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Article: LDA and MATT+FIONA collaborate with youth group on HS2 ‘meanwhile use’ community garden, Building Design, August 2024

Podcast: Shawn Adams of POoR Collective on effective consultation and engagement, RIBA Journal, August 2024

Article: How Essex teenagers are shaping their community with a little help from MATT+FIONA, Building Design, August 2024

Article: The Rubble Garden, Architecture Today, August 2024

Article: So you reckon you are co-designing? Really?, Architect’s Journal, October 2023

Article: Design News, The Guardian, March 2023

Article: Why we need foundational change in how we engage young people with the built environment, Building Design, November 2022

Article: MATT+FIONA picked for latest Kew treehouse commission_Architects Journal_April 2022

Article: Rejuvenation feature, Financial Times, February 2022

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MATT+FIONA is an architecture organisation that trusts and supports children and young people to make more inclusive & representative spaces & places

We were very excited to find this beautiful book i

We were very excited to find this beautiful book in our letterbox a few days ago: ‘Esperienza dello Spazio. Educazione ludica all’architettura’ by @ale.ssandra_gabriele , a compilation of her research at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome and the Department of Architecture in Pescara into the importance of built environment learning for school age children.

In the book, Alessandra argues that given architecture primarily exists in relationship with those that experience and inhabit it, children should have the right to learn about it and explore it in school.

We couldn’t agree more so we were doubly excited to be included as case studies alongside so many others we admire working in this field, including but not limited to:
@uia_architects Built Environment Education Network @arhitektuurikool @caue_de_paris @arkkifinland @chiquitectos @maushaus_arquitectura @lunarquicos @museomaxxi

The book cover is a frame from a video by @francis_alys_official

Apprenticeships build new skills, open doors… an

Apprenticeships build new skills, open doors… and, ultimately, change lives. This National Apprenticeship Week we want to say a huge thank you to the organisations and companies who are supporting the next generation with real world opportunities ~ and an even bigger shout out to all the apprentices bringing energy and new ideas to the fore!

We’ve had the privilege of working with the Euston Construction Skills Centre these past few years to support their mission to encourage more people into the construction sector. Fuad is just one example. He joined us for this summer’s build of Reflect with @fyaonroad , the pavilion on an HS2 meanwhile site and park, just off Hampstead Road. Fuad is now doing his Level 1 Construction Skills Course at the Euston Skills centre as a direct result of the project.

And today we’ve been back at Euston Skills Centre today supporting girls and nonbinary young people to build BIG, with a super cardboard build.

We hope experiences like this show just how interesting, creative and meaningful a career in the design and construction sector can be, and ensure real pathways are made available to everyone.

📸 by @jshmulevitch

#nationalapprenticeshipweek #apprentices

Who said January had to be about hibernation? Wond

Who said January had to be about hibernation? Wonderful to see the Regents Park Estate bring out the joy last night to celebrate with the local young designers who created Reflect, the new performance and play structure.

Under a starry sky, Reflect and the National Temperance Hospital Gardens (by @ldadesign ) hosted their first event, Fitzrovia Youth Action’s Winter Wellbeing @fyaonroad . Play and much needed catch ups were fuelled by hot chocolate and hard warmers, and topped off by opening words from Ellie Rudd, FYA’s brilliant Programme Manager (& so many other wonderful things!) and Nicky, one of the Young Placemakers.

The structure takes on a new character at night, as a beacon lighting up the skyline and catching the lights of London’s busy streets.

Here’s to lots more moments of Reflect bringing people together.

The Winter Wellbeing event was organised by @fyaonroad Programme Manager, Ellie Rudd and the FYA Young Guardians. The Reflect opening event was organised by our Programme Manager, George Pope @georgepope227 , Natalie Kirkwood, Senior Engagement Manager at @macegroup , Gairey Thomas at @hs2ltd and @clairecurtice at @_zetteler_

Photos 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 are by @jshmulevitch
Photos 4 and 13 by Matt Springett
Photos 9, 10, 11, and 12 by Shafi Rahman

If you have been down Hampstead Road in Camden lat

If you have been down Hampstead Road in Camden lately, you may have noticed a new addition to the skyline…

Reflect is the result of a year-long engagement process with young people in Camden, culminating in Fitzrovia Youth in Action’s Young Placemakers coming together last August to build the panels that they designed and which make up the top half of the structure.

