Merry Christmas Everybody!

We have once again taken part in the Metropolitan Workshop Gingerbread Christmas Advent Calendar display - look out for number 21.

We were given the name of a popular Christmas song and asked to create a Gingerbread version.

We hope you like the result!

Durning Library Options Appraisal online - and exhibition on 'til 5 January

Durning Library Options Appraisal - help shape the future of your local library in Kennington.
Take a look and give your feedback here!
link: http://lambeth.gov.uk/consultations/durning-library-options-appraisal

Or visit the exhibition in the Library (opening times below)

Tuesday 23 December - 10am to 6pm
Wednesday 24 December - 10am to 1pm
Thursday 25 December - Closed/bank holiday
Friday 26 December - Closed/bank holiday
Saturday 27 December - 9am to 5pm
Sunday 28 December Closed
Monday 29 December - 1 to 8pm
Tuesday 30 December - 10am to 6pm
Wednesday 31 December - 10am to 5pm
Thursday 1 January 2015 Closed/bank holiday
Friday 2 January - 10am to 6pm

Thanks to all those who have taken part in the survey so far, and Season's Greetings from the team

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

Work with us: Administrator (Part time) position available

Administrator (Part time)

Launched in 1996 and based in East London, the Building Exploratory helps people
discover the secrets of their local area and gain a better understanding of the buildings
and spaces that surround them. We have a strong focus on education and community
engagement and aim to create inspirational opportunities to help people shape their
surroundings.

We are looking for a highly capable and motivated person to take up this key role in our
small team. Covering all aspects of office management and administrative support –
from meeting and greeting visitors to the upkeep of databases, from purchase
management to financial administration. The successful candidate will work closely
with the Chief Executive on the co-ordination of board papers, the distribution of
marketing materials and the upkeep of our website.

The ideal candidate for this role will have at least two year’s administrative experience,
be meticulously organised and highly self motivated. We’ll also be looking for
exceptional communication skills, good computer literacy (particularly in an Apple Mac
environment), an ability to prioritise a substantial workload and evidence of a positive
approach to problem solving.

We offer a competitive package that includes a 22.5 hour working week with a flexible
approach, 25 days holiday (pro rata) plus statutory days, contributory pension and the
opportunity to be part of a great team which is committed to continuing your development.
To apply please send your CV and contact details for 2 referees (one of whom should be your
current employer) along with a covering letter explaining how your skills and experience qualify
you for this post. Referees will not be contacted prior to interview.

For further information please contact Caf Fean by email mail@buildingexploratory.org.uk
or call 020 7608 0775.

Job title: Administrator
Organisation: The Building Exploratory
Location: Farringdon
Salary: £22,000 - £25,000 (pro rata)
Type: Part time (22.5 hours per week)
Closing date: 5th December 2014

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…