Architecture for Kids podcast – inspiring children and young people to build a better future

14 Jun 2023 - Press release

Award-winning Architecture for Kids CIC alongside the Built Environment Trust, the Thornton Educational Trust, and the Welsh School of Architecture Cardiff University produced and launched the Architecture for Kids podcast series, to bring together practitioners and creatives working with children and young people to inspire them to make the built environment more inclusive, diverse, and better suited for their needs and interests.

CEOs surveyed by PricewaterhouseCoopers reported that as they anticipate an increasingly automated workplace, the human skills that they will most prize are ‘problem-solving, adaptability, collaboration, leadership, creativity, and innovation (PwC, 2018).

We are aware that our beliefs and opinions stem from our childhood, and are influenced by the developmental context in which we are brought up, and reinforced by peer groups and cultural influences – ultimately, influencing how we think of ourselves and the world around us. Therefore, if we want to change the attitude about architecture and the built environment, we must focus on our children.

Architecture affects everyone, yet it is the one subject that is not embedded into children’s lives. Young people’s voices are often excluded from discussions and decisions on urban design whilst creative and design subjects are excluded from the school curriculum.  If we are to create a significant step change, the architectural professions need to provide many more opportunities in which young people and children have a voice about their future environment.  We believe small actions create major impact.

Victoria Thornton OBE, Board Member, Thornton Education Trust

Inspired by this and, by focusing on the practitioners and creatives practical experiences in ‘pedagogy in practice’ where through a series of workshops, children and young people become ‘active’ researchers, designers and makers, theses podcasts bring some light to the interplay between the fields of the built environment, architecture, creative industries in general and education - this interplay is understood as shared knowledge between the practitioner / the creative and the school teacher. Architecture for Kids podcast is hosted by trained architect and architectural educator, Antonio Capelao. 

A thirty minutes long conversation every Saturday with practitioners and creatives working with children and young people to inspire them to participate in the shaping of the built environment and the creative industries - to inform and to reflect on their work in the fields of the built environment, architecture and the creative industries, and education. 

The natural and built environment offers an incredible learning environment to young people. By immersing themselves in their neighbourhood, they can understand complex challenges, articulate creative responses and build capabilities to actively engage in shaping their environments. The Architecture for Kids podcast series champions this idea, which is also at the core of the engagement strategy at the Welsh School of Architecture. The podcast series will be a valuable resource for academics, school teachers, parents, local authorities and community groups in the context of the new Curriculum for Wales. Most importantly, I hope this podcast series will enthuse young people to study architecture and design-related subjects and craft their careers in the creative industries. 

Dr Hiral Patel, Director of Engagement, Welsh School of Architecture Cardiff University

Architecture for Kids podcast also looks at the need of bringing the practitioners / the creative skills, knowledge and perspectives to the arts programme of the national school curriculum through foundational policy change.  

As well as to open-up the built environment to children and young people for them to become genuine participants, and to contribute to the National Curriculum promise ‘scope for teachers to inspire’ and vision about ‘teachers taking greater control over what is taught in school, innovating in how they can teach and develop new approaches to learning’ to inspire children and young people and allow for deeper learning.

Working at the Built Environment Trust combines two things I’m really passionate about: the built environment and people. The Trust’s Learning programme focuses on reaching new audiences outside the built environment and to connect, inspire and empower people to appreciate and direct the impact their surroundings have on their daily lives. To have played an active role in making this podcast happen has been both interesting and rewarding. There is so much talent and an array of amazing projects out there.

Sandra Headblad, Head of Learning, The Built Environment Trust

This first series of the Architecture for Kids podcast has a great line up of practitioners and creative speakers (link below), and can be downloaded on Apple, Spotify, Google and Youtube platforms.  

2nd series interview children and young people; and 3rd series interview parents, guardians / carers of children and young people  

https://www.buildingcentre.co.uk/built-environment-trust/architecture-for-kids-podcast

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2211876

#architectureforkids  #thorntoneducat1

Further information:  info@antoniocapelao-portfolio.co.uk 

Pod Cast episode currently available - Click here

Podcast contributors:

Almundena de Benito - Chiquitecto
Dr Amanda McCrory - Institute of Education, UCL
Bewaji Oyesanya - Build Up
Dr Bonnie Kwok - Greater Cambridge Shared Planning
Caroline Smith - The National Gallery
Catherine Ritman-Smith - Young V&A
Charlotte Keime - Jestico + Whiles
Charlotte Neep - Fashion + Textile Museum
Corrin Wendell - YEP! Youth Engagement Planning
Daniel Poku-Davies & Max Mackay - Ourspace
Dinah Bornat - ZCD Architects
Dr Ed Green - Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University
Ella Horent & Joshua Kindlon & Kamal Haddad - Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University
Elly Mead - The Glass House
Fermin Blanco - Lupo
Fiona MacDonald & Matt Springett - Matt + Fiona
Grace D'Arcy - Smart Docklands
Grace Simmonds - NLA
Grant Smith - Temple Bar Trust
Hannah Peaty - Soho Parish Primary School
Harry Thorpe - CAUKIN Studio
Dr Hiral Patel - Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University
Holly Lewis - We Made That
Ines Lourenco - Casa da Arquitetura
Ivy Edemafaka - RIBA Ambassador
James Sale - Collaborative Design and Build
Dr Jenny Wood - A Place in Childhood
Jerry Tate - Tate+Co Architects
Joshua Brooks - Architect & RIBA
Kelly Butt, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University
Kevin Stedman - King's Education
Lee Patterson & Thomas Pughsley - Child Friendly Cardiff
Magali Thomson -  Great Ormond Street Hospital    
Matt Bell - Heatherwick Studio
Dr Matluba Khan - School of Geography and Planning at Cardiff University
Melina Guirnaldos - Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University
Melissa Woolford - Museum of Architecture
Mike Hewson - Mike Hewson Studio
Dr Nick M.L. Mols - Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University
Pihla Meskanen - Arkki School of Architecture for Children and Youth in Finland
Rick Jenner - Park Play
Roland Karthaus - Design Council
Rose Gibbs & Sahra Hersi - Mountford Growing Community
Roy Coupland & Yaya Chen - London School of Architecture
Sandra Hedblad - Built Environment Trust
Sarah Phillips & Siraaj Mitha - Open City
Dr Shan Shan Hou - Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University
Simeon Shtebunaev - Researcher
Simon F. Johns - PhD researcher, Cardiff University School of Social Sciences
Stella Wing-yan Fong & Avni Patel - the Design Museum
Stephanie Edwards - Urban Symbiotics
Tim Gill - Rethink Childhood
Venetia Wolfenden - Urban learners
Victoria Thornton OBE - Thornton Education Trust