6 July 2023
Aspiring architect Megan A, Year 10, has gained valuable skills and knowledge that will stand her in very good stead for her future career plans, having just graduated from the (Un)Building: Design, Space and City-Making programme run by The London School of Architecture and the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Megan dedicated 20 Saturday afternoons to the course, from early January to the end of May, and her hard work, creativity and skill has resulted in a lasting legacy, as she explains below.
Megan A, Year 10
Attending the (Un)Building: Design, Space and City-Making course has offered me foundational climate literacy and immersed me in the practice of spatial design and city making. I was lucky enough to meet a wide range of leading experts in this field, and the course has encouraged me to explore and develop relevant and resilience forms of space making.
We were challenged to design an urban installation that would respond to its context and the needs of those who will use it. I did some research among the local community to find out what they would like to see. Based on this, I created and pitched my proposal of a reading room for a community garden, where people could select a book from the shelves or admire the garden from within. I was delighted that my design was chosen for construction. It was built over a two week period and currently stands proudly in the Hoxton Trust Community Garden in London.
I really enjoyed the programme, which gave me a wider view of how architecture works, how to consider environmental factors, people's opinions and teamwork. Before the course, I believed architecture was mostly about cement building, perfectionism and beautiful finishes. But I now realise that rough edges and imperfect finishes can allow different interactions with the building.
This was an unforgettable experience. I am truly excited about becoming an architect in the future.