Martine Hamilton Knight and Builtvision's Latest News...
December 2011
Martine reports an upswing in activity in the final quarter of 2011. Despite her fears that this year's trading would follow the same pattern as 2009 & 2010, the year started reasonably busy, saw a quieter period during the summer, but by mid September it was 'business as usual' in the sense of seeing academic building completions, BUT instead of tailing off towards December, instead she saw the rash of new enquiries, several from architectural practices she's not heard from for several years.
Encouragingly, the diary is now full until the end of February, and some of the projects look really exciting. When asked about this surprising turn of events, Martine suggested that perhaps the commercial world has now decided that it is 'time to get back to business'. We may be seeing planning applications for sites that were previously shelved, and thus, with competitive tendering underway, architects are needing to rejuvenate their folios and to tell clients what they've been up to. Thankfully, it seems that Martine's eye is still in demand, and she's really delighted that Canon are replacing their elderly 1DS series with a new flagship camera- the 1DX, so that she can create some top-notch images for her clients in the coming year.
Happy New Year to one and all, let's hope 2012 sees a return of the tower crane on our city skylines, and busy, happy architects, contractors, structural engineers and building consultants- cheers!
November 2011
Martine has just had her first AJ cover for several years, in the form of the outstanding Maggie's Nottingham by CZWG- and the enigmatic Piers Gough.
This small emerald green tiled structure is on possibly the most challenging site within the City Hospital campus. Entirely surrounded by trees, on a sloping site bounded by a road and two driveways, the tiny plinth gives rise to a cantilevered 'treehouse', reached by a drawbridge to the north. With deep balconies allowing patients to sit at tree canopy level, the bright building cheerily invites daylight and nature in, yet in the summer totally screens itself from the busy hospital surroundings, giving visitors privacy too. With interiors and soft furnishings by Paul Smith, the building oozes style, yet manages to retain warmth and a domestic scale, in spite of the institutional surroundings.
Martine thinks that this project will do extremely well in the RIBA awards in 2012- it's the building to watch out for:)
May 2011
In May Martine was invited as a guest to BDP's celebration of 50 years of Architecture at the RIBA's HQ at Portland Place, London. The event was extremely well attended by the great and known of the architecture world, and most of the editors Martine has worked for over the last 20 years were there too, so it was a good opportunity to catch up with them. The highlight though was being able to spend social time with BDP's staff and directors, many of whom have commissioned Martine to photograph their multi-award winning projects over the last two decades, and a fabulous hard backed book was launched on the night, containing many of her images captured in the course of her time working for them. BDP have made a website called 'Placebook' as part of their celebrations, where people can vote for their favourite BDP building from the half century. Martine nominated Den Bosch Armada housing in Holland as one of her favourites, and a second in St.Peter's Campus at Sunderland University, the Alvar Alto influenced scheme which won many awards between 1994-7.
Well done on reaching 50 BDP, and here's to many, many more!
February 2011
On February 3rd Martine celebrated 21 years in business in conjunction with the East Midlands RIBA and Nottingham Trent University, at a wonderful evening event in the newly refurbished Newton Building. With speeches from RIBA Fify50's author, RIBA and NTU dignitaries plus Martine herself, the evening was a triple celebration of the book, the show, the architecture, and for Martine, a youthful 21 years of capturing all of these elements on camera.
With her speech showing 21 of her favourite buildings, followed by 21st of her favourite images, the pictures needed few words to go with them, just a big thankyou to the hosts, and the men in Martine's life; her father who had given her the financial support through her degree and in starting her business, the well known Nottingham housebuilder and developer Dennis Knight. Gratitude in equal measure went to her husband Paul, whom she'd met as a student, and her son James, who she informed the guests present, might just be the eyes behind a camera interpreting architecture 21 years from now!
For Martine, the kind words from Elizabeth Robertson, RIBA's director of Nations & Regions were the highlight of the event. Elizabeth spoke of the photographs as historical interpretations of the architecture, to be valued as artistic works in their own right, forming a legacy for which Nottingham, and the country as a whole which would look back on in future years as a meaningful and valued eye on late twentieth and early twenty first century architecture.
December 2010
And so another year finishes. What's to say? Well, looking out there- on a year where several companies didn't survive. Thankfully we, and most of our clients have, and with a busy diary of educational completions for RIBA submissions in February, we'll be looking for sunshine in the New Year. At this point it's worth giving a thankyou to Terry Scholey who has now provided weather forecasts for BUILTVISION for 17 years.
