Young people at Urban Design School

PLACE, the Architecture and Built Environment Centre for Northern Ireland, launched its first Urban Design Summer School for 14-19 year olds, a component of the ‘out of PLACE’ vacant units project. This project was funded by Arts and Business Northern Ireland.

Two of the 27 participant’s came from the Lisburn area. Ross Magee and Suzanne Shaw where both strong contenders for the sketchbook of the week and the photography prize.

The Summer School was based in the ground floor of the Obel Tower in Belfast city centre. The space was kindly donated by the Karl Group, providing a prime location for those interested in the built environment, with views along the Lagan to the old 19th Century Custom House and the striking 21st Century Titanic Belfast.

The PLACE summer school aimed to get young people together to discuss ‘What Belfast is missing…’ Using this overarching question the school hosted a number of themed days based on topics including; public art, planning and site analysis, sketching and model building and urban design.

The week was a huge success, with plans already taking shape for next year’s Summer School.