Skip to content

Showcase 2024 Student Spotlight: Bethany Fear

Student Spotlight featuring BArch Architecture student, Bethany Fear and her project, 'fabrick academy'.

    Render of a building with people sitting outside and walking in and out of it.

    ‘fabrick academy’ by Bethany Fear

    The Project

    The 'fabrick academy' is a higher educational facility based in the Broadmarsh area of Nottingham, adjacent to the Lace Market, once a rich industrial hub of the city.

    The building design provides a platform, supporting the activity of users, ‘knitting the city’ by offering public and private spaces both internally and externally to live, work and play in.The architectural vision of this scheme allows for individual and collective journeys to reflect upon the impacts of the fashion and textile industry, in spaces which reflect and encourage change; creative and collaborative learning environments.

    Render of a building with a courtyard and people relaxing and walking

    The inspiration behind the project

    The key conceptual inspiration behind the project threads from urban unravelling, fluidity of movement and organic thresholds; all elements that link seamlessly to the fashion and textile industry and can be applied to the design.

    In terms of architectural influences, key precedent studies for the ‘fabrick academy’ include University of the Arts London Collage of Fashion by Allies and Morrison, The Black and White Building by Waugh Thistleton and Tate St Ives extension by Jamie Forbert Architects, all buildings that have a focus on showcasing their materiality, exposing the structure as a canvas for the internal programmes.

    There is an importance in Bethany’s design of the buildings sense of materiality and tactile aspect of the scheme in reference to the fashion and textile industry, both physically in the architecture, with the use of a warm material pallet of reclaimed brick, existing concrete and timber, and metaphorically in terms of the activity and showcasing of the programme.

    Render of an indoor courtyard with people sitting on a table and doing activies

    Being part of NTU

    Being part of NTU not only allowed Bethany to academically flourish, but also to grow as a person in a university and city which is both welcoming and inspiring. Her knowledge and appreciation for the subject of architecture has greatly improved through a good balance of collaborative and self-driven learning, working closely with tutors, peers and friends made on the course.

    Bethany has gained a wide variety of invaluable skills over the three-year (Part 1) course from verbal and visual communication, hand drawing and physical model making to digital software and rendering skills.

    NTU has provided so many exciting opportunities throughout her time studying architecture, from multiple academic study trips including Venice and Bristol, as well as extra-curricular opportunities from Post occupancy evaluation projects with the university’s estates team to being Vice President of the Architecture Society.

    Render of a building with people walking outside of it

    Closing remarks:

    Whilst architecture can be an intense subject to study, it is something which continues to be exciting and allows your creativity to grow. Having a passion for architecture and a desire to learn will mean you get the most out of the course and which is incredibly rewarding.

    Want to find out more?

    Visit the Student Showcase website and follow our Instagram account for more student features.