Micah T Jones

 

Having grown up in a family of artists and designers, creativity was the norm from an early age and I was encouraged to explore and discover. From this environment I turn toward the technical and I began my further education in Belfast institute of further and higher education [BIFHE], where I studied engineering developing skills in mechanical engineering and CAD. Here I learned to work with tight boundaries and technical skills.

 

I continued my education then in the Art College in Belfast [ University of Ulster] where I studied Architecture, working with great freedom and energy, I rediscovered the Artistic processes and expression I had grown up with. Working with my hands and developing, trying, exploring, and testing ideas, I discovered that Architecture was the perfect mix of exploration and physicality for me. Through the course of my degree I have become increasingly interested in housing, and I have been exploring ideas within this area in my writings.

 

I am very interested in minimal/compact living and the temporary. Having grown up with plenty of space, physical explorations of this have been a constant throughout my life with great interest in allotment buildings ands and shack type sheds I had many trails of my own. These ideas of temporary and minimal as well as concepts of ‘home’ became the centre of my dissertation writings.

 

While studying at university I worked part time for Gary Harpur, an architect from Northern Ireland where I learn a variety of skills such as AutoCAD, Drawing skills, Photoshop and office practice as well as other skills such as presentation skills and competition work. Here I gain a lot of skills which helped me through university.

 

The processes through which architecture schools are run and the learning process, gave great confidence to me and breathed life into my work as I progressed through the course, enjoying every moment. I have become increasingly interested in housing and the ‘Home’ and how that works socially and spiritually in our lives, in terms of lifestyle, and well being. Since graduating from university I worked in Antrim, a town north of Belfast where I was employed for 6 months.

 

In this practice I have was given responsibility and a diverse allocation of projects, from complete one off new builds to apartments. Working with the various processes which are in place such as planning, where I have be responsible for the application and working with the clients directly.

 

I have been working in the Netherlands in a large practice situated in Amsterdam for the first six months of 2008. This involved working on large scale projects with various responsibilities. It was a great experience and very good time of developement. Currently I am based in Belfast and am working for Twenty two over seven.