Architecture in Schools – Latest
Architecture in Schools is an annual creative learning programme for primary school pupils that aims to inspire the next generation of city-shapers and for participants to understand how architecture informs the world around us. The programme is delivered by Open City in partnership with Canary Wharf Group.
Each year pupils across London respond to a design brief set by Open City and submit a portfolio of drawings and design ideas for an inter-school competition. Pupils also submit an architectural model showcasing their ideas. Submissions are judged by industry experts and prizes are awarded.
Alderwood Primary School has been awarded ‘Top Three’ in this year’s competition. For their project pupils decided to re-imagine Avery Hill Park which is very close to Alderwood Primary School. The University is moving away from the site resulting in a large-scale redevelopment of the area.
After deciding on their project site, pupils created aerial views and elevation sketches of their site and then worked on drawing plan and elevation views of the buildings they would like to design for Avery Hill Park. Buildings included a music centre, a mindfulness centre, a water park, a theme park, and a treetop hotel.
Pupils then considered the viewpoints of potential different users and used their discussions to write a pitch for their building design to each stakeholder.
Pupils completed their project by experimenting with a range of different materials to make incredible models of the buildings that would go on their redeveloped shared neighbourhood.
Professional model making company, AMODELS, have transformed this year’s winning designs into incredible models that pupils will get to keep after the summer holidays.
Elliott Wood produced the engineering drawings for the top three models designed by Reay Primary School, Stratham Wells Primary School and Alderwood Primary School. The models are up at Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf for the summer holiday and are definitely worth a visit.
www. open-city.org.uk/learning/architecture-in-schools/