2014 oh what a year!

A quick recap of our activities over 2014, and a thank you to all those who helped to make these projects happen.

We continue to enjoy unveiling aspects of London's hidden histories, exploring new or unknown architectural sites and opening people's eyes to the Built Environment and how they can have an impact upon how it is shaped in the future.

Revitalise Peckham Rye
- engaging local groups and consulting on plans for Peckham Rye Park & Common

My Haggerston
- a series of resources helping you to understand Haggerston and what happened to its built environment during WWII

Places of Worship
- a visit to Suleymaniye Mosque in East London and Sandys Row Synagogue with Year 8 from the Bridge Academy

Senior BEEs and Islington Heritage and Architecture Group Spring, Summer, Autumn terms

Wandle Treasure Hunt - visits to local archives with volunteers across Sutton, Merton, Croydon and Wandsworth

This is our East 20 - creating view finders with Mobile Studio, students from University of East London and Year 8 at Chobham Academy, the newest and only school on the Olympic Park site

Durning Library Options Appraisal - forging links with local institutions and individuals and assessing the needs and wants of user groups for this beautiful victorian Library. Working with Linda Florence to create a vinyl stained glass effect artwork for the windows - visit now!

Our thanks to our many collaborators and friends, volunteers and clients.

Wandle Treasure Hunt - 2 weekend slots in early 2015 to be announced - or come along on a Wednesday if you can!

The Wandle Treasure Hunt is a volunteer-led local heritage project where we identify lost treasures along the course of the River Wandle, which spans four London boroughs (Wandsworth, Merton, Sutton and Croydon).

Participants will be given free training in archival research. So far we have been identifying people's histories, flora and fauna, objects, listed buildings and industrial heritage artefacts as we establish what the 'treasures' of the Wandle are. The final selection will then be drawn by artist Stephanie Theobald and uploaded to a website with an interactive map.

We will be announcing dates for two Saturdays in January 2015 for those who are not able to make our Wednesday sessions.

Thank you to all our participants so far, it has been a pleasure meeting and working with you all, and hearing your stories of the Wandle River.

Upcoming dates in 2014:

2-4pm Wednesday 10 December
Croydon Archives, Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street, CR9 1ET

2-4pm Wednesday 17 December Sutton Local Studies & Archives Centre
Central Library, St Nicholas Way Sutton, Surrey SM1 1EA

Do email us or call us on 020 7608 0775 to book a place.

This project is delivered in collaboration with Living Wandle Landscape Partnership Scheme as part of the Industrial Heritage Recording Project.

Durning Library Fun Day, Saturday 6th December 11am - 4pm

Join us on Saturday 6th December for a Fun Day at Durning Library, from 11am 'til 4pm

Come along and have your say about different design options for the Library.

See new artwork by Linda Florence, meet local artist Robin Whitmore and share your stories and facts about Kennington with him, view an exhibition by students from Year 4 of Archbishop Sumner Primary School.

Visit the upstairs flat!
Book now by calling the Library on 020 7926 8682
(viewings at 12pm and 2.30pm)

Free to all, tea and cakes a-plenty.

For more information please contact Marion Cable: MCable@lambeth.gov.uk

Why can’t we have all our lessons out here in the park

“Why can’t we have all our lessons out here in the park?”

This is what Year 8 at collectively shouted as we headed back to school after our latest East 20 workshop. A year ago, these young people were pioneering students, the first year group to enter Chobham Academy, the first school to open in the Olympic Park.   

If the aim of the project is to excite the students about the opportunities in their school’s ‘back yard’, then I think we might have already achieved it.
 

Our challenge is to support the students in a search to find ‘places’ that are meaningful to them in this huge 560 acre newly formed site.  Four teams: #FishNet, The Great Banter, Anonymous and Banterlona, went where curiosity led them, heading for high points and searching out secret spots.

These are just a few of the lesser-known facts and places they uncovered on the Olympic Park:
  

• The landscaped slopes are perfect for rolling down 

• Tumbling bay playground appeals to people of all ages; there is no upper age limit

• The rustling leaves of the surrounding trees in fact make Portland Lake the noisiest place in the park

• You can literally lose yourself in a corner of Victory park… you’ll have to go to find out how.

Start points had previously been provided by a panel of speakers intimately involved in the design and maintenance of the park and its surrounding neighbourhoods. This inspiring panel included Kathyrn Firth, Chief of Design at the LLDC, Caroline Jupp, artist in residence currently based in a moving shed, and Nick Edwards of Fundamental. Even an imaginary alien who has just taken up residence in the park also made an appearance!

