James Curtis's Schools

• University College London , Class of 2006 DO in Architecture Architecture has always to be considered as durational, it can be diurnal and seasonal and a whole gamut of other temporal calibrations can and should be applied to it. James Curtis, has taken inspiration from Louis Aragon’s book Paris Peasant (1926). After an evenings drinking, Aragon passes by the cane shop in one of Paris’ arcades, he describes his visions of floating canes and sirens. Curtis and created an ecology of robotic devices that are dormant during the day and active during the night. They occupy a butcher’s shop in London’s Islington district and other locations to do with butchery throughout London. At night they act out the Greek myths using butchers shop fronts as proscenium arches through which they can perform to their public. This project whilst polemic, does illustrate that the contemporary architectural condition in relation to virtuality and digital space asks architects to question the old divide and established demarcations between performative arts (set design, theatre generally, narrative, etc) and architecture. The hybridisation of such forms of cultural output is fecund with possibility.

• Oxford Brookes , Class of 2003 Bachelors in Architecture Studied in the school at the time when it was number one amongst UK registered RIBA schools. Awards one every year for the 3 year course for best student of the year. i won the Leslie Jones Prize for Best Performance in 2002 along with Best portfolio during the same year. In 2003 i was awarded the Les Townsend award for best environmental strategy, for my research work on a catfish farm in the Lea River, East London – now the chosen sight for the Olympics. I was then put forward by my school as a nomination for the RIBA bronze medal in 2003 – the highest accolade achievable during degree classification throughout the world.

• Gloscat , Class of 2000 Bachelors in Design Before i embarked into the world of architecture I assumed the position that in order to fully understand the complexities of the possible situations that i may encounter I should have a grounding of knowledge. The course was grass roots, covering a wide area of topics from project management, contract law, building detailing, structural logics and appraisals. The mix of trades was interesting with my colleagues coming from various backgrounds which did nothing but heighten the knowledge base available for discussion.

• churchdown , Class of 1998

James Curtis's Publications

• Digital Architecture Now: A Global Survey of Emerging Talent October, 2008 University College London Presenting the hottest architectural visionaries from around the world, Digital Architecture Now celebrates the conceptual architects who are pushing digital design and software to their limits. In his introduction and concluding essay, Neil Spiller places this contemporary work in the context of recent developments and considers the future direction of digital architecture. The heart of the book features architectsâ best projects, presented in vivid, colourful and breathtaking detail through texts, plans and renderings that challenge our assumptions about 3-D space and redefine the future of architecture.

• The Lea Fishery, Architects Journal 2004 July, 2009 James Curtis designed the Lea Fishery as a third-year project at Oxford Brookes University, under the supervision of Simon Herron and Susanne Isa.Described as ‘a move towards an almost forgotten future’, it addresses the fact that, as the human population of the Lea Valley increases, the fish population depletes, its disappearance being barely visible.Mundane modellings of suburban structures are put in place for humans, while fishermen observe shoal locations.

• Copper Design Awards 12 September, 2005

• The Bartlett Avatars, MEATY MYTHIC PERFORMANCE October, 2006

• Caravan of the future competition, Case Van July, 2009

• UCL news, Mind-blowing inventions from a mysterious architecture lab March, 2008

• The B&Q Challenge, Big Sheds July, 2005

• Presidents Medals, The Lea Fishery August, 2003

• Lecture at LSE, Architects of Private Equity, London, United Kingdom July, 2007

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