Architecture for Everyone is a three year, nationwide campaign, founded on the belief that built environment professionals who reflect the diversity of the society they serve have a better chance of creating a built environment that meets the needs of society. The campaign therefore aims to identify and support new and emerging architectural talent from amongst social groups that have been traditionally excluded from entering and sustaining a career in the profession.

The campaign nationally is being led by Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and international architects RMJM, with Places Matter! leading in the Northwest.

In this, the campaign's second year, the programme consisted of eight workshops which took place between February and April 2010 and saw 30 young people from Liverpool and Manchester learn about the importance of architecture and the built environment by exploring both cities alongside architects and others to develop a vision of their dream space. Activities included a tour of Liverpool ONE with BDP, the architects who produced the master plan, and an exploration of Manchester’s city centre with urban free runners Northern Parkour. The participants learnt about the design process and working on designs for the redevelopment of two city centre sites.

One participants said “Now I know why Manchester was renewed and whenever I see an empty space I think to myself that it could be used for the youth and there are a lot of spaces that could be renewed. It has affected my everyday life as well because now I look onto things like this more deeply now and think about them”.

Another commented “Before the project I had always considered architecture but not been sure. A4E reassured me that it is definitely what I would love to do. I learned exactly what it involved and I now feel that I could actually achieve it. Architecture or Everyone has been a very enjoyable experience”.

The aim of the national Architecture for Everyone campaign is to engage with young people, particularly those from Black and Minority Ethnic groups and inner city areas, and encourage them to direct their creative talents to architecture and urban design. The campaign aims to improve accessibility and the diversity of the architecture profession as well as the longer term ambition to shape Britain’s deprived inner cities ‘from the inside out’ by encouraging those who live in them to learn about the built environment and empower them to shape the communities in which they live.

Details of the third year of the Architecture for Everyone Campaign will be release shortly. If you have any questions or would like to participate in the campagin, contact Jo Harrop by emailing jo.harrop@placesmatter.co.uk or calling 0151 703 0135