from 4 to 9 March East festival 2010 will explore the diversity that East London is famous for. The programme is alive with creative learning opportunities for your classroom. From musical buildings to heated debates, join us on our whistle-stop tour of East’s creative architecture exploration, and how it can be applied in your classroom.
Royal Victoria Dock © O.F.E., flickr.com
Open House debate, ‘Is architecture art?’
Key stages 3 and 4 - English, art and design, history, geography
A mixed panel will discuss if architecture is still a "creative industry". Why not divide your class into groups to debate for and against the point. Begin by talking an opinion poll at the beginning of the debate, then again after.
Resources: use an online image bank to discuss which buildings students think are artistic or commercial. Try: RIBApix, The Courtald Gallery art and architecture image database, or English Heritage’s Images of England photographic library.
Steering questions: what is art? How are artists inspired? Does architecture follow this process?
Visit: the V&A Museum in London which houses a comprehensive collection of architectural drawings, photographs and models that can be used as inspiration for design work.
Event details: 8 March 2010, 6.30pm.
London Chamber Orchestra, ‘Inspired by architecture’
Key stage 4 - music, art and design, design and technologyLondon Chamber Orchestra performs several five minute works inspired by London buildings. What sounds do the buildings near you make? Would the ‘Gherkin’ (30 St Mary Axe) sound like a deep trombone; would the sound like an airy flute?
Resources: read the case study of a sixth form college in Hackney, who created a sound tower by recording the sounds of a building to reflect its atmosphere. You can these use the suggested activities with your own class.
Event details: 6 March, 10am –5pm.
Baha'i Temple, New Delhi, India © Adib Roy, flickr.com
The Baha'i Temple in Delhi
Key stages 3 and 4 - religion, citizenship
In this lecture at the East festival, architect, Phineas Manasseh, will take you on a colourful trip to a sacred space in the heart of New Delhi and discuss the differences and effects, of places of worship.
How do places of worship differ in appearance from other buildings? Are the roofs and windows different? How are they laid out on the inside? What impact do people’s beliefs have on the physical layout of a structure? What materials are most commonly used and why?
Resources: The article, Inspiring learners through sacred spaces, provides practical suggestions for preparing a class for a visit to a scared space, and making the most of it once you’re there.
Visit: sacred spaces are welcoming and open places. Why not bring your students to explore two contrasting places of worship, like St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School in Coventry?
Event details: 7 March, 3pm
Museum of London, ‘Docklands art and architecture’
Key stages 3 and 4 - geography, history
This tour explores the extraordinary range of art and architecture in Docklands, from nineteenth-century warehouses to the soaring skyscrapers of Canary Wharf.
There are many ways for students to become more aware of their surroundings. A visit to your local archives can give insight into the history of a place and why it has grown in certain ways.
Look up! You may see a wealth of ornamentation that provides clues to buildings past.
Resources: Students can become urban explorers, learning about local history then investigating how this past is still visible in the buildings around them. Download the Urban explorers resource packs produced by MADE.
Visit: your local library and archive to learn more about the history of your location. Then take your students on a tour of the town, seeing it with new eyes. Finish the day by reviewing images of the building you have seen, discussing what they may have been used for, or who may have lived in them?
Event details: 7 March, 2.30-4.30pm.
Gingerbread house © Super*Junk, flickr.com
The Barbican, ‘Home sweet home’
Key stages 3 and 4 - maths, citizenship, design and technology
In this event, become a resident of the Barbican'snewest neighbourhood: a cardboard community where anything is possible. Participants can create their own cardboard home, interact with new neighbors, visit the local post office and finish it all off with a block party.
Get students to create their ideal neighbourhood in the classroom. Prepare the class by discussing what type of house they would like to live in? Discuss how places may differ depending on who is living there and their needs. How will they use green space in their neighbourhood?
Maths and design and technology students can calculate the ratio of buildings to green space and create a unique urban plan. Students can bring their vision to life through using construction materials, or sketches, which can be displayed in the classroom.
Resources: The Wren Academy explored the notion of ‘my space, my base and my place’ with local architects. Read how they started in their bedrooms but soon moved to desert islands and tree houses!
The East festival proves that a little creativity can go a long way in bringing a subject to life. For the full programme of events taking place in March 2010, visit the East festival website.
