Youth group meets top architect

ARCHITECT Mike Davies

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ONE of the best known architects in the country is working with a group of enthusiastic young people from Oldham to design the state-of-the-art youth club that is to be built on the site of the present Marjorie Lees Health Centre, Oldham.

The teenagers, who make up the Oldham Youth Zone development group went to London to meet up with high-profile architect Mike Davies to finalise the latest phase of the exciting project.

The Sorrell Foundation organised the visit that included a trip to its Young Design Centre at Somerset House, where the young people took part in workshops with professionals from Sorrell’s creative industries team.

A key part of the weekend was an appointment with Mike Davies, part of the Sorrell Foundation’s creative team for its myplace programme.

Mike is director in charge of the masterplan for the Wood Wharf development in London, and also the redevelopment of Bracknell town centre.

He is currently the project director for the masterplan for Greater Paris 2025, a direct commission from the French President, examining the growing needs of urban Paris and how these fit the 21st century.

Previous work includes strategic guidance on the Jacob Javits Convention Centre in New York and Tower 3 at the World Trade Centre site in New York.

“Having the opportunity to go to London was really great as we took part in workshops with different professional designers, and they gave us some really good ideas about what the development could look like and include,” said 16-year-old Charlotte Kilroy.

Chantel Birtwistle (17) said: “The trip was very interesting and a great professional experience looking at the development process of designing a building and a chance to learn new skills, as well as meeting important and influential people.”

Senior youth worker Jodie Barber said: “This trip was aimed at kick-starting the next stage of the development.

The young people have been really motivated by the professionals they have met and are eager to make the development in Oldham as good, if not better, than some of the ones they have seen in London.’

The group also visited the London Eye to look at architecture and design features across London, and visited the award-winning Westminster Academy to study modern design in young people’s buildings.

The visit to the Sorrel Foundation HQ marked the beginning of the design process, and the young people will continue to work over the next two months to finalise the design concepts for the new building.

On Saturday, the Youth Zone development group attended the Oldham Children and Youth Alliance Fun Day at Alexandra Park. During their time in the park the teenagers consulted with other young people about branding the new youth centre and, vitally, a name for the development.