The places the students came across will become sites for large-scale viewfinders to be built in the next session. Quite literally watch this space…

Calling all volunteers! Wandle Treasure Hunt - join our local heritage project

Join us to discover how you can help us in our search for the River Wandle’s lost treasure !

Volunteers for our Wandle Treasure Hunt are invited to attend one or all of the following events
- please RSVP

11am Wednesday 26 November
Wandsworth Heritage Centre, 265 Lavender Hill SW11 1JB
 
11am Wednesday 3 December
Merton Local Studies Centre, Morden Library, SM4 5DX
 
2-4pm Wednesday 10 December 
Croydon Archives, Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street, CR9 1ET

2-4pm Wednesday 17 December Sutton Local Studies & Archives Centre
Central Library, St Nicholas Way Sutton, Surrey SM1 1EA

If you’d like to attend one of these events please get in touch: 
mail@buildingexploratory.org.uk
Tel: 020 7608 0775

We-hey come to Apple Day this Sunday 5th October!

We will be popping up at Roots and Shoots' Apple Day this Sunday, 5th October, to ask you your views on Durning Library, its services and how it can link with local people's needs and aspirations. Come down and join in the fun, £1 for adults and free for children!

Event details:

Sunday 5th October
11am - 4pm
Roots and Shoots, Walnut Tree Walk, Lambeth SE11 6DN

Art Workshop with Into University

Today we are visiting Into University, Lambeth to work with a group of their students. The work we do will inform an artwork that Linda Florence is going to produce, to act as a 'marker' for Durning Library in Kennington.

We look forward to working with the students, and seeing what beautiful commemorative tiles they create as part of the workshop today!

Our thanks to Into University for partnering with us on this project.

To find out more about our work on Durning Library, visit this earlier blog post.

Wandle treasures and walks

The Building Exploratory will be popping up at two events connected to the River Wandle this weekend, as part of our work with the Living Wandle Landscape Partnership.


SATURDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER

Come along to share your Wandle Treasures with us at Merton Abbey Mills, this Saturday 27th September from 12pm - 5pm!

We will be joined by the rest of the team, with activities for the family, and a free prize raffle. During the evening the community film, Vandalis, will have its first showing. 


SUNDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER

Join us for a guided walk and discover over 2000 years of the rich and varied history of the Lower Wandle at Wandsworth. The Building Exploratory is leading a search for the lost treasures of the River Wandle as part of its Living Wandle 'Industrial Heritage Recording' project.

Walkers and project volunteers are all invited.

Timings: Meet 2 pm at Wandsworth Town Station
Contact: Dr Nicole Crockett - 07500 073 049


To book your place on the walk, please email: LivingWandle@wandsworth.gov.uk

To find out more about the Industrial Heritage Recording project please click here.

Pop Up Pop Up opens today, Senior BEEs visit tomorrow!

Tomorrow our Senior BEEs will be catching up with Artist Hilary Powell to see her latest enterprise “Pop Up Pop Up” as part of which Hilary has set up a production line to produce pop-up books charting an imaginative history of the changing area of the Lea Valley.



 “Legend: an A-Z of the Lea Valley “is inspired by the people, places, past and present of this urban territory and made with the collaboration of a team of 'pop-up apprentices' (see above picture).



Do go and visit Sugar House Studios, the home to Pop Up Pop Up this weekend and participate in the immersive theatre of making a pop-up book that itself constructs a fantastic and kinetic narrative of the area it’s made in and about.

www.popuppopup.net

Location:  Sugar House Studios, 107 High Street, Stratford, London E15 2QQ
The production line is free to visit and there is no need to book.


 

*** Flashback ***


Hilary Powell has worked with The Building Exploratory in the past, visiting Hilary's studio in 2011 and Winning Places, a project linked to O.space, a nationwide programme by CABE that  used the excitement around the Olympics to inspire people about architecture and the built environment. Tune in to Hilary's films, to see the Senior BEEs tell tales of their sporting triumphs and challenges, and track their progress as they meet the designers of the 2012 Olympic Stadium.

Durning Library

Since June 2014 we have been working with LB Lambeth and Dow Jones Architects to support an Options Appraisal of Durning Library in Kennington. 

Our job has been to map out local stakeholders and to engage with local estate residents, organisations and library users to establish a wish list of services and activities that could take place within the Library.

We have appointed artist Linda Florence to create a temporary artwork that draws attention to the building and begins a discussion about its future, working closely with the local community. 

