MATT+FIONA is an architecture education organisation that supports children and young people to create more inclusive and representative space and places. There are three strands to their work: BUILD, LEARN and CONNECT.
BUILD projects inject creativity into school and cultural organisations’ programming, with a real-world output: a new temporary or permanent space made by and for young people. LEARN gives teachers and youth workers the skills, knowledge and confidence to design and deliver their own BUILD projects with young people. CONNECT gives built environment teams the skills, knowledge and confidence to work with young people to build constructive dialogue around placemaking.
Since 2016 they have worked with community and cultural organisations, universities and schools to create and deliver more than 30 buildings, installations and meanwhile spaces, collaborating with over 4,000 young people across the UK and abroad.
This exhibition offers a behind-the-scenes look into their process. On the tables you will find design activities that put you in the co-design seat. In the window you can see a recreation of part of the studio, full of children’s models and prototypes for systems that enable young people to build a space in a week.
Earlier this year, MATT+FIONA collaborated with the Built Environment Trust to develop a workshop aimed at upper level primary school children to introduce them to natural and sustainable building materials. They are always keen to hear from organisations, architecture practices, local authorities, developers or contractors who would like to involve young people in their design-based decision making processes.
MATT+FIONA would like to thank AHMM for their kind support of this exhibition.
