HUW JONES

2022, MArch year 2

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This scheme aims to help address socioeconomic inequalities in a 1km2 area in the district of Ciudad Bolívar in Bogotá, Colombia, through the creation of a social enterprise that will:

• Build and partially fund a new primary school for the children of Ciudad Bolívar

• Provide new, much needed, public green space in the area

• Provide community facilities including spaces for hire, sports pitches, a co-working studio, and run evening classes free for the local community

• Invest in the open city through the circular economy, offering new opportunities for training to people of all ages, including apprenticeships in social-enterprise-owned facilities

The school has been designed to UK specifications due to the language barrier for Colombian regulations, and this being a UK based MArch course. The school will accommodate approximately 500 students from the ages of 3 to 6.

A primary design influence is making the school building itself fun, vibrant, and engaging for young children. This links to my thesis dissertation on environmental psychology in architecture, with this area being researched specifically regarding how the design of spaces can influence childhood development. Access to natural green spaces for at least 30 minutes a week (Steg & Groot, 2019, pp.73) has been shown to be beneficial to childhood development, especially in deprived areas (Steg & Groot, 2019, pp.102). In people of all ages, a ‘connectedness to nature’ can help improve well-being (Steg & Groot, 2019, pp.71) and designing a scheme with public green space, and shared (public/private) green space may have wider psychological benefits to the community. Regarding children’s vision, colours are perceived as somewhat muted until approximately 8 years old, and bright, bold colours can help retain attention and help ‘keep a stimulus fresh and new’ (Kopec, 2012, pp.117). This research inspired a vibrant, varied, and fun architectural form.