The Chippindale Venture - TrustNews February 1990
The August Newsletter reported on preparations for the Chippindale Venture. This pilot project, conceived by the Trust's Urban Studies Committee, has now taken place and was an outstanding success.
Nearly fifty children aged nine to eleven from Western Primary School and All Saints Community Primary School were involved. They were divided into ten teams and invited to design a Visitors Information/Heritage Centre in the Law Courts Yard. There were briefing notes and an exhibition of the area concerned to help guide the children and to give them some idea of the spaces required. The information on the building requirements was limited so that the childrens' imagination was left as unrestricted as possible. Preparatory work over several weeks involved visits to the site and the preparation of drawings. Ten firms of local architects generously loaned a qualified member of their staff who spent three afternoons with his or her team, as well as guiding their teams on the Presentation Day.
The Presentation Day, which reproduced the planning procedure, took place in the Hampshire County Council's Conference Room at the Castle. All the teams were assembled in the morning. Each team had to make an appointment with Planning and Conservation Officers to discuss and present the case for their building. Any revisions as a result of the discussions were worked on.
In the afternoon, the Planning Officers presented plans to a Planning Committee, chaired by Councillor Mrs Pat Edwards, Chairman of Winchester City Planning Committee, and composed of both Hampshire and City Councillors, who commented on each scheme.
The plans were varied and highly imaginative. Pyramids featured in one, another was mushroom-shaped and built in glass, designed to reflect the buildings around it. A castle design represented a more conventional approach and although the Planning Committee were impressed by an octagonal building with lifts to all four floors, the Chairman feared that Winchester Preservation Trust might object to the planning application!
After the Presentation, certificates were presented to all the children by the Mayor of Winchester.
It is generally felt that the Chippindale Venture was a great success and a worthy memorial to Frank, whose son and daughter were able to attend the Presentation Day. Everyone was impressed by the high standard achieved by the children and by their innovative and imaginative approach. The whole occasion managed to combine a refreshingly light-hearted spirit with a high degree of professionalism; architects, teachers, officers and Councillors from both Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council contributed time and enthusiasm to the project.
The Venture was sponsored by Ladbrokes, Laing Construction and Arundell House Securities Ltd, the balance of the costs being met by the Trust. It received unstinting support from Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council, as well as from the two schools involved.
The Exhibition of the Law Courts area was supplemented by the children's work after the event. This has been shown at the Heritage Centre and the Teacher Training College. We understand that the Civic Trust in London is keen to display the results as well as schools in Hampshire.
How can all this enthusiasm and success be turned to account for the future? This year's Chippindale Venture was conceived as a pilot project but it has always been the hope that, if successful, it would be repeated in one form or another in future years.
THE FUTURE
The Chippindale Venture (much to the Urban Studies Groups surprise) seems to have generated interest with educationalists from both local and national level. The study has even gone to Australia where we understand the idea is likely to be used in the same form in Sydney.
We understand from the teachers that it will be difficult to run such a scheme in 1990 due to the pressures from the introductions of the new curriculum. The Urban Studies Group is therefore proposing a Chippindale Venture in April 1991, the subject for which is under discussion at present.