Until Fri 22 March: "The Open Office: a drop-in centre for neighbourhood planning"

Link to The Guardian

"Even to many planners, the finer points of neighbourhood planning remain a mystery.

"A new project at London's Architecture Foundation, masterminded by young architecture practice We Made That, aims to tackle this problem, and put the workings of localism on public show for all to explore – and take part in.

"Holly Lewis, co-director of the practice with Oliver Goodhall, said:

"We were fascinated by the fact that communities were being given the power to write their own future, and yet they weren't being shown how to do it. The built environment professions haven't traditionally been very open or communicative, and people aren't really taught about planning at school or on TV – it's a very murky process. You may be familiar with house extensions, but the idea of being able to write policy is completely alien."

"The Open Office, which will run until 20 March at the Architecture Foundation's street-fronting gallery in Southwark, is conceived as a live project space, part "Citizens Urban Advice Bureau", part functioning practice. 

"Staffed by We Made That, along with a changing group of six to eight volunteers, the team will explore different case study areas on a week-by-week basis – from the emerging neighbourhood plan for Hackney's Chatsworth Road, to Croydon town centre and the Southall industrial area.

"Oliver Wainwright will be chairing the final session, Learning from The Open Office, on Wednesday 20 March, from 7pm, at the Architecture Foundation."

Link to The Architecture Foundation

"We Made That – The Open Office"

Until 22 March 2013

Tues – Sat, 12 – 6pm

Weekly Daytime Events:

"The Open Office will be running weekly research projects that will culminate in Friday lunch-time presentations hosted in The AF Project Space.

"All Friday Pin Up events are free and open to all (no need to RSVP). Space is limited however, and the events will operate on a first come, first served basis."

Week 4 (12 - 16 March)

Study area: Somerstown neighbourhood
Key question: "Given its reliance on volunteers, how can neighbourhood planning be truly representative?"
Friday Pin Up: Friday 15 March, 12.30 - 1.30pm

Week 5 (19 - 22 March)

Study area: Southall industrial area
Key question: "How can neighbourhood planning support diverse economies?"
Friday Pin Up: Friday 22 March, 12.30 - 1.30pm

Additional events: (click for details)

Michelle Provoost:
'No such thing as Community?'
Wed 13 March 2013, 7pm

'We Made That: Learning from The Open Office'
chaired by Oliver Wainwright
Wed 20 March 2013, 7pm

Urban Pioneers

"The Architecture Foundation's Urban Pioneers education programme engages teams of 16-19 year olds in areas of cities undergoing dramatic change. Young people are empowered to critically explore the transformations happening around them and develop new skills through a series of workshops with professionals including architects, engineers, film makers, artists, designers and writers."

Croydon Urban Pioneers
January - May 2013

"The Architecture Foundation's Urban Pioneers programme is to going south for the winter, to Croydon. We will be running a series of creative workshops with architects, artists and designers to examine the built environment, and will be recruiting 10 young people from the London Borough of Croydon.

"If you would like more information, please contact The Architecture Foundation's Education Manager, Tom Keeley.

"The Urban Pioneers Programme is sponsored by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, with additional sponsorship for the Croydon Urban Pioneers from Westfield and [yikes!] Hammerson."