Architecture For Humanity – Auckland Chapter

We’ve had some 104 kids aged between 8 – 12 years and teachers participate in the creative workshop in the Union Fish & Co building last week. For the first 30 minutes of the workshop we talked a bit about the organisation’s background and the traveling exhibition, eventually moving on to ultra short lessons on architecture adapted from Curriki. We then got the group into groups of 3-4 students and got them to either replicate or extend their favourite finalist project from the traveling exhibition. If time constraint weren’t enough, each group was given one piece of bubbly cardboard, one A2 sheet of cardboard and an unlimited supply of ex-Jasmax business cards. Oh and a pair of scissors – that’s right, no tape, glue, knife, ruler or any other usual model making tools. We were blown away by the energy and enthusiasm the future architects brought on the day, not to mention the range of ideas they were able to show via a model in just 30 minutes:  a transformer, a classroom on stilts (for flood prone regions), a classroom on base isolators (for EQ prone regions), a double-height classroom which has ladder for access from one side but a rock-climbing wall on the other side… Do check out these beauties by clicking on the photo below.

Schools represented: Kristin School, St Mary’s, Northcross and Mulberry Grove (who flew in on the day from Great Barrier Island to attend this workshop! Many thanks to GBI community board for sponsoring their trip).

Models on display after the creative workshop