Merry Christmas!

Honorary membership of the RIBA for TBE Chief Exec Nicole Crockett

The Royal Institute of British Architects' (RIBA) Council this week approved 14 new RIBA Honorary Fellowships tor 2012.

We are delighted that our Chief Executive Nicole Crockett is to be awarded this honour at a ceremony in February.

RIBA Honorary Fellowships are awarded annually to people who have made a particular contribution to architecture – in the broadest sense. This includes its promotion, administration and outreach; and its role in building more sustainable communities and in the education of future generations.

Speaking earlier this week, RIBA President Angela Brady said:

'Each of this year's Honorary Fellows has made an enormous contribution to architecture, whether as a practitioner, designer, curator, writer or policy maker. The RIBA values everything that they have brought – in their very different ways – to the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the world of architecture. I look forward to presenting them with their Honorary Fellowships in February.' 

Other recipients for 2012 include artists Ai Weiwei and Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

For more information please visit the RIBA website.

Additional Funding from Arts Council England

The Building Exploratory has been awarded a £5,000 grant from the Arts Council to further develop creative arts practice with older people. The grant will allow us to create a pool of artists who are trained to work with older people with reduced mobility, hearing or visual impairments and mental health issues. 



During this project we will commission the artists to develop and deliver creative activities to enable these more vulnerable older people to explore and engage with buildings and public spaces. The project will act as a test bed for developing stimulating and multi-sensory creative experiences which will allow older people who may otherwise face difficulties in participating, to take part and engage creatively with architecture.

We are currently looking for artists to get involved in the programme. For more information please email karen@buildingexploratory.org.uk

Research Volunteers Needed

Investigate the History and Development of High Street 2012

The Building Exploratory is offering a fantastic research training and development opportunity for new volunteers as part of our new Peoples Panorama Project.

The Peoples Panorama Project aims to work with a group of committed volunteers to discover the history and hidden stories of the buildings along High Street 2012 – the 6km road that links the City of London to Stratford and the Olympic Park.

Volunteers will use a range of resources as well as their experiences of visiting ‘High Street 2012’, to compile a detailed history of the development of this important high street, from its Roman origins to the present day. This research will be combined with a photographic panorama of the entire road, to form a major online resource.

Volunteers will receive comprehensive training in the skills they need to undertake their tasks, as well as full support and regular meetings from the Building Exploratory’s learning team.

If you would like to volunteer for the Peoples Panorama Project, please email Lizzie Edwards at projects@buildingexploratory.org.uk, for an application form and more details about the project.  

Architecture workshops: OMA at the Barbican

'This autumn Barbican Art Gallery is transformed by an exhibition on OMA, one of the most influential architecture practices working today. Celebrated as much for their daring and unconventional ideas as their inventive buildings, the work of OMA and its think tank AMO anticipates the architectural, engineering and cultural ideas transforming our material world.'

Take part in this practical workshop led by the Building Exploratory. Learn about the creative processes behind architecture and design and gain a better understanding of the buildings and spaces that surround us.

Saturday 29 October, 12 November, 3 December and 18 February

2-4pm

Tickets Tickets include same day entry to the exhibition

£12 if booked on-line through http://www.barbican.org.uk

Tickets on the door £14, subject to availability

This event takes place in Barbican Art Gallery Events Space. 

The People's Favourite Project

The People’s Archive project aims to create a resource for the people who live, work and play around Bow Road. We are gathering the reminiscences, stories and opinions of local people in order to create an archive of this remarkable part of east London. Bow Road forms part of ‘High Street 2012’, the 6km route from the City of London to the Olympic Park.

You can follow our progress here on the People's Favourite blog, and get involved by voting for your favourite building on High Street 2012 on the People’s Favourite Buildings website.

Open House London: 17th September

The Building Exploratory will be open to the public as part of Open House London, on the 17th September, from 10am till 3pm. 

Come and find out what we have been up to this year and take the opportunity to explore our wonderful collection of maps, photos and resources related to the history of the built environment in the local area.