CHARLSTON BRITTON JR.
BCT Design Group
SAY IT LOUD - MARYLAND Exhibitor
Maryland Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
The continual shift to greater investment in projects and people that center social innovation has been uplifting to watch develop. There are many organizations challenging traditional practices and developing a blueprint for others to follow.
CHARLSTON BRITTON JR.
Bio:
The great designer, Charlston Britton is an architectural designer working in Baltimore. In 2015 he was named as a LSU McNair Scholar and conducted design research on urban resilience and flood shelters. While studying at the WAAC in 2016, he was awarded the Product Making Award in Experimentation for his distinguished process in the exploration of materials and forms. He currently serves as chair of the AIA Baltimore EP Committee and has recently completed their 2021 CivicLAB program.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
A desire for civic engagement initiated my interest in architecture. My experiences as a native during Hurricane Katrina, and the subsequent rebuilding process, fundamentally changed how I saw the built environment and the people that shaped it.
What do you do?
I am an architectural designer for BCT Design Group. My work at BCT primarily consists of commercial projects with some adaptive reuse weaved in.
What excites you in the work you do?
The moments when I have been given the freedom to develop the details of a project. The beauty of design and architecture, to me, can be found in the well crafted arrangement of separate elements and the workmanship it produces.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
The continual shift to greater investment in projects and people that center social innovation has been uplifting to watch develop. There are many organizations challenging traditional practices and developing a blueprint for others to follow.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
During my time working in fabrication, on the Sazerac House in New Orleans, was the most challenging and rewarding experience thus far. It provided me an early glimpse at how impactful working in the built environment can be, no matter your role.
Featured Project Name:
Bloom Stool
Featured Project Location:
Fabricated in Alexandria, VA and currently located in Baltimore, MD.
Featured Project Completion Date:
Spring 2016
Role in Featured Project:
Designer & Fabricator
Featured Project Description:
This stool was designed and fabricated in a product design studio which emphasized the use of irregular material choices. In my precedent studies I was captivated by the autonomy found in utilizing self-rising foam. The design sought to add direction to the foam during the “rising” process to create a seat that needed no modification to improve its usability while capturing the beauty in the somewhat whimsical process. The stool is comprised of aluminum and a two-part polyurethane solution.
