Put Letchworth on the 3D Map!

We had our second Wednesday evening session, thanks to Chris Jackson and North Herts. College. Chris showed us a stunning new 3D model he has made of the complex Spirella Building (SG6 4ET). That’s in progress since the Google StreetView images only show the front and limited views of the sides; he will need to take photos of the rear elevations to finish the model. We practiced on the west sides of the Arena shopping block (SG6 3BX), across the Broadway from the Goldsmith Centre. John Webb started to make a model of the Fenner’s Building on Openshaw Way (SG6 3ER), with essential help from Chris!

We can make a dire economic situation a lot worse by negative thinking and actions. Instead, this Competition project points to enterprises and initiatives that can build a future of local, creative employment. These include design companies, new training courses and showcases of digital modelling in support of a huge range of industries.

Letchworth is portrayed in historical terms as the First Garden City rather than as a social experiment that has to earn its keep in each generation. Its iconic status in urban design studies has little measurable effect on the local economy; other factors such as proximity to London for commuters are at least as important.

It’s sensible for each place to start from whatever advantages it possesses. The reputation for urban design, though overtaken in environmental terms, provides a starting point for taking stock of new industries and learning opportunities so as to publicise them and to attract and start up more initiatives like them.

Congratulations to North hertfordshire College for setting up two vocational schools for late-teens in this area. Each is called a Da Vinci Studio School:

• Da Vinci Studio School for Science and Engineering in Stevenage here
• Da Vinci Studio School for Creative Enterprise in Letchworth Garden City here

We wish both initiatives every success, especially as they are for young people seeking career opportunities with local, highly skilled businesses.

Another building has popped up, this time by our co-tutor Richard of Hitchin Racing Circuit. It shows the shop-fronted building occupied by North Hertfordshire Homes at 43 Station Road, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3BQ. You can look it up in 3D Warehouse here or in Google Earth.

Please use this to attract entrants to the training sessions and the Competition!

P.S. files updated on 23 July:

poster (A4) – mini-poster (A5 x 2) – flyer (A6 x 4)

At the training sessions, we either sculpt a simple dwelling from scratch or work up a model of an actual building, depending on the wishes and experience if any of those taking part. These two buildings have been started:

1. The Broadway Cinema, Eastcheap, SG6 3DD.
2. The Spirella Building, Bridge Road, SG6 4ET. brochure

These have complex shapes that will require a lot of work, though our tutor Chris Jackson has already has the Broadway Cinema under way. Some participants intend to model their own houses. Others may with to model public or otherwise notable buildings. If you intend to submit a model for the Competition, or for Google Earth, please pick one and declare your interest in it to us so that other entrants can make other choices if they wish. Here are a few obvious candidates for buildings you might try for: (see a map for some of these, a trail or tour and street plan)

Buildings fronting onto Broadway Gardens, other than the Goldsmith Centre and the former Town Hall (since they’re already in Google Earth): 3. The Library, 4. The Museum and Art Gallery (though closing soon), 5. St Hugh of Lincoln church, 6. the Nexus Building brochure, 7. St Michael’s church, 8. the former Grammar School and 9. the Plinston Hall.

Buildings in and around Howard Park: 10. Howard Hall, 11. First Garden City Heritage Museum and 12. the Free Church.

Various buildings: 13. The Settlement,  14. The Cloisters, 15. Howgills, 19. North Herts. Leisure Centre, 17. Broadway Hotel, 18. Letchworth Hall Hotel, 19. Meadow Way Green, 20. Fenner’s Building by The Wynd, 20a. Morrison’s supermarket.

Other structures: 21. The railway station, 22. the Outdoor Pool (lido) and it buildings, 23, the UK’s first roundabout, …

Residential areas: dwellings/appartment blocks, public buildings and spaces in 24. Broadway, 25. the Grange estate, 26. Highbury, 27. Highover and Campfield pre-fabs, 28. the Jackmans estate, 29. Jackman’s Place, 30. the Lordship estate, 31. Norton village, 32. Paddock Close, 33. the Sollershotts, 34. Westbury estate, 35. the Willbury estate, 36. Willian village, …

Town Centre: frontages and street scenes of 37. Eastcheap, 38. Garden Square, 39. Gernon Road, 40. Leys Avenue, 41. Station Road (including The People’s House), 42. The Wynd, …

Commercial and industrial premises: (as listed e.g. here and here; images here) Recent, historical or otherwise notable buildings/complexes such as 43. the Altro factory, 44. the Autoglym factory, 45. the Ogle complex, …

“End of the road for paper maps?” – a video with sound, 2 mins. 44 secs.: here

We have just heard that three sessions of SketchUp training are confirmed for Wednesdays from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at North Herts. College as follows:

• 18th July
• 1st August
• 22nd August

Our tutor is Chris Jackson of Siegeworks and our host is North Hertfordshire College.

We thank Chris for doing this as a volunteers and the College for use of the excellent facilities.

The venue is the IT suite, 2nd Floor, Goldsmith Centre, Broadway, SG6 3GB.

We will cater for all levels of ability. Please let us know if you wish to attend.

P.S. on 18th July: We held the first session of the series at short notice without printed publicity. A small group of four, each with some exposure to 3D design, made fast progress to the point of being able to practice at home – or to meet up for self-guided sessions.

Several people have asked us where to gain skill and increase confidence in using personal computers. We have recommended the Library for free starter training. There is also a dedicated service HCS in Letchworth that runs LearnDirect IT courses. here

We are exploring the idea of holding  a small, informal event in the finale of the 3D Competition:

3D Innovations, a Symposium of applied research in 3D technologies on Friday 16 Nov. 2012 at The Community Hub, 43 Station Road, Letchworth, SG6 3WA
(capacity 10 – 20 participants; large screen)

Queries:

1. Is there an academic/industry research group that might find this suitable?
   (across 3D animation, visualisation and/or surface geo-modelling)
2. How to attract postgraduate and early-career academics/industry prototypers, with say 5 presenters + poster/demo. sessions?
3. Which generic or startling topics for a brief paper+chat would be demonstrable in that context & timescale?

Alternative comments, suggestions and offers will be welcome!