We have held our first event, attending Ethelred Estate’s Fun Day on Saturday 6^th September. We met local residents and talked about their needs and how the Library could meet them: thanks to all who have taken part. 

There will be more events to follow, so watch this space!

Any thoughts?

To share your views, please email us at mail@buildingexploratory.org.uk with the Subject title: Durning.

The Building Exploratory seeks Freelance Associates

The Building Exploratory is a highly regarded learning and engagement organisation with a focus on the built environment. We believe that creatively engaging local people with architecture, heritage and planning is essential to successful neighbourhoods.

Our community engagement projects ensure that local stakeholders can celebrate their local area and inform local regeneration. We are beginning a number of new projects with communities across south and east London and we are looking for experienced freelance associates to help us. The following combination of skills and experience is required:

• Project management and administration
• Communication written and spoken
• Engagement and negotiating skills

• Experience of delivering projects in secondary schools
• Experience of recruiting and working with hard to reach groups
• Experience of overseeing digital media projects
• Experience of overseeing creative project outputs
• Experience creating and working with maps

• Knowledge of secondary school curriculum in Humanities and Arts
• A good understanding of the use and value of maps and mapping
• A good understanding of London’s heritage and built environment

If you have the necessary skills and would like to be considered for one of our roles, please send us your CV and a letter, no longer than one page of A4 please, outlining your suitability to “the Administrator” by 15 August 2014: mail@buildingexploratory.org.uk

Terms 
Hours are flexible, one to two days per week, with some weekend work required. Day rates are dependent on experience and levels of responsibility.

Wonderful Wild Flower Walk with Bob Gilbert

On Friday 20th June we took a walk from Hackney Wick station through to the Olympic Park with Wild Flower expert and author of The Green London Way, Bob Gilbert.

Bob began his talk by discussing Hackney Wick with us. Wick being the old name for farmstead, Hackney Wick has always been set apart from Hackney, a kind of edge land by the River Lea. It used to denote the boundary between Middlesex and Essex.

'Dirty' industries took root here (tanneries, factories), with noxious fumes carried away by the prevailing wind. It is an area of great character, independence and industry.

Bill pointed out Geranium Pratense (purple flowers) growing on the bank by Hackney Wick station - these are commonly known as Crane's Bills.

Buddleja and Alianthus ('the tree of heaven') were pointed out to the group

By the Canal, Bob showed us some Mallow which sounds like 'mellow' and soothing / calming effect on the nerves. Marshmallows were made from taking sap of marsh mallow and mixing it with sugar.

'Adam and Eve go up your sleeve' - watch as this ear of corn creeps up your sleeve. Bob used to call these caterpillars in his youth.

Gipsy wort is also found by the canal (green) - rub the leaves into your hand and green dye appears. Gipsys washed in the canal waters and this may be what contributed to their swarthy tans.

Bird foot trefoil (yellow) country name: eggs and bacon (red buds)

Before we waved goodbye to the plants, Bob identified Achillea millefolium, otherwise known as Yarrow. In ancient myth, Achilles had healing powers - Yarrow was known to  staunch the flow of blood: it is still used to treat nose bleeds today, as well as being used to flavour beer.
Snuff was made from it, and it was told that one could tell the future with this plant. Put it under your pillow and you will  dream of the person you are going to marry.


Bob then asked us to recite an ancient rhyme, whilst sticking this green plant up our noses!

Yarrow way yarrow way
Bear a white blow
If my love loves me
My nose will bleed now

No nose bleeds, which left some of us worried!

Bob found some Elder - dwarf elder - or also known as Dane Wort - some say that the Elder sprung up on the blood of slaughtered Danes at King Alfred's defeat of the Danes.

We passed the famous matchstick factory, at the end of our walk: Barbara Windsor's grandmother worked here.

Our thanks to Bob Gilbert for leading a fascinating walk and to the Senior BEEs for their contributions and participation.

Party time in De Beavoir Square - this Saturday, 2-5pm

Come along and join us for a Party in the Park at De Beauvoir Square tomorrow!

We will be populating a map of London with plasticine creations, and conducting a series of historical walks around the area.

Do pop by and say hello!

Thanks to De Beauvoir Square Association for inviting us along!

Come and see Hoxton Hall film screening, featuring our Senior BEEs!

The Building Exploratory invites you to join us at the Capital Age Festival’s film screening 'Through the Lens' next Monday 7 July from 3.30 – 6.15

Our film of the Senior BEEs A tale of Hoxton Hall is to be shown as part of the screening which features a series of films made by an for older people. Please see the attached a PDF document for the full event programme.

