Hey! My name is Bethany. I am 22 years old.
I grew up in Nottingham, but I am of Jamaican descent. I studied for my undergraduate degree at Oxford Brookes University and now I am part of the CPU_ai atelier.

If I wasn’t studying architecture, I would probably be studying chemistry or maybe even maths, but I’d still do something creative on the side!

Social Value:
The community is at the heart of this project! TASC explores how children interact with the built environment through play. By designing a mobile pod that facilitates play and activities, this project enables a space that encourages engagement and learning for both children and larger communities. As a team, we will explore the mind of a child and propose concept designs for the pod, which could potentially be developed and built in the future. We aim to design a pod that will inspire children to explore, learn, and engage with the world around them.

This live project will also enable the BA and MLA students to learn how to design for play and create spaces that engage children. They will also upskill by attending various workshops contributing to their future progression in architecture.

Designing for Play!

Today we had another great guest presentation from CAUKIN Studio. They took us through three of their playscape projects, from the design process to its construction. You can look at their work below:

https://www.caukinstudio.com/projects

The talk really inspired ideas for our project. CAUKIN spoke about their approach to community collaboration and interpreting children’s ideas to become something exciting and real. The talk provoked thought on the use of sustainable materials and the construction of playscapes.

We would like to thank them for delivering an amazing talk!

Three Designs!

Alongside creating AutoCAD plans, we also used SketchUp to model our developing designs for each of the pods. This allows us to visualise our ideas in 3D and look further into the structure and spatiality of the pods.

The team have created amazing designs and we are looking forward to developing them further.

Model Making Pod: The Process!

As we draw near to the end of our project, we thought it would be nice to reflect on the design process to see how the pods have evolved. The Model Making Pod provides a space for children to get physical with model making. The idea of foldable tables, from the walls, have been focal from start to finish! Shelves at either side of the pod are perfect for storing materials and stationery. At the end of the day, this pod can be folded down and packed away, creating something new for the children to explore.

We can't wait to share the final designs with you!

Canvas Pod: The Process!

As we draw near to the end of our project, we thought it would be nice to reflect on the design process to see how the pods have evolved. From initial sketch models, the Canvas Pod has retained its hexagonal shape and multi-levels. The walls act as canvases for the children to draw on. The different heights create exciting areas for discovery and play.

We can't wait to share the final designs with you!

Sensory Pod: The Process!

As we draw near to the end of our project, we thought it would be nice to reflect on the design process to see how the pods have evolved. The initial idea was to create a sensory experience for touch, smell, and sight. The final pod has managed to include texture walls, areas of contrasting light, and even a plant wall for refreshing smells!

We can't wait to share the final designs with you!

The Three Pods!

Each pod can function separately, placed in different locations on the site. This hosts a range of play experiences for the children and allows them to engage with each pod in a new way. These pods facilitate a range of activities and interactions that will support their learning, exploration, and development!