Youngsters win placement to study urban design with leading experts as part of an initiative created in memory of Stephen Lawrence
Seven youngsters aged between 18 and 23 from inner city areas of Britain will work with leading urban design experts in Bristol this week to design new public spaces for the city. The group won an all expenses paid placement on CABE’s urban design summer school focusing on the built environment after making it through to the final of a national competition to uncover Britain’s architects of the future, as part of the high-profile ‘Architecture for Everyone’ campaign.
The ‘Architecture for Everyone’ campaign was set up by UK-based international architecture firm RMJM in partnership with Doreen Lawrence OBE in memory of her son Stephen who had ambitions of becoming an architect before he was murdered in a racially motivated attack 16 years ago.
Over the last three months, RMJM - in partnership with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust - has held design workshops in cities throughout the UK particularly targeting youngsters from urban inner city areas to tackle the lack of diversity in the profession.
The most talented individuals identified through the workshops were then invited to take part in a competitive interview by an illustrious judging panel. Six winners won the opportunity to study at the world renowned Harvard Graduate School of Design in Boston for six weeks, with seven runners up - from London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Glasgow - winning a place sponsored by CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) on the flagship urban design summer school in Bristol.
The four-day intensive programme, which started yesterday (Sunday 21 June 2009) at the city’s Marriott Hotel, will help the young people build their knowledge and skills in designing successful urban places. Participants will use Bristol as a live project, visiting sites in and around the city and eventually choosing a location to design a new public space. Nationally and internationally recognised speakers from a range of organisations, including the Mackintosh School of Architecture, The Prince’s Foundation, University of the West of England and the World Health Organisation, will share their expertise with the attendees.
Doreen Lawrence said: “I’m so thrilled that Stephen’s name has been able to inspire other young people to fulfil their dreams.”
Peter Morrison, CEO of RMJM, the architectural company which initiated the campaign, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response to the Architecture for Everyone campaign. The young finalists are an inspiration to others who have a talent for design and we hope to help many more like them take the first step into a career in architecture.”
The winners of the Bristol placement include: Lloyd Smith and Alex McKenzie (both 18) from Glasgow; Andre Hesson (23) from Birmingham; Elizabeth Percival (18) from Liverpool; and Abigail Cawley Gentles (18) from London.
The campaign has attracted widespread endorsement from politicians and celebrities, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, TV presenter Jon Snow, Dame Kelly Holmes, designer Wayne Hemingway and David Lammy MP.