Accelerate

The Accelerate programme consists of a series of twelve free workshops and mentoring from a qualified architect, for young people interested in going on to undergraduate study in architecture and the built environment industries. It is run by Open City in collaboration with University College of London’s Bartlett School of Architecture and University of Arts London’s Central St Martins.

This pioneering education and mentoring programme is aimed at increasing diversity in the built environment profession. It gives young people aged 16–18 from London state schools and under-represented communities the confidence and skills needed to make strong university applications to study architecture and other related courses.

Nimi and Maia ran one of the workshops. They led a walking tour of the Becontree estate where students could stop and sketch. Each person picked up a a different theme - windows, doors etc. They then returned to a local primary school and worked on a group project of a drawing where each had a corner to illustrate their theme.