Year 8 students spent a morning with a quantity surveyor working out how much it will cost to transform an under-used area into a new sacred space.
Ercall Wood Technology College students have been working with architect Alison Davies and art teacher Jackie Sneade on design options for the memorial garden in their college grounds, in a project funded by CABE and supported by MADE, the Midlands architecture centre. Having visited sacred sites in Birmingham for research and inspiration, the students have drawn up a new plan for the space, with swirling paths, a mosaic pond, a new entrance, seating and new planting. But how much will all this cost?
With Rick Tyrer, a quantity surveyor with Cyril Orchard Group Management, the students used a measuring wheel to find out how much path edging they needed (75 m) and back in the art studio used the scale drawing to work out the measurements of other features. There are 350 m2 of pathways, they will need enough grass seed to cover 250 m2, and benches were 1.5m long.
Rick gave his time for free to guide the students through working out quantities. And with the internet as a source of unit prices for different material options, the students weighed up durability, appearance and cost, before coming up with an outline budget. While many costs were less than expected, the students were shocked the pond would cost more than £3000.
The idea to transform the under-used memorial garden emerged from an earlier design project by this group of students. While developing a brief and design options for the College’s wildlife garden, the young people identified their need for a quiet, calm space within the busy school environment. Through the enthusiasm of teachers and students, both projects ideas being taking forward in phases over the coming months.
All Credits to Jane Puzey of MADE (Midlands Architecture and the Built Environment).
www.made.org.uk/engaging-communities/designing-a-new-sacred-space-in-telford.html
News Update 4th May 2010
www.engagingplaces.org.uk/news/art77269