Image courtesy Jim Stephenson
From February to June 2013 The Architecture Foundation's Urban Pioneers programme was working in Croydon, exploring England's Alphaville and its hinterland regarding myth and perception of place, as well as tactics for telling new stories about the town. Through workshops with architects, artists, musicians, designers, and writers, a group of 10 young people from Croydon examined the area's built environment, and the issues it faces.
The Pioneers' produced a new publication - Lo! A Croydon Digest, designed by Europa, Sigge Kuhlhorn and Tom Mower. Lo! A Croydon Digest is inspired in part by The Suburban Press. The Suburban Press was a fanzine produced by Jamie Reid and Malcolm McLaren while studying at Croydon College in the late 1960s. Lamenting the changes they saw happening around them, the publication was a call to arms to challenge and question the developments that formed Croydon's last building boom. As the town is going through similar large-scale redevelopment, it seemed fitting to revist these themes, bringing The Suburban Press back to Croydon College with Level 4 BA (Hons) Graphic Design students.
If you would like more information please contact The Architecture Foundation's Education Manager, Aislinn White. You can also see what the Pioneers' got up to on their dedicated project blog.
The Urban Pioneers Programme was sponsored by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, with additional sponsorship for the Croydon Urban Pioneers from Westfield and Hammerson.
Image: courtesy the AF