What makes a great place to learn?
Against the backdrop of one of the
largest-ever programmes of school
building and refurbishment, we must create opportunities for young people
in particular to learn how they can influence
the quality of the capital’s contemporary architecture for the better.
Learning 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 House
believes this is possible through a unique
model of
experience, exploration and – most importantly –
creative interactive learning.
Open House year-round programmes of seminars, workshops and masterclasses for architects, teachers, governors, local authority officers and councillors and others involved in educational transformation 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 House’s formal learning programmes such as Junior Open House and Open Up enable thousands of students 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 a new school build or refurbishment.
Our new initiative, the Open House Education
Fund,
has been developed to enable those who are – or who
seek to be – involved in educational transformation
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 school clients (from pupils to headteachers and
governors) to developing contacts with contractors,
local authorities and other decision-makers.
Ultimately the Fund will create a catalyst for new
thinking and research that will continue to push the
boundaries of innovation in architecture education.
We would like to thank the founding supporters of the
Open House Education Fund:
• Aedas
• Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
• Allies and Morrison
• Arup
• Balfour Beatty
• BAM Construct UK
• BDP
• Bouygues UK
• Charles Barclay Architects
• Claridge Architects
• Curl la Tourelle Architects
• Cox Bulleid Architects
• DLA Architecture
• Duggan Morris Architects
• Greenhill Jenner Architects
• Kier Education
• The Manser Practice Architects
• Marks Barfield Architects
• Metropolitan Workshop
• MSA
• Nicholas Hare Architects
• Pollard Thomas Edwards (PTEa)
• Shepheard Epstein Hunter Architecture
• Sheppard Robson
• Studio E Architects
• Studio Egret West
• Wilmotte UK Ltd
Vernon
Coaker MP, Minister of
State for Schools and Learners:
“The DCSF supports the work that Open
House 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.”
Design Issues
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The Open House Education Fund Autumn Briefing 2009 is hosted by:
