The 60 Second Interview.

This is the third of a new series of 60 Second Interviews, a regular opportunity to find out a little more about the projects and activities of one of the UK Architecture Centres.

Robert Powell, Executive Director, Beam spoke to Michael Craven, Chief Executive of Architecture Centre Network.

Where is Beam based and which geographic area do you cover?

We are a regional Architecture Centre based in Wakefield in an 18th Century, Grade 2*, Orangery. Working in Yorkshire but also more widely in the North West and East Midlands. We work closely with the other Architecture Centres in Yorkshire and across the UK because we think working with our colleagues can really add value to what we - and  it does!

Robert, tell us a little bit more about your way of working.

We were originally set up as a public art agency and when we diversified into good design and place-making  we kept a strong element of the philosophy and practices from that time.. For us part of our role as an Architecture Centre is to spot opportunities, broker projects and relationships and  provide the safe, creative, collaborative space where very different groups and individuals come together. And once they are together its exciting seeing ideas develop and then the actions that happen from those ideas.

Some of our work is about helping people, maybe ‘citizens’ is a better term, talk to experts as equals.  Beam is then the neutral creative space between citizen and expert, children and adults and the meeting of different professions.  That, plus imagination, is the added value we try to bring. We work with local people, architects, planners, artists, funders, Local Education Authorities, Regional Centres of Excellence, Regional Development Agencies, teachers, governors, that is just part of a long and varied list.

Can you talk about a project which demonstrates this way of working?

I’ll actually tell you about two. The first is the design training for Local Authority Officers and Councillors. Councillors on planning committees are not Built Environment professionals but they have already got a lot to give to the process so our training isn’t about experts telling them what to think and do, its about empowering them and enriching their knowledge so they can make better, more informed decisions.  And when we lead these development sessions we like to have a mix of Officers and Members. Now that might not sound so unusual but it is – and it’s of huge value for Officers, staff in other words, and elected Members to share their expertise.

It’s a new activity for Beam?

We have been running these sessions for over 4 years now. At its most effective, it’s a 4 day package run over an 8 week period so that people remember what they have learnt but also can apply it over the time they are having the training.

You said two examples……

The other one is on the Building Schools for the Future Programme. It seems lots of organisations are delivering BSF related activity but we hope ours is delivered in a new and very effective way. At its heart is thinking that schools are not just buildings on the edges of the community, they should be right at the heart. We are getting artists and architects working together with school kids and teachers and governors to develop a brief for the architect.

The results are fantastic – a ‘sketchbook’ of possibilities and desires but grounded in reality, in what is needed and what really practical. That doesn’t stifle the creativity it’s a balance bringing together imagination and practicality. We think that combination is really important.

And what stage are you at with this project?

We’ve had a successful pilot working with two schools in Barnsley and that was funded by Integrate Yorkshire, our Regional Centre for Excellence. We are now talking to other Building Schools for the Future Local Authorities to roll the work out more widely.

To find out more about Beam go to www.beam.uk.net