Studio Egret West and Heathfield Academy: Re-wilding Wandle Park
For the second year running, Studio Egret West worked on a co-design project with Year 5 pupils at Heathfield Academy. Architect Charlotte and landscape architects Scott and Sarah set the children a dual brief: re-wild the landscape to reduce flood risk and restore local wildlife and design a sustainable community building that works in harmony with nature. The project focused on nearby Wandle Park, a vital open space increasingly at risk of flooding as our climate changes.
In Workshop 1, the children learned basic architectural drawing techniques for application to the Wandle Park site. They explored the core pillars of environmental design, including the integration of habitats, human movement, natural light, and the relationship between built structures and the natural world.
Year 5 contemplate designing for Wandle Park
The following week, the children headed out for a site visit. Accompanied by the architects, they acted as field researchers – identifying existing habitats, conducting ecological surveys, and collecting material samples. This hands-on experience allowed them to begin mapping where a building could sit and how the park’s ecosystem might be improved.
“The children have gained a deeper understanding and awareness of climate change…an understanding that all spaces are designed, and that they are capable of changing and redesigning their own environments.” – Year 5 teacher at Heathfield Academy
In Workshop 3, the children translated their research into group drawings. With a focus on designing for both flood and drought, the Year 5s integrated new architectural techniques with their climate knowledge. Their final designs featured a range of innovative solutions, including:
- Flood-resilient structures on stilts
- Green roofs and integrated grasslands biomes
- Shading to prevent overheating and rainwater harvesting tanks
- Solar panels and wind turbines for energy generation
- “Drought vacuums” for water collection, and river-cleaning boats
- In Workshop 6, the children presented their schemes to an expert panel, answering questions about the rationale for their adaptive designs. Following this session, Studio Egret West’s designers selected five creative visions for digital rendering, closely following the children’s detailed annotations.
Year 5s present their ideas to a panel of experts
Five detailed digital renders were produced of winning designs. All the children were thrilled to see their imaginative concepts transformed into vivid, professional architectural visualisations.
Our sincere thanks go to Charlotte, Scott, and Sarah for facilitating such a creative co-design project with Heathfield Academy. We are grateful to the children for their imagination and commitment to climate resilience, and to the Year 5 class teachers whose support and engagement have been vital to the success of this project.
Studio egret West’s AI render interpretation of a child-group’s design
