Design for education

Education workshopLearning about architecture can open up new ways of expressing ideas, reinvigorate perceptions of the world around us, and deepen an understanding of the individual’s role and responsibility in wider society. To break down the social and cultural barriers that prevent people from becoming involved in the shaping of their environment, we must enable them to engage effectively with design ideas. Open-City believes this is possible through a unique model of experience, exploration and – most importantly – creative interactive learning.

Open-City's year-round programmes of seminars, workshops and masterclasses for architects, teachers, governors, local authority officers and councillors develop participants’ ability to evaluate and argue for design quality. Our network across the property, planning and policy-making worlds also enables them to share new ideas and exchange knowledge with their peers.

Open-City’s formal learning programmes such as Architecture in Schools enable thousands of young people - the clients of the future - across the capital to interact with spaces and professionals that they might never have previously encountered, involves and respects their views as potential clients, and in so doing enables them to develop a sense of value and ownership of their environment. Our model of stakeholder engagement generates new thinking that can add great value to the process of planning and designing for all building types, not just schools. Through our Architecture in Schools programme we are also undertaking research into schools and groups that may be looking to commission designers and contractors.

The Open-City Education Fund enables built environment professionals to draw on this expertise in engagement and action research. It offers opportunities for staff at all levels to build their skills: from learning how to best engage with non-professionals - young people, teachers, councillors, among others - to developing contacts with those commissioning new build and refurbishment.

If you would like more information or to join the Open-City Education Fund, please contact Sarah Yates, Special Programmes Manager, on 020 7380 0412 or via email.

We would like to thank the supporters of the Open-City Education Fund:
• Aedas
• Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
• Allies and Morrison
• Arup
• Balfour Beatty
• BAM Construct UK
• BDP
• Bouygues UK
• Bovis Lend Lease
• Buro Happold
• Charles Barclay Architects
• Claridge Architects
• Curl la Tourelle Architects
• Cox Bulleid Architects
• DLA Architecture
• Duggan Morris Architects
• Elliott Wood Partnership
• Gardiner & Theobald LLP
• Greenhill Jenner Architects
• Gumuchdjian Architects
• HKS Architects
• Jenkins + Potter
• Kier Education
• Make
• The Manser Practice Architects
• Marks Barfield Architects
• Max Fordham Consulting Engineers
• Metropolitan Workshop
• C. F. Moller Architects
• MSA
• Nicholas Hare Architects
• Pollard Thomas Edwards (PTEa)
• Price & Myers
• Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
• Shepheard Epstein Hunter Architecture
• Sheppard Robson
• Studio E Architects
• Studio Egret West
• van Heyningen & Haward Architects
• Wilmotte UK Ltd

Vernon Coaker MP, former Minister of State for Schools and Learners:
“The DCSF supports the work that Open-City is doing in raising awareness of the
importance of good design through its events
and through the publication of the ‘Learning by Design’ resources showcasing recently completed schools and early years facilities. We welcome its engagement with schools
through the Junior Open House week, and wish
the organisation every success in the future.”

 

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