Now the result of their work is here: a six-metre tall beacon demonstrating young people’s power in shaping their neighbourhoods. The play and performance structure is the focal point of the National Temperance Hospital Garden, a meanwhile green space established on a former HS2 construction compound.

Mirrored surfaces dramatically catch the sun and the surrounding area, elevating the pavilion to the status of landmark. Above the stage, the array of overhead mirrors creates intriguing and unusual visual effects, reflecting performers onstage back to the audience – earning the structure its title, ‘Reflect’, which was chosen by the team of Young Placemakers that conceived and built it.

The project has been a joyful collaboration between the amazing Young Placemakers from FYA @fyaonroad , LDA Design @ldadesign who landscaped the surrounding garden, Integral engineering @integral_engineering_design , HS2 @hs2ltd , MDJV @macegroup and us at MATT+FIONA, led by our Programme Manager Jon Shmulevitch @jshmulevitch

We are so excited that Reflect and the garden are now open to for the public to enjoy, providing a new green and playful space to the local community!

Photos by @the_nick_turpin

Fresh off the back of a win at the TET (ThorntonEd

Fresh off the back of a win at the TET (ThorntonEducationTrust) Awards last week, we’re so pleased to announce that the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community Youth Engagement Programme with @latimer by Clarion Housing Group has been announced as a finalist in the ‘Community Engagement: Homes’ category at this year’s Pineapple Awards!

Thank you to The Developer @thedeveloperuk and @festivalofplace for recognising the work that we and Latimer have been doing to ensure that young people are meaningfully shaping the future garden community, and for reaffirming the vital importance of giving young people a say in the shaping of their local area.

We can’t wait to present the project at the free digital Festival of Pineapples, happening 25th to 27th February.

Click the links in our bio to read the article in The Developer to discover the other amazing finalists and to attend the digital Festival of Pineapples.

Good luck to all of the finalists!

The Essex Young Designers have kicked off 2025 in

The Essex Young Designers have kicked off 2025 in style, building on their work before the winter break to create this beautiful 1:20 model of a permanent element for Phase 1 of the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community.

After previously working in groups, the whole collective came together to create this model which explores the thinking that the group has been exploring for almost two years. This includes carving out a space for teenagers to meet, regenerative design principles and their own creative flair in shaping the future garden community.

The Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community is a joint project between Tendring District Council, Colchester City Council and Essex County Council. It is a planned new community, centred on Garden Community principles. Latimer by Clarion Housing Group @latimer and Mersea Homes are the joint delivery partners. MATT+FIONA are supporting with the in-depth and genuine involvement of young people. The Essex Young Designers are led by our Programme Manager, George Pope @georgepope227 with support from our Programme Manager Jon Shmulevitch @jshmulevitch

Reflecting on a wonderful week ✨ Our engagement

Reflecting on a wonderful week ✨

Our engagement work with @latimer for the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community picked up the Joint Award for longterm children’s programme at this week’s Thornton Education Trust Awards @thorntoneducationtrust

The initiatives, which include the Essex Young Designers ~ still going strong almost 2 years on from its creation ~ were recognised for their longterm commitment to local young people and recognition that children hold unique and invaluable insights that can help shape the new, regenerative garden community.

Alongside, our co-design work with @bywaterproperties for the ceramic facade of the new Paradise building in Lambeth was shortlisted for the community engagement category.

Congratulations to both our clients, and to all the award winners, commendations and nominees. It was so inspiring to see how the awards have grown, and the breadth and depth of initiatives now happening in this field. Thank you @thorntoneducationtrust for championing such important work.

