a centre for place-making
Click the links to find out about MADE's four main areas of work: Art & Culture, Communities, Design Quality and Education and four other special services. In each category you can see our current Projects or look at Case Studies of previous MADE work.
Education
15 students from across the West Midlands took part in MADE’s first work experience week in July. In a very full week, the 14-19 year olds created new designs for real-life development sites, learned how to analyse design quality and investigated new social housing.
For the start of their week with MADE, the students worked alongside planners and architects at the CABE Urban Design Summer School, which this year was organised by MADE. Their places were supported by the Architecture for Everyone campaign (an initiative by the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and its partners) and sponsored by CABE.
Based at Aston University Business School, the students learned about design quality through site visits and presentations, before going on to develop their own plans to regenerate two areas of Birmingham: Ashted Locks and the Wholesale Markets. Recognising the value of public open space in a congested city, they created models for new ‘urban playgrounds, mixing residential with leisure and commercial uses. “Refreshing”, “talented”, "exciting", commented other Summer School delegates as the students presented their models, which will be exhibited at The Lighthouse in Glasgow (10th September 2010 to 15th January 2011).
After an intensive three days at the Summer School, we spent a day at The Public in West Bromwich, trying out a tool to assess design quality of exiting buildings. Working in small teams, the students took photographs and videos and uploaded them onto StickworldTM,, a web-based consultation tool developed by architect practice Slider Studio.
The last day of our programme was hosted by Optima Community Association and the Homes and Communities Agency. We learned the history of Park Central, a resident-led housing estate in central Birmingham, where excellent design matters.
The students ranged in age from 14 to 19 and are variously studying for their GCSEs, the Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment, ‘A’ levels, or about to start a Degree. MADE’s
MADE's education work is supported by Bournville Village Trust, CABE, and The Ove Arup Foundation. MADE is recognised with a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge.
