School children collaborate with experts on ground-breaking architecture project
Thursday November 26, 2009
The borough's future Christopher Wrens and Frank Lloyd Wrights were asked to share their ideas for the future design of their schools.
Children from schools across the borough got together with architects, planners and urban design experts on Wednesday 25 November at Fulham Palace.
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The event had a double purpose - to give pupils the chance to contribute ideas for the redesign of their school buildings and for them to learn about the world of architecture and building design.
If the borough's £175 million school rebuilding programme gets government approval, all the borough's secondary schools will be getting a once-in-a-lifetime site redesign. Ideas generated at the Fulham Palace event could help shape these plans over the months and years ahead.
The event is partly a consultation to help the experts understand what children want and need from the buildings they spend so much of their time in, but it is also a huge opportunity for children to learn about the design and planning of building projects.
Students worked with the professionals to draw up plans and designs which are now on display outside Hammersmith Town Hall.
Nada Bashir, age 13 from Fulham Cross Girls School said: "We decided to create a modern building that complements the old building by having it wrapped around it. We've designed a long wave shape almost like a ying-yang attached to the garden. We also wanted to create a theatre so that it's a school for students, teachers and the community."
Victoria Gallagher age 15 from Lady Margaret school said: "Our new sixth form gives us the chance to design a new interior. We wanted it to have different features, so we came up with this snake idea, with a round space for class discussion and pods on the outside. We had chairs hanging from the ceiling, and gave it a nightclub feel, designing a space that's different and more fun to learn in."
Architect Hans Haenlien, said working with school pupils was a very interesting experience: "We weren't quite sure what was going to happen. They were very interested in the human aspect of the building. They valued their existing Victorian building but wanted more innovation. I think it's ended in a very dramatic and exciting building. As architects we believe we need to work collaboratively, not just clients, but with the community. Today has changed the view of many people on bringing the school into a much more positive relationship with the community."
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