Building together
Working with ARU architecture students and children from Basildon Academies, we set out to create a playful structure using recycled materials.
The day brought energy, excitement, and plenty of conversation. Children discovered what it feels like to build something in their town centre. Students experienced the rare joy of seeing their designs realised and tested in public. Passers-by stopped to ask questions, watch, and join in.
For us, it was a reminder that architecture isn’t only about drawings and buildings. It’s about memories created through making together. Public spaces aren’t just filled with structures — they’re filled with the stories of the people who helped shape them.
What we learned
The installation itself may have been temporary, but it left us with lasting lessons:
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Materials matter → Double-thickness cardboard prototypes held up. Single-thickness boxes in a windy, wet East Square? Not so much. Next time we’ll secure sturdier reclaimed materials.
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Sustainability takes planning → Using tape and new boxes wasn’t ideal. With more collaborators — local recycling or construction firms — we could have sourced responsibly and avoided waste.
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The weather always has a say → February in Basildon means rain and wind. Future projects need weatherproofing built in from the start.
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Perfection isn’t the point → The taped joints and soggy boxes didn’t matter to the children. What mattered was building together, laughing, and creating something of their own.
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Listening is building too → We asked children how East Square made them feel and what they’d improve. Their answers underlined the importance of designing with children, not just for them — an approach championed by Dinah Bornat at ZCD Architects.
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Temporary projects echo on → A few months later Basildon Council asked if our drawings could be used on site hoardings nearby. Proof that even short-lived projects can ripple outward.
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Document everything → In the rush of the day we didn’t capture the process as fully as we could have. Next time, documentation will be part of the brief, so the story lasts as long as the memories.
Why this matters
At Studio 40, our values are rooted in collaboration, clarity, and creating connections. This Is Our Space embodied all three: it brought people together, made architecture tangible, and showed how design can open dialogue.
The cardboard may not have lasted — but the conversations, laughter, and memories did.
And for us, that’s what community architecture is all about.
Let’s build more together
This Is Our Space was just the beginning. We’d love to explore more opportunities to work with schools, councils, community groups, and partners who share our belief that architecture can spark dialogue and belonging.
If you’re interested in collaborating on a community project — whether it’s a pop-up installation, a workshop, or something entirely new — we’d love to hear from you.