News

Mayesbrook Park students recently found themselves featured in the Financial Times (19.02.22) in an article on Codesign, a collective of architects, teachers and designers who believe young people can make an important contribution to creating the built environment of the future.

The pupils worked with London architects Matt + Fiona to create a space where they could unwind. The result is ‘Bringing Home the Unknown’, a colourful, canopied outdoor seating space, now a permanent fixture in Mayesbrook’s grounds. Through the project, the students learned about model-making, CAD design and woodwork – all skills used in the creative industry.

In addition to the Codesign project, six Year 10 Erkenwald pupils are waiting excitedly to find out if one of their entries will win the Design Future London Challenge, with the winner due to be announced in May. The challenge invited young Londoners aged 11 to 25 to design new green homes and a sustainable urban neighbourhood for the East London’s Royal Docks area where City Hall will move to later this year. Run by the Mayor of London and TV architect George Clarke’s charity MOBIE (Ministry of Building, Innovation and Education), the challenge aims inspire young Londoners to learn about the built environment and exciting job opportunities within the sector (which employs nearly 10% of the UK workforce).

Along with some 250 other young Londoners, the Erkenwald pupils attended the challenge launch last November at the London Build Expo at Olympia. There, they took part in a master-planning crash course and workshops to kick off the challenge, which focuses on key areas central to London’s recovery from Covid-19 – improving air quality, sustainable transport, affordable housing and green energy.

“The students have had some brilliant ideas,” says Sophia Draper, RIBA’s Learning Manager. “I’ve admired how they have worked collaboratively in lessons and with the architects over several weeks to create their masterplans and designs.”