The Architecture Foundation’s autumn 2008 - spring 2009 education programme engaged and empowered a team of four 16 – 19 year olds, living or studying in Southwark, to explore the area and the changes that are underfoot in Bankside, London. It focused on the Bankside Urban Forest, an urban design framework written by Witherford Watson Mann Architects for a partnership coordinated by Better Bankside.
Bankside Urban Forest is a fresh and creative way to look at this distinctive part of Southwark, building on its existing and unique qualities. It attempts to connect the larger neighbourhoods through a series of people-friendly interventions. It provides a way for coordinating public space projects to help achieve a network of inspiring spaces and places across the area which are coherent as well as diverse.
Over 13 sessions the Pioneers took part in planting, film making, radio production, web design, birding and illustration workshops, visited Epping Forest and the offices of Witherford Watson Mann, got involved in local public consultation, interviewed writer and environmentalist Ken Worpole and planned an event to launch the website they developed to showcase their work.