and getting new users into the centre.
Keeping the very calming and subtle style throughout is key to the design due to not executing an overpowering space with anything that is too triggering nor intense.
It was important to keep a neutral palette to encourage a
peaceful setting throughout the entire space.
The large windows let in most light that is within the space which means depending on time of day and weather can change ambience of each floor.
Lounge areas are essential in contemporary workspaces and can enforce a positive outlook on the working day, especially when working for a charity that can enforce such an emotional impact on employees.
The fifth floor is an area for the survivors, their children and employees of the centre only.
The space has several spaces which have different boundary levels such as:
Solid partitions, for those who feel they want to be fully covered/protected.
Part Solid Partition, where they can see who is approaching and others can see that someone is in that area.
Mesh Partition – people can open and close on their own personal discretion.
V-Ray render of the open-plan library area and creche.
Rendered section of the Generator Building for Their Voice.