On Wednesday 10th December, KS4 Design Technology and KS5 Three-Dimensional Design students took part in a workshop in collaboration with the architectural practice Hawkins\Brown.
Hawkins\Brown is an architectural practice that focuses on meaningful cross-sector projects with social and contextual impact, integrating sustainability considerations with modern methods of construction. Storytelling is at the heart of their work. The practice is well known within the local and school community for the recent renovation of Central Foundation Boys’ School, transforming the educational experience of countless students while preserving the school’s rich heritage through the integration of the Grade II listed former county court and Tabernacle Chapel with contemporary architectural design.
The Design Technology department collaborated with Hawkins\Brown to provide students with valuable exposure to industry, illustrating how architectural projects can enhance community engagement, embrace new technologies and ways of working, and consider cultural, environmental, and sustainable practices. The workshop was designed to reflect the transferable skills developed in the classroom and demonstrate how these skills are applied in professional practice.
The workshop provided KS4 and KS5 students with insight into the design process Hawkins\Brown undertakes when working with clients and navigating the interests of various stakeholders. Students gained an understanding of the daily life of an architect and had opportunities to speak with qualified architects about their experiences working on major infrastructure and transport projects – including Paddington Station, Bond Street Station (Elizabeth Line), and St Pancras Station – as well as residential, educational, and research developments. The architects also discussed their professional obligations to clients, society, the wider world, the profession, and themselves, while breaking down the cyclical RIBA work stages which inform their professional practice.
The architects provided students with a series of design briefs that encouraged them to apply their problem-solving skills through discussion-based inquiry. The workshop concluded with a live Q&A session, giving students the opportunity to ask design- and career-related questions. This led to rich discussions on a range of topics including pathways into architecture, the role of AI and CGI in architectural practice, the importance of ergonomics in design, the purpose of a client brief and specification, and alternative architecture-related careers such as mechanical engineering, structural engineering, quantity surveying, interior design, landscape architecture, fine art, construction, carpentry, and furniture and lighting design. Students found the experience both informative and enjoyable.