This year 2019-20 studio ‘Subject to Change’ continue their quest to explore, redefine and make radical future proposals, this year questioning – Crisis? What crisis? The future of tourism.
At the start of the year, with the climate crisis then at the fore, as a studio we aimed to explore its potential impact on Brighton’s thriving tourist industry. In semester one, this resulted in each studio member developing a ‘fragment’ along Brighton’s tourist trail that speculated upon and posed possible alternative futures for Brighton’s tourism.

In semester two, these ideas about the future of tourism were extended to the heart of Brighton in the derelict Hippodrome on Middle Street. With numerous former uses, ongoing failed planning applications the Hippodrome remains in its dishevelled glory – a glamorous remnant of past tourism long gone. With it’s uncertain future, students were tasked with giving the Hippodrome a new lease of life through the design of a HQ (head-quarters) that, in response to the climate crisis, either adapted existing forms of tourism, created new activities or mitigated the problems caused or aggravated by changes in the climate and increases in population.

The proposals include: an archive capturing and raising awareness of Brighton’s decay arising from climate change; the future circus venue as an immersive and interactive air cleansing performance space; A.R. hiking to record, rebuild and experience our natural environment; with sea levels rising this Pipline taps into Brighton’s history with its healing water’s and salt spa; the Eco Luxe Hotel uses Brighton fishing industry to take circular economy to a new level; the making of the first circular city Brighton wins City of Culture 2029; the Urban Hiker providing a unique perspective of the city; the South Downs Gin Safari to experience Brighton’s local wildlife with a twist.

Subject to Change main site for the year was Brighton Hippodrome