Design My Learning Space Live!

A hub of creativity and the BSEC 2010 (Building Schools Exhibition and Conference)

Students and teachers from 10 BSF schools teamed up with 10 young architecture practices to explore design ideas. The event was organised by Surface to Air in conjunction with EC Harris, Building Magazine and the RIBA Young Practitioners Panel.

Together with six keen students from Hounslow Manor School we explored the school’s ambitious brief focusing on accommodating different learning styles and facilitating communication within the school and with the wider community. Our design looked at:

- adaptable teaching spaces suitable for different group sizes and types of learning, with display opportunities to communicate ideas and project outcomes

- active circulation zones with small-scale learning and break-out spaces

- a generous and centrally located hub and meeting/studying space housing different functions for school and wider community, from e-learning café, event space to everyday study zones

- a welcoming entrance area communicating the school’s ethos and

- external spaces inspiring outdoor learning and socialising and offering a range of creative, healthy living activities for break and lesson time.

The jury highly commended our designs and we enjoyed a bottle of champagne after a fun, hectic, full-on day in the Excel Centre.

The builders call it 'The Crooked House'

The name becomes gradually more obvious as the steelwork proceeds. Once the new dormer is in the crooked house will be properly crooked.

Kilburn climbing frame taking shape

Bold and daring in areas, cozy and hidden in others such as the birdsnest hidden in the yew tree (skeleton visible above): The big climbing structure in the Kilburn Grange Park Adventure Playground is taking shape. The structures are exploring playing in and under trees. The big climbing tree will be craned in next week... See also for weekly updates on flickr.

Kilburn play centre celebrates topping up

Though we seem to have missed the actual ceremony (was there one?), we are very excited to see the new play centre now progressing fast. It was great to enter the fully enclosed building for the first time and seeing all these thoughts built, the space is alive! For weekly updates on the entire site and external views see also the link on flickr.

Cyress Children Centre on site

Works for the Cypress Children Centre have started on site. A new building will wrap around the existing nursery, which will also be comprehensively refurbished. Works are due to complete in August 2010.
The children centre is the first phase of the remodelling of Cypress Infant School, a competition erect architecture won in 2007.

Lambeth playgrounds on site

Construction has begun on several playgrounds in Lambeth as part of the Play Pathfinder programme. Amongst it is a large inclusive waterplay park in Norwood Park which offers creative and co-operative play. The water park will be dominated by a new water storage tower, drawing people from afar.

Ground broken for play centre in Kilburn Grange Park

Ground has been broken for the adventure playground and play centre in Kilburn Grange Park, the old cabins are gone.
We are taking weekly photos of the progress, which can be seen on
www.flickr.com/photos/exploringadventure