13.10.2004
Pupils at Kingston Buci First School at Middle Road, Shoreham-by-Sea are enjoying an exciting new play area and meeting place thanks to the imaginative work of students from the University of Brighton School of Architecture & Design.
The university became involved when it heard that the school was developing a new school grounds strategy and wanted a place where its 3-8 year-old pupils could socialise with each other. Headteacher Margaret Maiden and her staff believe that pupils who get on with each other in play learn better in the classroom.
The youth shelter was designed and built by final-year BA (Hons) Architecture students Mike Ayling, Phillip Miller and Joel Porter, working under the supervision of university tutors and technical staff. The pupils had a say in the choice of final design.
The shelter is an informal space, owned by the pupils, but designed in such a way that teachers can observe the pupils playing without disturbing them. The construction has an undulating raised floor, a tower, a canopy and screen walls, and provides sitting, running, climbing and hiding spaces, all designed to stimulate imaginative play and social contact.
The students used sustainable materials - green oak for the primary frame and larch for screening and fences, and designed the shelter to meet Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents health and safety requirements.
University tutors Andre Viljoen and Katrin Bohn, who set up this project, said: " The students who built the shelter learned a great deal about the relationship between an architectural concept and its material realisation. From our perspective enormous barriers were broken down when students and pupils worked together to solve real problems."
And the pupils' verdict?
"We can spend time with our friends and go into the tower to talk"
"It's great for climbing and looking out for people"
"Did we really pick that design? It's cool!"
The youth shelter project was supported by the University of Brighton's Widening Participation and Community University Partnership Programmes (www.cupp.org.uk).
Further projects are now being discussed with a number of local organisations.
Further information:
Andre Viljoen, University of Brighton School of Architecture & Design
phone 01273 642355
Contact:
Pat Herbert, University of Brighton, Marketing & Communications
phone 01273 643226 or email
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