Photo 1 by @lapchingphotos
Photo 2 by @luke.odonovan
Photo 3 by @the_nick_turpin

#tetawards #thorntoneducationtrust

Brandhall Eco Park is a new park, being created on

Brandhall Eco Park is a new park, being created on the site of a former golf course in Sandwell. We’ve been working in collaboration with LDA Design @ldadesign and Sandwell Council to run a series of youth engagement workshops to better understand what the young people of Sandwell would like to see in this new park.

Workshops 1 + 2 engaged over 80 9-11 year old pupils from two local schools. Giving the pupils a brief of ‘woodland play’, we used found natural materials, wooden blocks, corrugated card and coloured paper to enable the young designers to create 40 mini parks. These mini parks were then brought together to create one big installation.

Working with the same materiality, workshop 3 engaged a smaller group at Bleak House Youth Group. These designers focused on spaces for gathering for teenagers.

Some of the outcomes of the engagement sessions were: Creating parks with adventurous treetop play, with specific pieces of equipment like zip wires and monkey bars; designing spaces to gather that could be used by children, young people and adults; ensuring the park has new sports facilities that are integrated into the landscape.

Thank you to our Assistant Programme Manager, Eve Nixon, @evie_nix_ who led this project. Photos by Matt & Eve.

#ecopark #codesign #youthengagement #landscapedesign #brandhall

As we gear up for more exciting things in 2025, we

As we gear up for more exciting things in 2025, we want to take a moment to say thank you to all the children, young people, partners, sponsors and collaborators we’ve had the opportunity to work with this year, especially our Industry Champions, @jesticowhiles @buro_happold @happoldfoundation

Above all, a big thank you to our team, who bring joy, hope & inspiration everyday. George, Jon & Eve it’s a privilege to work with you.

These snaps by @jshmulevitch are from our end of year celebration at Hackney City Farm @hackneycityfarm_official including learning to whittle with the lovely London Greenwood @londongreenwood

Wishing you all a wonderful festive season and a v

Wishing you all a wonderful festive season and a very happy & creative 2025!

Looking back at 2024, it’s been our busiest and biggest year yet. Swipe ➡️ to see our year in numbers.

Matt and I would like to say a big thank you to our team, partners, funders, collaborators and of course all the children & young people we’ve had the pleasure of working with ✨ Bring on 2025!

The magic of protobuilds ✨ Building prototypes

The magic of protobuilds ✨

Building prototypes at 1:1 not only ensures genuine and transparent co-design, but it’s fun! Seeing ideas come to life at full scale 💥

In the final workshop with Mission Grove Primary School students, the children built life size versions of the pieces for the play street. Bendable honeycomb cardboard acted as the metal trim trail and locally sourced fabric created the colour & pattern.

The children created a low level, climbable bench, a hoop for ball games, stepping stones, and a trim trail with rails for hanging upside down & sliding.

The design team will now incorporate these ideas into the final design for the Play Street, part of the council’s wider Government Funded (Levelling Up Fund) ‘Walthamstow Culture for All’ Programme to improve safety, greening, inclusiveness, and accessibility in the town centre.

More information about the programme is available here: Walthamstow Culture for All https://talk.walthamforest.gov.uk/walthamstow-culture-for-all

Workshop led by @jshmulevitch

📸 @jshmulevitch

#protobuild #playstreet #playontheway #walthamforest #youngdesigners #codesign

Last week’s workshop with the Essex Young Design

Last week’s workshop with the Essex Young Designers was the second in this chapter in which we are supporting the group to design a permanent element for phase 1 of the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community.

The young people split into three groups focusing on different elements of the brief: landscape & activity, structure, and roofing & shelter. They were asked to create different possibilities for ‘A Place to Meet’ through 3D models using materials that reflect regenerative design principles. We will begin to synthesise their thinking in between sessions before scaling up to a proto-build in the new year.

