The 3rd Floor is an interesting and intimidating place. The moment you walk in it’s like you hit a barrier of silence. The pressure of silence by the people who are already there then passes to you, where you inadvertently pass it on to the next person you see. The pink signs of “SILENT STUDY” act as enforcers to the atmosphere of silence. The people on the 3rd floor are very self-conscious as they move. Mainly because there is no talking, everyone picks up on the tiniest bit of noise. The slightest noise jolts everyone as they look in the direction of the source of the noise, then look at each other in a weird sense of recognition, a single act of unification. The architecture is a blend of the original warehouse and modern refurbishments. The skylights make the room bright and open, whilst the small brick windows create a feeling of entrapment. The lights that the floor uses are pretty, but rather redundant during the day. Looking up it’s clear just how much stuff they have put on the wooden beams: speakers, lights, fire exit signs, security camera’s etc. I doubt many people actually look up in the building. The view out of the windows from where I’m sat, I can just make out the castle, the Odeon & the block of flats. but the windows are too small and I am too far way to actually see anything properly.
Paul Chappel
