Live projects and OxArch

Live projects play a big part in how we teach. All students in the School of Architecture are given the opportunity to design and make work for a real client. We have strong links with local authorities, NGOs, developers, local cultural organisations and the leisure construction industry. You will have many opportunities to visit buildings and developments as part of your learning experience. Our active student society, OxArch organises building visits and weekly lectures by leading international architects and designers. Recent guests include Make, Peter Cook, Stelarc, Hugh Broughton, Paul Smith and Stanton Williams.

OB1 Live

OB1 LIVE is an innovative programme of design projects commissioned by community based clients and created by students of architecture at Oxford Brookes University.

OB1 LIVE was founded by architects Jane Anderson and Colin Priest.

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About

The idea of OB1 LIVE came from a desire to formulate an informal opportunity for a group of year one architects to build something over the long summer vacation. Starting in 2007 with a bird hide and then the subsequent year as a public installation - mistakes were made and learnt and newly acquired skills developed in preparation for the following academic year. Since then we have brought live projects into the curriculum during the semester and have been lucky to collaborate with many more clients with interesting and challenging briefs.

An essential part of the OB1 LIVE experience is reality. Real clients. Real planners and building control inspectors. Real institutions. With real budgets, construction and site constraints. We work with many stakeholders and all students participate in the project, as they feel able.

The design projects undertaken reflect the many creative minds that have volunteered their time to the projects. Often the year one is over-looked for the older years – but we feel there is energy and precision in these fresh architectures and as such each project is unique, site-specific and valuable.

As we move on we are excited about the possibilities and scale of future OB1 LIVE projects and would like to thank Oxford Brookes University and all those who have been involved or supported these projects.

Programme Leader:
Jane Anderson

Contact

Professor Jane Anderson

Professor Jane Anderson

Programme Lead for Undergraduate Architecture

Jane Anderson is a qualified architect and Programme Leader for Undergraduate Architecture at Oxford Brookes University. She has worked as an architect for Arup Associates in Germany and for Brocklehurst Architects in the UK. Her built projects focus on low energy design and the use of natural materials.

Her involvement with architectural education began in 2001 as a participant in the innovative architectural tutor training course at University of East London. As a design studio tutor at Sheffield University from 2002-5 she had the opportunity to teach with Ruth Morrow and collaborated with her on the book "Building Clouds, Drifting Walls" that documented the activities of the year one design studio there. Since 2008 she has run the year one Architecture and Interior Architecture courses at Oxford Brookes University with Colin Priest.

Her experiences in teaching and practicing architecture have informed her book for undergraduate students and teachers of architecture entitled "Architectural Design", published by AVA in September 2010.

OB1 LIVE Projects

School of Architecture
Oxford Brookes University
Gypsy Lane
Oxford OX3 0BP

Contributors

  • CABE Space
  • Columba Architecture
  • Countrywide Signs
  • Creation Theatre Company, Oxford
  • Dark Angels
  • EXYZT
  • Film Oxford
  • Gifford
  • Group A, Goldsmith College, University of London
  • Jericho Residents Association
  • Mike Halliwell
  • Letraset
  • London Festival of Architecture
  • National Architecture Student Festival
  • Oxford Brookes University
  • Oxford City Council
  • Oxfordshire Association for the Blind
  • Saison Poetry Library, South Bank Centre
  • The Story Museum
  • zectorarchitects.net

Participants