Queer Spaces

An LU Arts, LU Architecture & Lboro LGBT+ Association project

LU Arts is collaborating with LUArc and the LGBT+ Association to develop a new ‘queer space’ for the University campus.

Each year the Architecture students are asked to develop ideas for a pavilion with one design being selected and built by the students. This year, LU Arts supported the costs of creating a new space that supports or celebrates our LGBT+ Community. During the week of 6 Feb the architecture students undertook co-design workshops where they collaborated with members of the LGBT+ Student Association to help inform their ideas and designs. 

An image showing a snippet of The Democratic Movement by Adam Nathaniel Furman. The inage shows a render pink and blue interior.

We were delighted to be able to begin the week with a presentation from Adam Nathaniel Furman, co- author of the influential publication Queer Spaces, in which they presented their career from a queer perspective, their experience of the British architecture scene’s queerphobia, discussed some examples of historic, contemporary and speculative LGBTQIA+ spaces from around the world as well as discussing architecture’s role in responding to societal change and ensuring that architects consider the space of representation for different communities.

A photograph of Adam Nathaniel Furman talking, they are wearing a bright colourful outfit and scarf, the photograph is taken from the side angle.
Adam Nathaniel Furman presenting to students
A photograph of LU Architecture students listening sat in a lecture theatre
LU Architecture students
A photo showing the artist Adam Nathaniel Furman behind and in front of grey architectural forms. Photo by Laila Pozzo

About the artist

Adam Nathaniel Furman is an artist and designer who trained in architecture, and who works in spatial design and art of all scales from video and prints to large-scale public artworks, architecture, architecturally integrated ornament, as well as products, furniture, interiors, publishing, and academia. 

LU Arc students then went away for inspired for preparatory lectures and consultation periods, before a co-design day began. They gathered ideas, defined the problem set to them by LGBT+ staff and students before beginning exploration and design the next day. Students formed groups and created design proposals and developed proposition, drawings, studies and models of their chosen designs. Fabrication & test of element and connections allowed them to realise if their prototype models were structurally sound, before final digital and model presentations were displayed. 

LuArc students in a workshop
LU Architecture students in a preparatory workshop
LuArc students' drawings and ideas for the queer space project
LU Architecture students' drawings and sketches

Winning Designs

The LGBT+ staff and students associations were invited to choose the winning designs which are to be worked on to produce a final design which will be built by the end of this year at latest.

A rendered image of an architectural colorful structure

Queer Henge

A re-imagining of Stonehenge, the LGBT+ Association chose the Queer Henge project based on its unique structural features, enclosed and private places to rest and colourful overhead panels. 

A 3d rendered image of 'wildeflower' designed by lu architecture students, a wooden structure with rings and flowers.

Wilde Flower

Wanting to include some interactivity into Queer Henge, the LGBT+ Association decided to amalgamate some features of Wilde Flower, the second winning design, a concept stemmed from research into the history of LGBTQ+ symbols and protests. Specifically, features of the outer structure will be interpolated into the design, space for those from the community to display artwork, knitting and embroidery. The name and floral themes stem from forms of silent protest and the playwright Oscar Wilde.