Developing a sense of place and local understanding through interactive resources and exhibition
Themes:
Young people and communities
Sustainable communities and place making |
Focus:
Developing a sense of place and local understanding through interactive resources and exhibition |
Background:
Hackney is a borough of London known for its broad cultural make-up, vibrant local communities as well as social deprivation. Many of the young people here, and everywhere, have little understanding of what makes up the place where they live or how it relates to broader geographical context. |
What happened:
The Building Exploratory worked with local schools and community groups to develop a series of hands-on resources that investigate the local area, buildings, construction techniques and materials. The resources are accompanied by facilitated workshops tailored to meet curriculum needs and the age and ability of the group that take young people on a range of different journeys that explore the local built environment and a sense of place.
A large-scale jigsaw and three dimensional display looks at where Hackney is situated in relation to London and the wider world. A small scale model of the local area made by young people highlights the range of buildings and places that make up and serve a community. A set of diorama models show how the area has developed in terms of urbanisation since pre-historic times to the present day. Three dimensional maps describe the topography of the area. A model of a tower block made in partnership with local residents, and since demolished, shows residents and their furnishings in their individual flats combined with audio clips describing the experience of living in a high-rise 1960’s building. A series of photographs of different types and ages of housing in the area provides a talking point and device for looking at changes in types of domestic dwellings and voting on your favourite home. A set of online resources explore significant buildings, local bomb damage and include reminiscences by older members of the community. |
Who was involved:
The Building Exploratory
Partners
Centre of Spatial Analysis (UCL)
Housing Corporation
Professional artists , local community groups and local schools
Hackney Education Business Partnership
Hackney Council
Hackney Historic Buildings Trust
Funders
CABE
Arts Council England
English Heritage |
The difference it made:
These unique resources and experiences help extend young people’s frames of reference and provide the means for exploring and contextualising the locality as well as investigating and bringing to life complex built environment issues. They help develop basic skills such as interpreting scale and map reading. They provide diverse groups of people and often hard to reach communities with a focus for sharing experiences and finding out commonalities and differences in perceptions of the local area. They provide those from other countries with a talking point and opportunity to make connections with their country of origin. The exploratory processes are designed to challenge assumptions, explore local histories, promote a sense of identity and celebrate the positive aspects of living in Hackney. |
What they said:
“A very useful experience for the children to consolidate work we have been doing on houses and homes. A great opportunity to see some buildings we would never have the opportunity to see otherwise. Good hands-on experience touching materials. Good geographical links.”
(Y1 Teacher, Benthal Primary School)
“Lots of creative ideas and displays produced by children that make the exhibition interesting.”
(Y6 teacher, Rushmore Primary School)
“I support the Building Exploratory because it is an amazing organisation that is contributing to the creation of educated and engaged citizens.”
(Lord Richard Rogers) |
Future possibilities:
The programme of workshops and resources will be extended to incorporate GIS technology and further address specific areas such as construction and sustainability in greater detail. New approaches will explore the impact of the 2012 Olympics on the local area and regeneration of London. |
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More information:
www.buildingexploratory.org.uk
www.brickfields.org.uk |
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