Learning at Play
"Little Building Bubbles" are made with rings combined with soft fabric to produce a strong collapsible structure that is extremely light. Image courtesy of People’s Architecture Office and More than Architect.
“Social Design: Learning at Play” is an exhibition by People’s Architecture Office (PAO) opening on November 23 at Design Society in Shenzhen. Image courtesy of People’s Architecture Office and More than Architect.
Shenzhen is known worldwide for its impressive economic growth and a booming population, yet the government struggles to keep up with the demand for sufficient quality public education. At the same time, the sector is facing a shortage of innovative teachers, slow moving curriculum upgrades and an uneven distribution of resources. This project addresses these issues by investigating and leveraging space as a third teaching dimension.
Shenzhen is known worldwide for its impressive economic growth and a booming population, yet the government struggles to keep up with the demand for sufficient quality public education. At the same time, the sector is facing a shortage of innovative teachers, slow moving curriculum upgrades and an uneven distribution of resources. This project addresses these issues by investigating and leveraging space as a third teaching dimension.
‘Learning at Play’ examines the influence design and architecture can have on learning outcomes, by means of researching, developing, testing and analysing innovative learning tools. Through a series of experimental workshops taking place within schools, festivals and museums that focuses on early learners, the project develops new spatial designs and learning tools that catalyse design thinking, impacting both learners and the wider field of design and education.
Milestone
2019.Q4
Project awarded Design Trust Seed Grant
2019.11-2020.02
“Social Design: Learning at Play” Exhibition is presented at Sea World Culture and Arts Center, Shenzhen
- 2019
- Grantee: Zang Feng, James Shen, He Zhe, Feng Guochuan, Suo Bingqing and Zhou Huixing
- Organisation: People’s Architecture Office and More than Architect
The Learning at Play project team is comprised of the organisations More than Architect and People’s Architecture Office (PAO). Together they join forces to maximize their areas of expertise within architecture, design and education.
PAO is an international practice with offices based in Beijing and Boston. Founded in 2010 by James Shen, HE Zhe, and ZANG Feng, the firm is a multi-disciplinary studio focused on social impact through design particularly within housing, urban regeneration and innovative learning environments. Learning at Play is conducted by People’s Works, PAO’s arm for self-initiated research and social design innovation.
More than Architect is an architectural public education platform for children aged 4-12, and is part of the Shenzhen Architectural Design and Research Institute. It was set up in 2012 by Feng Guochuan, a teacher and children’s education promoter, helping families appreciate architecture through courses, workshops, children’s books, and teaching aids.
- Project Progress: Social Design: Learning at Play
Time: 23 November 2019 – 30 June 2020
Venue: Park View Gallery1F, the Sea World Culture and Arts Center丨Design Society
Installation view. Image courtesy of People’s Architecture Office and More than Architect.
Installation view. Image courtesy of People’s Architecture Office and More than Architect.
Installation view. Image courtesy of People’s Architecture Office and More than Architect.