The Building Exploratory works in partnership to deliver a wide range of innovative education and creative engagement projects.
| Engagement Projects | |
 Exploring Adventure |
 Lord Mayors Show |
 Arundel Square |
 Kender Triangle |
| Education Projects | |
|
|
| Click here for the project archive |
|---|
EXPLORING ADVENTURE 2009-2010
Kilburn Grange Park Adventure Playground, Camden
To help realise the best possible design for Kilburn Grange Park Adventure Playground in Camden, the Building Exploratory worked with erect architecture to devise an ambitious engagement and learning programme to involve the local community.
A wide range of participants explored the meaning of adventure, addressing the natural environment, structural principles and the constraints of the site. They responded by making models, signs, temporary structures, pinhole cameras, animations and a series of artworks that are embedded in the playground.
The engagement process culminated in a “Manifesto for Adventure” that will be reproduced in the playground and in a learning resource for play leaders 
and teachers. The resource promotes high quality, meaningful inclusion in the creation of play spaces demonstrating how this aim was met at Kilburn Grange. It reveals the creative processes and that inform the final design and of this inspired project.
Kilburn Grange Park Adventure Playground
City Bridge Trust: Lord Mayor's Show 2009
The Building Exploratory was commissioned by the City Bridge Trust to celebrate its 800 year history. We led pupils from Sebright Primary School in Hackney through a unique process of learning about bridges and the creationof a remarkable model.
On a wet Saturday in November 2009, together with our partners we braved rain storms and gales to take part in the 682nd Lord Mayor’s Show. Our float 
with a scale model of a 100 metre long opening bridge designed by leadingUK designer, Thomas Heatherwick, was a highlight of the parade as it travelled through the City.
The bridge design is an evolution of Heatherwick Studio’s Rolling Bridge at Paddington Basin and has been designed to span a waterway the size of The Thames. The scale model, made from a laser-cut aluminium and timber, consisted of 40 moving segments, which rolled and unrolled dozens of times 
during the Show’s procession.
A truly intergenerational celebration, year six students from Sebright School and the Senior Building Exploratory Explorers accompanied the float on its journey. Wearing themed T-shirts, they performed a routine echoing themovement of the rolling bridge choreographed by the contemporary disability dance organisation Candoco Dance Company.
“Cross-curricular learning is what we strive for at Sebright. Therefore thisproject was fantastic. The children learnt about, then wrote about, designed and had a go at making bridges. They learnt and used many key skills. Thank you all at the Building Exploratory, City Bridge Trust and HeatherwickStudios from Class 3.” Sebright Primary School
WHAT MAKES A SQUARE WONDERFUL 2008-2010
Arundel Square, Islington
The Building Exploratory is supporting Greenspace’s Engagement Strategy for the redevelopment of Arundel Square, a treasured public garden in Islington, in partnership with remapp landscape architects and plattformer. We are delivering a programme of public engagement and learning for local 
people, providing opportunities for them to explore, document and inform the process of improving Arundel Square.
Local residents and school students have created a temporary artwork from plaster casts of found objects to adorn hoardings on the site in advance of the construction phase. Students have produced models, panoramic photos, pinhole cameras and photograms. They will also design and make ceramic 
chess pieces and table tennis paddles, using materials salvaged from the site, to gift to local residents.
The engagement and learning methodologies used in the project will be collated in a community learning pack that will provide a toolkit for those wishing to explore this urban green space and others like it.
KINDNESS IN KENDER 2010
The Redevelopment of Hatcham Gardens, Lewisham
The Building Exploratory has been working with Design for London, New Cross gate Trust and East Architecture to facilitate the creative engagement of local people with the redeveloment of Hatcham Gardens in Lewisham. A widespread programme has sought to support the development of citizens’creative, critical and social skills and to raise aspirations for, and a sense of ownership over, the 
redeveloped Gardens.
The new design for the Gardens has been explored through a programme ofwalks, poetry and storytelling sessions and creative activities. A series of flyers and posters has supported the widespread communication of the changes taking place and provided the project with a strong visual identity.
Local children have contributed to the design and engagement programmedeveloping promotional artwork, signage, an audit of trees and activities for the community to undertake at the opening event.
Inspired by an inscription found on a wooden bench in the Gardens, local people are working with a poet to produce inscriptions for the new furnitureand to encourage kindness in Kender.
A series of promotional postcards to advertise events and changes in the park.
Going For Green 2010
Globe Primary School, Tower Hamlets
The Building Exploratory has been commissioned by A New Direction to design and deliver a creative partnerships project, with an Olympic focus, in collaboration with Globe Primary School in Tower Hamlets. Students and teachers have been working with a wide range of artists including: sculptors, performers and storytellers to learn about the 2012 stadium, the impact of the 2012 Games on their local area, its wildlife, and sustainability.
Using information and ideas collected through meetings with architects andmembers of the Olympic Development Agency, and during visits to the 2012 site and the Emirates stadium, the students have created their own models of a sustainable stadium for 2012.
Their proposals include suggestions for how the legacy can accommodate wildlife and mini beasts and be as green as possible. The end of term will see 
a final celebration where students will present their designs to their fellows and families.
If you would like information about how to get involved with the Building Exploratory’s school projects please contact Janet Clark education@buildingexploratory.org.uk 020 7729 2023
By Design 2010
Tower Hamlets Out of School Hours Learning
Working with Tower Hamlets’ extended schools team, the Attlee Youth and Community Centre and Swanlea School, the Building Exploratory developed a three stage project to engage young people with artists and architects throughout the Easter holiday and summer half term. By Design is an 
innovative extended learning project for students aged 12-15 years. The project explores design processes and develops creative learning skills through hands on investigation of the local built environment.
Artist Karen Logan and architect Alan Thompson work with participants to explore three stages of the design process – drawing, model making and digital drawing – referring to local sites and spaces for inspiration. In all three 
courses the young participants select the buildings and public spaces at the centre of their creative inquiry.
The project offers young people the opportunity learn a range of skills including:
· Spatial awareness and visual literacy
· Collaboration, decision making and communication
· Analytical and critical thinking
· Geographical mapping and urban planning
· Measuring, geometry and scale
· Art and design skills
· Understanding and manipulating materials
· Citizenship and community awareness
“I enjoyed working as a team”
“I learned how to design a tower”
“It was excellent working with a real architect”