Back in September Terry predicted snow in November (news to which, several clients snorted with scepticism!). He was SO RIGHT of course, so please, in the new year, if Martine seems rather cautious about coming out to site, or conversely is chomping at the bit to get on to your building at a specific time, you can pretty much guarantee it's because she's heard about blue sky (or a lack of it) coming your way.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND ALL THE BEST FOR 2011.
November 2010
RIBA Fifty Buildings- 50 Years, has finally been published- priced £29.95
(Cover- The Level Centre- CLASH Architects)
This 165 page book contains 96 photographs by Martine of buildings in the East Midlands from the last 50 years. Written by Dr.Kathleen Watt, with a gazetteer of all buildings that may be visited, it's a timely examination of memorable projects in the region by local, regional and national practices. Martine's favourite inclusions are often the eldest buildings- The School of Engineering by Stirling in Leicester, the Vaughan College and Jewry Wall Museum from 1962, also in Leicester by Trevor Dannatt, and The Hallward Library at The University of Nottingham from 1973 by Harry Faulkner Brown to name but three.
The book is the final part of the RIBA 50/50 project, which Martine has been involved with extensively in 2010, and now continues its tour of the five counties throughout 2011.
August 2010
August 19th saw the launch of the RIBA 50/50 show at Nottingham Contemporary- a cracking event, where local chair of the RIBA steering group Hannah Minton spoke to some 200 guests about the project and its intentions of bringing architecture to a wider audience. Paul Davis, vice president of the RIBA said that he felt that the show highlighted the fact that "there are more architects in the UK than just Norman Foster and Richard Rogers, and promoting the work of less famous people who are doing fantastic work is very important".
Martine was personally thanked for her hard work and contribution- in addition to photographing some of the historic buildings afresh, she sponsored images from her twenty year collection for inclusion, in order to make sure that the overall quality and cohesiveness of the images on display was of the highest calibre.
School of Engineering- Univesity of Leicester, St.Joseph's Church, Leicester and Vaughan College & Jewry Wall Museum- Leicester
Exhibition at Nottingham Contemporary- August 19th 2010
May 2010
We're really delighted that John Christophers has won a RIBA Award for his house in Tindal Street, Birmingham.
Zero Carbon House is the most extraordinary combination of..... well the ordinary- in the form of an average Victorian semi, and the extra-ordinary- zero carbon home for him and his family.
John works for Associated Architects and designed another award winning eco-home called Cobtun in Worcester in 2004, which Martine photographed, and which was published globally as it was built from cob and was highly sustainable. It was a large detached home set above the river in large meadow land- a very different scene from inner city Birmingham where John and his family reside.
Tindall Street's new home benefits from being a double plot- unusual in its own right, and gave John the scope to put a very forward looking, three storey infill next to the older dwelling. Best to read the full story of this house at www.zerocarbonhouse.org where you can read exactly how this building came to realisation.
John will now take this hoouse forward for other awards- and hopes that it may be shortlisted for this year's Manser Medal. Good luck!
December 2009
Martine has been asked by Gwen Cottrell of the RIBA to participate in an exciting project called RIBA 50/50 in 2010.
The project aims to take architecture and design to a wider audience than might normally be expected to show an interest in the built environment. By showcasing the best of the East Midlands' buildings from the last 50 years, there will be an exhibition and accompanying gazetteer publication. Plans include touring the show to art galleries, shopping centres and agricultural shows in the region, so that a high number of individuals can browse and learn about the work of the RIBA and the design of some of our best loved, and sometimes more unusual buildings.
Houses are likely to be excluded from the selection, as for obvious reasons, owners won't want the public turning up with regularity after the show goes on tour, but instead it will showcase educational & arts buildings, commercial, industrial and healthcare. Martine will photograph several buildings where it hasn't been possible to trace existing high quality images, and in addition, she's offered to co-sponsor the project by providing some golden-greats from the BUILTVISION archive.
August 2009
Two of Builtvision's clients have had buildings shortlisted for this year's RIBA EM Awards for Architecture. They are Clash Associates for their Level Centre in Rowsley , Derbyshire, and Evans Vettori for a private house in Matlock which Martine shot in the snow in February this year. (see pics).
