ABC Radio National - Earshot Program

For over 2.5 years Helene Thomas has been creating this 30-min podcast for Radio National about Ross, the Chameleon Architect. 

Helene's slow-journalist approach has led her to research, interview and even travel to East Africa to create this enriching story about Ross. It's such a good reminder to dedicate ourselves to doing the things we enjoy.

Thanks so much Helene, it has been both rewarding and healing working with you on this project.

Listen on Helene’s page HERE  

or Radio National Listen HERE.

Architectural-Review

Will Boase has written a truly touching article about the process and design of The Ross Langdon Health Education Centre, a building designed by Ross and completed by Studio FH (detailing & construction). 

Have a read here:

"Building on Legacy - A health education centre in Uganda, begun by Ross Langdon before his untimely death, melds with the landscape and moderates the effects of the equatorial climate"

Or in the Published 2017 May edition of The Architectural Review. 

"He [Ross] imagined buildings that breathed, that didn't just house but actively supported the inhabitants by mitigating some of the extremes of the equatorial climate. While most public infrastructure is built to government blueprints primarily focused on cost and durability, Langdon championed the application of tropical design principles, examining the fundamental design to better tailor the structure to the environment in which it is located, in order to improve building function and the user experience." (Boase, 2017) 

COF Outreach Village Schools

Ross' presence is missed by so many family, friends and colleagues. It is deeply touching to know his ideas and designs continue to be valued as part of his legacy. 

Among the 18 projects Ross had on the go at the time of his death 3.5 years ago, was the Cotton On Foundation Outreach Village School programme. Together they had just embarked on the initial design development, with the aim to create "a total of 20,000 new educational places for primary and secondary school children in Southern Uganda by the year 2020" (Holland, 2017). An idea close to Ross' interest and direction in Uganda.

We are thankful Felix Holland at Studio FH Architects was engaged to continue the project with COF after Ross' death. They worked from one of Ross' initial sketches of a typical classroom as a basis for the design development, see below.

Felix discusses the project (which now has three completed schools, five under construction, and a further 20 or so to follow in the next three years) in detail on his site here.

Will Boase, a talented photographer who Ross had worked with, has captured Nabbunga school below. © Will Boase Photography

Yacht Club Sketches

Recently we were looking through some of Ross' folders filled with sketches and discovered these beautifully hand drawn designs for the Dar es Salaam Yacht Club. This was a project Ross had really been enjoying; he was sending us lots of beach photos! 

We don't know a lot about the project, except that Ross and his collaborator Llatzer Planas had entered their competition proposal for the renewal of the whole DYC site and won. The building had to be built and completed without Ross, but the sketches provide a feeling for the direction he would have taken it.

Earlier this year, Anoek De Smet (a friend of Ross & Elif's), visited the now almost completed Dar es Salaam Yacht Club. Anoek has published an article in Anza Magazine "Sculptor of Shelter Shaped from the Earth into the Landscape" detailing Ross' design stages. She has shared some images with us that photographer Nicholas Calvin and Anoek took during their visit. Thanks so much Anoek.

Highlighted on Designboom

An excellent detailed article on designboom about the Ross Langdon Health Education Centre. Thanks designboom.

Project of the Day: Thank-you Architizer for featuring the Ross Langdon Health Education Centre as your Project of the Day. 

Liter of Light: A great article touching on the use of recycled bottles to help create light in the Ross Langdon Health Education Centre. Thanks Inhabitat.

Featured on archdaily

The Ross Langdon Health Education Centre is currently being featured on archdaily.com.

You can see more images, design details, sections & elevations in the article here.