We were joined by Russ Edwards from @latimer the Project Director for TCBGC, who since the project’s inception has been a strong advocate for the importance of young people shaping the Garden Community.

The Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community is a joint project between Tendring District Council, Colchester City Council and Essex County Council. It is a planned new community, centred on Garden Community principles. Latimer by Clarion Housing Group and Mersea Homes are the joint delivery partners. MATT+FIONA are supporting with the in-depth and genuine involvement of young people. The Essex Young Designers are led by our Programme Manager, George Pope @georgepope227

#gardencommunity #youthengagement #regenerativedesign

Out this week 💥 It was a pleasure for George, M

Out this week 💥 It was a pleasure for George, Matt & Fi to sit down with wonderful @umarellnewsletter co-founder Katy Hope @epoh_ytak this summer for their issue, A Hand to Hold.

In case you haven’t come across the word before, umarell is an Italian term for men of retirement age who spend their time watching construction sites, especially roadworks – stereotypically with hands clasped behind their back and offering unwanted advice to the workers.

And if you haven’t come across the journal, Umarell, do check it out - link in bio.

In their words:
Umarell was born at the end of 2022 over a pint in Glasgow. The manifesto we set out from the beginning was to highlight under-represented and radical projects in architecture and all its peripheries. We wanted to create an accessible, but not dumbed down, publication that would extend the reaches of architectural practice beyond what is the norm to many.

We open Umarell up to everyone, architect or not, we don’t believe in the elitist narrative that a lot of architects perpetuate. Architecture is unavoidable in life and through deepening people’s understanding of the built environment we hope that they will begin to question these places and take action against architecture’s many injustices.

Umarell was started by Rory Thomas, Katy Hope and Andrew Wilson, we all met whilst studying at the Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow. It takes many more than just us to do the projects we have done so also a big thanks to everyone we have worked with, whether that be on the publication or our built projects. Thanks to all our umarells.

Playing in 3D 📐✂️🪨 In the second worksh

Playing in 3D 📐✂️🪨

In the second workshop with Mission Grove Primary, the pupils took their ideas for the Play Street from the first session and explored them in three dimensions. Many created undulating surfaces to move across, peppered with play elements and wiggly metal bars at hip height for swinging and support.

We are excited to be working with Waltham Forest Council @lbwalthamforest to support local primary school children at Mission Grove Primary School to co-design play elements in the new Play Street proposed for Mission Grove, just off Walthamstow High Street.

In the next workshop their ideas go BIG! Watch this space.

The project is part of the council’s wider Government Funded (Levelling Up Fund) ‘Walthamstow Culture for All’ Programme to improve safety, greening, inclusiveness, and accessibility in the town centre.

More information about the programme is available here: Walthamstow Culture for All https://talk.walthamforest.gov.uk/walthamstow-culture-for-all

Workshop led by @jshmulevitch

📸 by @jshmulevitch

#playstreet #playontheway #walthamforest #youngdesigners #codesign

The value of youth engagement, co-design and makin

The value of youth engagement, co-design and making (part 3)

Perhaps the most significant outcome of youth engagement: A better-designed place ✨

Our experience of delivering co-design projects suggests the resulting places will be:

- Unique & imaginative
- Shaped by local expertise
- Green & equitable

All in all, lovely places to live, work and play.

Inventive illustrations by the talented @ciapaite.dovile

#youthengagement #planning #placemaking #codesign #equity #sustainability #imagination #livedexperience

The value of youth engagement, co-design and makin

The value of youth engagement, co-design and making (part 2)

Sharing the second of three key outcomes of involving children and young people in the shaping of the built environment: Big social impact.

This includes:

- Widening participation
- Meanwhile use
- Upskilling & volunteering

Beautiful illustrations by @ciapaite.dovile

#youthengagement #planning #socialimpact #socialvalue #givingback

The value of youth engagement, co-design and co-ma

The value of youth engagement, co-design and co-making ✨ (part 1)

This autumn we’ve been reflecting with the children, young people & place-makers we work with, on why youth engagement is so important to good place shaping.