This family home is on a steep hillside plot with far reaching views that simply didn't maximize on the stunning outlook. Evans Vettori have made a big sun deck and a fully glazed lounge which picks up the west light to great effect. Martine had fun lighting and styling the interiors with the occupant's young daughter and new kitten, and even more fun sliding around outside in the crisp snow under big blue skies. Perfect! Hope you win Robert!
June 2009
Martine has been asked to be a judge for this year's Nottingham Creative Business Awards. As you will recall, she won the title for 'Photography 2008' last autumn, which was presented at a glittering night at Nottingham's beautiful Council House in the Market Square. The deadline for this year's awards is July 31st 2009 and there is a category for ARCHITECTURE which we encourage our local clients to consider entering.
See www.creativeawards.biz for more details and entry requirements.
May 2009
The RIBA has just announced winners of this years national awards. Of the 16 that Martine was involved in judging, most were decided to be of a high enough calibre to be awarded as follows -
| North East | Cardinal Hume Catholic School | GWK Architects |
| North East | Gateshead Heritage at St Mary's | Design Service, Gateshead Council |
| North East | Kielder Observatory | Charles Barclay Architects |
| North East | The Place | Reid Jubb Brown Architecture |
| North East | Saltholme Wildlife Reserve & Discovery Park | JDDK Ltd |
| North East | The Tyneside Cinema | Fletcher Priest Architects |
| North East | Work Space | Malcolm Fraser Architects Ltd |
| Yorkshire | 1 North Bank | BDP |
| Yorkshire | Castle Hill Hospital | HLM Architects |
| Yorkshire | Castleford Bridge | McDowell & Benedetti |
| Yorkshire | Charles Street Car Park, Sheffield | Allies and Morrison |
| Yorkshire | York St John University, De Grey Court | Rivington Street Studio |
for more details click here
April 2009
Martine has just returned from three back to back days judging this years national RIBA Award entries. Alongside fellow judges Alastair Lansley MBE (architect of St.Pancras's grand restoration), Peter Cartwright (Cartwright Pickard) and Dolan Conway (North East RIBA Chair), the team travelled some 700 miles and visited 16 shortlisted schemes. Martine declared the experience to be one of the best of her 19 years in business- "it simply was the most amazing road trip I've ever been on!" she declared after returning from Newcastle on 9th April. (see pics)
Martine with the Yorkshire panel and the North East judging panel fro the 2009 RIBA awards
March 2009
Martine went up to Leeds on March 10th to assist with the short listing of the 2009 RIBA award submissions. As lay member for two regions, Yorkshire and the North East, submitted buildings varied in location from one just over the county line north from Nottinghamshire, all the way up to the Scottish border in Berwick on Tweed. Entries were judged through submission of their drawings, verbal descriptions, and of course photographs. from this, the team were immediately able to assess which, in their view merited a site visit, and those which simply did not meet a sufficient standard for inclusion on the shortlist. It was a a fascinating exercise, and a strong field in this 2008/9 year- a period which has seen hundreds of millions of pounds spent on architecture in both regions. Proper judging takes place in April, with winners announced mid may. The Stirling Prize is in October and takes place at Spitalfields this year with a live broadcast on Channel Four as usual.
January 2009
Tony Chapman, head of the RIBA awards scheme has phoned Martine to ask if she will be lay assessor for two regions in this years programme. Excited? Honoured to be asked? You bet... Martine is delighted to have the opportunity to look at quality architecture for once without having to worry about how on earth to photograph it!!!
November 2008
Martine is one of the key speakers at this year's national SCALA conference which is being held in the county this year, and is speaking to up to 300 local authority architects about her work. Other key speakers include Adam Caruso from Caruso St.John, architects of the new gallery www.nottinghamcontemporary.org and Neil Porter from the award winning Gustafson Porter, landscape architects for the Old Market Square in Nottingham.
Old Market Square, Nottingham by Gustafson Porter
October 2008
Martine won 'THE NOTTINGHAM CREATIVE BUSINESS AWARDS 2008 - PHOTOGRAPHY' for her images of 'River Crescent', a luxury residential development in the city. This latest accolade for her work is one treasured by Martine, as even though her photographs are feted nationally, most of all, she prefers working locally and making images of her home city. The night was held at The Council House and included a dinner for some 250 guests plus entertainment from previous creative industry winners for the evening.
