Design+Build Studio
The Design+Build studio at the University of Nottingham offered architecture and engineering students an immersive, hands-on learning experience.
Including second-year Undergraduate Architecture and Engineering students (K100 and K230) and Postgraduate Taught students from the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, our studio provided a unique opportunity to design and construct a pre-school in rural South Africa each year.
Students spent the autumn term learning about the context and the practicalities of construction in order to produce a series of design proposals. This led to the selection of a preferred design by our project partners in South Africa. After the Christmas break, detailed construction drawings and specifications were produced by the students working with our industry specialists ready for an intense and immersive build based around the easter break. Our studio focussed on developing technical skills, international experience, and social impact within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Design+Build studio has been seen as a recognised leader in architecture and engineering education, pioneering cutting-edge pedagogy in the UK and globally.
South Africa Crèche Building Initiative
Since 2009, the Design+Build studio has completed 12 projects on 10 sites in low-income areas of South Africa, including the construction of crèches, which have provided early childhood care to approximately 4,000 children. These projects have also delivered nine community water sources, further supporting local communities.
Our partnerships in South Africa provided students with a comprehensive project-based learning experience. By exploring the interconnected nature of design, construction, and people, students learned to create positive solutions that benefit both communities and their own professional development.
Our studio is rooted in the belief that the study of architecture is inherently about buildings and that by engaging in the act of building, students become better designers. This philosophy has inspired over 500 students to participate in the studio, contributing to meaningful change for both them and the communities they serve.
Design+Build Studio Project:
Impact
The Design+Build studio’s projects focus on creating net positive impacts for communities while delivering significant educational benefits for students.
- Over 4,000 children have attended schools in 12 crèches built by the Design+Build studio
- Over 500 architecture students have engaged directly in these international social impact projects
- £500,000 has been raised to support the studio’s initiatives
- Each school also brings wider impact, such as clean water and energy to communities, that would otherwise lack access
Recognition
Our studio has earned prestigious accolades, including:
- The Vice Chancellor’s Medal (2022)
- A Royal Institute of British Architects Award (2019)
- The Faculty of Engineering Staff Award (2018)
We thank everyone who supports us - in ways large and small. Every penny given and every minute of time shared, fuels our ability to positively change the lives of people in Nottingham and around the world. Please get in touch to discuss opportunities to support: