Open Studio is an interactive project run by the School of Architecture + Cities at the University of Westminster to make its design, research and practice-based work available online while it is happening. The site acts as a real time teaching and learning environment in which the work of both students and staff is curated and documented – the work of its design studios, or its other teaching and research groups and workshops. Read more in Blog, follow us on Twitter and like us on Instagram.
“A live project comprises the negotiation of a brief, timescale, budget and product between a client and an educational institution.” liveprojectsnetwork
“A live project comprises the negotiation of a brief, timescale, budget and product between a client and an educational institution.” liveprojectsnetwork
+ a platform for staff and students to generate and work on a wide range of Live Projects, with the aim of developing the school’s capacity as a centre of excellence
+ to act as an innovation accelerator within the notoriously slow building industry
+ to access funding for Live Projects and Live Research
+ to build up new collaborations, e.g. with external partners, local government&industry
Live projects provide a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between spatial, political, financial and social factors in connection with our lived urban experience. There is the possibility for practical and tangible outcomes, which can be communicated to a wide range of audiences in an engaging way. Live Projects promote an understanding of complex relationships of stakeholders and introducing novel ways of practice whilst being useful, applied and with specific project outcomes as well as action research.
Live projects involve participatory activities that can bring together diverse stakeholders. Significantly, the projects have a tangible physical aspect which makes participation exciting, engaging and empowering. Our approach is to use Live Projects as a way to understand issues, ask questions and we see this as an itinerary process for applied research. We introduce new ways of working collaboratively across sectors and take our multidisciplinary skills within academia and use these in live projects to serve communities and have a positive impact on society whilst introducing students and staff to alternative practice.
These projects are made possible thanks to funding towards the cost of materials and skills transfer. To find out how you or your organisation can support forthcoming projects contributing towards material costs, please contact The Fundraising Team at development@westminster.ac.uk
