“Accidental irregularities: Architectural interventions as a Picturesque Landscape”

Teodora's final design project explores the concept of "accidental irregularity," a principle of the English Picturesque movement that emerged in the mid-18th century. Rejecting symmetry and perfect proportions, the Picturesque celebrated individuality, rusticity, and scenic pleasure through irregularity. This project reimagines the historic Old Town of Hastings through the lens of these principles, creating a series of architectural interventions for Knot Works, an artist-led creative organisation. The interventions include diverse facilities such as life drawing studios, solitary retreats, and a small library. These small, idiosyncratic structures are scattered across the town, fostering discovery and interaction. At the heart of the project is a larger building that gathers these smaller elements into a collective space, serving as a hub for exhibitions, events, and gatherings. Visual connections and pedestrian pathways link the interventions, encouraging visitors to explore the town's streets, with experiences ranging from open, expansive spaces to intimate, enclosed settings. Designed to accommodate both solitude and collaboration (e.g., a painter and their subject), the project prioritises adaptability, community integration, and the enhancement of Hastings’ cultural vibrancy. The Building of Accidental Irregularity seeks to enrich a town that, while facing economic decline, has seen renewed interest due to its coastal charm and thriving arts scene.