At Charterhouse Square School, learning extends beyond the classroom and into the city around us.
As part of Clerkenwell Design Week, our pupils became designers of their own environment – exploring how architecture shapes the way we live, move and connect.
Set in one of London’s most design-rich neighbourhoods, this project invited pupils to engage directly with the world around them. Inspired by the Barbican and its surrounding streets, they reimagined spaces through creativity, purpose and a thoughtful approach to the future.
The Process
This was a hands-on, multi-layered design journey.
Pupils began by observing the spaces around them – how people use them, how they feel, and how they could be improved. From there, they translated their thinking into sketches, developed concepts using digital tools, and brought their ideas to life through sculptural model-making.
Each stage encouraged experimentation, problem-solving and independent thinking, mirroring the process of real-world design.
Hear the thinking behind the designs
Every model and concept tells a story.
Through the videos below, our pupils share their ideas, explain their design choices, and reflect on what they discovered along the way – from sustainability and community to the small details that shape how a space is experienced.
Connecting learning to the real world
Projects like this reflect our belief that education should feel relevant, purposeful and connected.
By engaging with the built environment around them, pupils begin to understand their role within it – not just as learners, but as thinkers, creators and future contributors to the world beyond school.
Through this experience, they develop the skills that sit at the heart of a Charterhouse Square education:
Creative thinking
Collaboration
Communication
Environmental awareness
