Asking architecture students to take on a real-life design challenge and work directly with local communities (rather than tackling a fictional brief) can be of great benefit to all. In 2018, first year architecture students at Oxford Brookes University (OBU) were challenged to design a treehouse classroom for children; one that might sit in the woodland of the new Science Oxford Centre at Stansfeld Park in Headington in the future.

Hear from the students involved in this unique project as they explain the science underpinning the architectural processes of design, material choice and construction. Architects and educators Jane Anderson and Ralph Saull will discuss the value of such ‘live’ projects in design education and the benefits to the local community through this mode of engagement.

Join us for the next event in our Science on Your Doorstep series, where we shine a spotlight on fascinating people living and working in Headington. The event is free to attend, but you are invited to make a donation towards a special fund we’re setting up to support disadvantaged schools across the region. The fund will help these schools with their travel costs, to enable them to come and enjoy the new Science Oxford Centre.