The event is free but you’ll need to book a place by calling the Capital Age Festival on 020 7820 6788

The event will be taking place at the Russet, a café near to Hackney Downs Park at Hackney Downs Studios, 17 Amhurst Terrace, E8 2BT

Here’s a link The Russet’s website – which has a link to a map on their contact us page


For further information about the Capital Age Festival follow this link to their website.

We hope you can join us there!

Haggerston Treasures walk this Saturday, places still available

The Haggerston Treasures walk takes place this Saturday at 11am from the Geffrye Museum!

Email us to join the walk (free of charge): mail@buildingexploratory.org.uk

Join Nicole Crockett on a guided tour of some of the listed buildings of the southern part of Haggerston. Meet at the Geffrye Museum reception at 11am.

The walk begins on the lawn just outside the main entrance at the Geffrye Museum and ends at Shoreditch Town Hall.

It is approximately 1.5-2 miles long and will take around an hour and a half.

Islington group review this term's activities

Our Islington History & Architecture Group completed a term of interesting walks and visits last week, and kindly reviewed the sessions for us.

Here are some of their comments, as well as images from this term's visits.

"I particularly enjoyed the visit to Diespecker Wharf because although I'm fairly familiar with that area I saw a different side of it. The presentation was excellent."

"The talk on Islington's Lost Cinemas: I found this fascinating and am now able to see the buildings I walk past regularly in a different light."

"It gets people out to places we would not go to and keeps you in touch with the places of interest in the area."

Discovering Dalston for the Barbican

On Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June the Building Exploratory encouraged visitors to the Barbican's Dalston House, to discover the secrets of their local environment in 2 family friendly workshops.

We looked at how terraced houses like Dalston House developed, and discovered the changes in the area using historic maps.

Visitors added houses and street maps to giant drawings, and had a go at creating their own mirrored houses and backwards messages. 

These workshops were commissioned by the Barbican for the opening weekend of Dalston House by Leandro Erlich.

Dalston House is free to visit, in Ashwin Street, E8 3DL until the 4th August. Please click here for more information.

Lambeth Treasures Exhibition - Southbank Centre Festival of Neighbourhood

Lambeth Treasures is an exhibition dedicated to Lambeth, created by the Building Exploratory in collaboration with the Southbank Centre.

Through a combination of archive material, commissioned artworks, objects, films and installations, Lambeth Treasures is a multi-sensory exhibition that celebrates the Southbank Centre's local neighbourhood and what it means to live, work and love Lambeth. 

The exhibition is open now, in the Spirit Level of Royal Festival Hall, and will run till September.  

Haggeston's Architecture for Adult Learners' Week 2012

It was fortunate that the rain clouds cleared and the sun made an appearance for our walking tour of Haggerston’s architectural highlights on Saturday.  Lizzie led a group of 20 for this 2012 Adult Learners’ Week event, which explored the diversity of architecture in Haggerston: from a mid-nineteenth century garden square, to an Edwardian bath house, to a twentieth century modernist school. 

Participants developed their map-reading and observation skills to identify how and why changes have taken place to the built environment, particularly as a result of WWII bomb damage.  The group also gained an understanding of how population expansion and Victorian philanthropy changed the face of this south-Hackney ward. 

Whilst the tour focused on Albion Square, Haggerston Baths and Haggerston School, participants also got the opportunity to have a close look at Haggerston Estate, and see the some of the most recent additions to the ward’s architecture: The Bridge Academy and Hoxton Station, both nominees for Hackney Design Awards in recent years.

“Thanks for a really enjoyable tour of Haggerston architecture” – just one of the comments from our group of adult learners, who enjoyed seeing the historic maps and photographs, as well as Haggerston’s fascinating buildings.

Refurbish: the life and times of a tower block

To celebrate Lifelong Learning Week the Building Exploratory ran a special event for a group of 25 adults - 'Refurbish: the life and times of a tower block'.

The event began with a talk exploring the history of towers and the evolution through time of their use and design, before focusing on the architectural development of post war tower blocks in the UK. 

 

The group then went over to Grange Court, originally one of four tower blocks on the Holly Street Estate, where we met with Ken Gilmour, from the the Grange Court Tenants Management Organisation. Ken talked us through the re-development of Holly Street and answered questions about the management of Grange Court (the tower was refurbished as a block specifically for older people) . The event ended on a high with a very special opportunity to go up to the top of Grange Court from where the group enjoyed fantastic views (and many towers) across the whole of London.