Integrating young people’s unique local knowledge, lived experience and imagination leads to 3 key outcomes (amongst many others!):

1. Smoother Planning Process
2. Bigger Social Impact
3. Better-Designed Places

The wonderful illustrator Dovile Ciapaite @ciapaite.dovile has helped us to bring these ideas to life in a series of illustrations.

Here we share the first three, demonstrating how youth engagement can lead to smoother planning processes through:

- Constructive dialogue
- Bringing together design teams & communities
- Widening engagement

#youthengagement #planning #codesign #cocreation #illustration

The power of light, materials and open ended possi

The power of light, materials and open ended possibility ✨ What a brilliant day we had creating spaces with everyday materials at the UAL @ualawardingbody #TeachInspireCreate conference on Friday.

George @georgepope227 Jon @jshmulevitch and Eve @evie_nix_ led the workshop for dozens of super FE teachers from across the creative sector, sharing insights into how to make 1:1, open ended & collaborative installations with their students. Stunning results that we hope will be repeated in colleges across the country. (If only we could guarantee Friday’s beautiful sunlight would reappear too ☺️)

Thank you UAL for inviting us to lead one of your creative workshops as part of the conference. We are huge admirers of teachers and the invaluable work they do supporting the next generation, especially those teaching creative subjects and giving young people the opportunity to try to make sense of the world and discover their place within it.

📸 by @jshmulevitch and @georgepope227

#ualawardingbody #teachinspirecreate #furthereducation #creative #industries #makespace

This autumn we’ve have been collaborating with @

This autumn we’ve have been collaborating with @2_3degrees and @wemakecamden on the ‘Build Better Programme’ in Kentish Town. We’ve had the joy of working with a group of 13 young people from the West Kentish Town Estate, looking at how we might activate meanwhile space during the future estate redevelopment.

Design sessions have moved from collages to small scale models, and finally to large scale prototypes. The young people began by reflecting on how they have previously gathered on their estate, and what types of seating allowed them to do so. They then built up these ideas into their own propositions, using 1:20 scale models. In our final session, they worked in groups to bring these ideas to life, at 1:1 scale. The young people’s designs will be fabricated by MATT+FIONA at Euston Skills Centre in December.

It’s been fantastic to work collaboratively with 2-3 Degrees, who have led further sessions with the young people, developing their confidence, public speaking and critical thinking skills.

Keep your eyes peeled for updates on the installation of the group’s designs in the new year.

The project is being brilliantly led by our new Assistant Programme Manager Eve Nixon @evie_nix_

In the spirit of genuine co-design, the Essex Youn

In the spirit of genuine co-design, the Essex Young Designers - the group of young people aged 13 to 19 who are contributing their lived experience, local knowledge and imagination to the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community (TCBGC) - have been invited to design a permanent element for Phase 1 of the scheme.

In the first design workshop of this chapter, we explored ideas for the landmark brief, ‘A Place to Meet’, through elevational drawings. What can a meeting place be, who will use it, does it include shelter or seating, what materials it might be made of? We then moved on to working in plan, collaging fabric to indicate where the designs could go within the garden community.

Emerging ideas include sheltered seating for meeting friends, and potentially the addition of sports equipment and natural play.

We were joined by Sandy and Caitlin from @periscope_uk and Hana from @hat_projects who provided invaluable insight into Phase 1 of the TCBGC, and helped the EYD develop their designs.

The Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community is a joint project between Tendring District Council, Colchester City Council and Essex County Council. It is a planned new community, centred on Garden Community principles. Latimer by Clarion Housing Group @latimer and Mersea Homes are the joint delivery partners. @matt_and_fiona are supporting with the in-depth and genuine involvement of young people, and the Essex Young Designers are led by our Programme Manager, George Pope @georgepope227

📸 by @jshmulevitch

#youthengagement #codesign #gardencommunity #northessex

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