Howard Square - Sheffield is dominated by geometric shapes and patterns; window frames, tiling, paving etc, all of which contribute towards the re-occurring aesthetic. Equally, the site contains a variety of different buildings; mid to late 20th century blocks and towers from the last decade stand in amongst 19th century shops and warehouses, revealing a city that is forever developing yet reluctant to forget its rich industrial heritage. What's more, the site takes a prime position along the `golden route' which serves as a main passage in and out of the city via the train station. In conjunction with the pedestrian traffic from the station, the square is heavily used by students; it is the focal point for Sheffield Hallam University, with surrounding buildings nearby and the union situated right in the centre.

Our kiosk proposal as a shisha smoking facility made us question the smoking ban
laws. This debate came to the forefront of our design process and we put forward
a scheme that blurred the line between legal and illegal, through a series of
strategically placed geometric shapes which created a sense of ambiguity between
outdoor and indoor spaces. Furthermore, we were also able to emphasise this
notion of ambiguity by making some of the move-able; enabling them to be slotted
out of other cubes or dragged up from the ground, thus only providing temporary 
shelter. We were of the opinion that by providing a minimal floor plan and by 
arranging the cubes in a particular way, the authorities would not be able to 
distinguish any major threshold to our kiosk, as it dispersed into and around the
site on Howard Square.

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