We are delighted to be the winners of the British Council Architecture Design Fashion’s Future by Design open call and to be able to realise an ambitious collaboration between Scotland and Ghana in the lead up to COP26.

The project brings together Ghanaian-Filipino agrowaste designer Mae-ling Lokko and Scottish architect Tom Morton of Arc Architects to collaboratively design and build a hybrid, eco-sustainable and accessible ‘open landscape classroom’ on our 50-acre site. They will work in collaboration with a multidisciplinary cohort of young people from across Scotland – including students from the Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow – and the interdisciplinary Ashesi Entrepreneurship Center in Ghana, where a prototyping workshop will take place in Accra’s Klottey Korle Constituency. Together they will co-design and co-programme spaces that are conducive to knowledge exchange around the impacts of climate change on water – an urgent issue in both countries.

The jury celebrated the proposal for its focus on engaging young people through a collaborative and action-based process, giving them the agency to discuss, design and experiment within their local and global contexts of the UK and Ghana. The proposal aims to share learnings on how to co-design for climate change, and promotes long-term opportunities through Cove Park’s new, permanent environmental enquiry, which starts with this project.

‘The British Council is delighted to announce this commission with Cove Park, students in Ghana and Scotland and the design community to stimulate global conversations about climate change and to inspire transformational change ahead of COP26 in November 2021. Activating the voices of young people around the world through design was core to our ambitions for this open call and this co-design, co-build project demonstrates thought leadership, global collaboration and climate activism through a new and exciting approach.’

Sevra Davis, Director of Architecture Design Fashion, British Council

The jury included Anupama Kundoo, @anupama_kundoo, Samihah Mudabbir @osch.youngpeople @mcrmuseum Wilson Oryema @wilson_oryema @regenerativefutures, Parvinder Marwaha @parv.marwaha and Sevra Davis.

We will share more information on the project – the co-design, participatory build and public programme – as it develops.

Quotes from all involved:

‘It was appreciated for the cultural and educational exchange that is mutually enriching for both institutions. The learning opportunities for all and the lasting impact of the processes initiated will have a ripple effect in collaboration across borders.’

Anupama Kundoo @anupama_kundoo

‘This is a very site-specific, action-based proposal, which promises to develop a prototype learning environment and take thought leadership into practice, testing and developing ideas on the ground. It reminds us that responding to climate change requires an appreciation for physical contexts, dialogue towards action and space for experimentation to prepare us for the future.’

Parvinder Marwaha @parv.marwah

‘I really liked this project as I feel it is authentic and is one which I could envisage myself in. The project includes a physical end goal and is one which is highly educational and will be very engaging for young people!’

Samihah Mudabbir @osch.youngpeople @mcrmuseum

‘The British Council is delighted to announce this commission with Cove Park, students in Ghana and Scotland and the design community to stimulate global conversations about climate change and to inspire transformational change ahead of COP26 in November 2021. Activating the voices of young people around the world through design was core to our ambitions for this open call and this co-design, co-build project demonstrates thought leadership, global collaboration and climate activism through a new and exciting approach.’

Sevra Davis, Director of Architecture Design Fashion, British Council

‘It’s an exemplary model for what true collaboration across different disciplines and backgrounds looks like. I was particularly drawn to the inclusive nature of the project, which allows for anyone to participate in the conversation and have a seat at the table.’

Wilson Oryema @wilson_oryema @regenerativefutures

‘We are deeply grateful to be working with the British Council on this ambitious collaboration that marks the beginning of Cove Park’s new and permanent enquiry into environmental sustainability and climate action. Radical cooperation at local and international level is at the core of all of our programmes, as is the belief in the power of collective intelligence to navigate and respond to the most complex issue of our times. We trust that this project will produce a replicable methodology for participatory design and inspire young talents to develop their practice in uncompromising ways.’

Francesca Bertolotti-Bailey, CEO, Cove Park

‘We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate on two very different Atlantic coastal contexts connected by the daunting common challenge of flooding. We hope that the global virtual exchange and local design-build experiences ahead activate and reinforce each other’s capacity to face that challenge together.’

Mae-ling Lokko

‘This is an exciting project showcasing for COP26 some emerging approaches to sustainable and generative construction. In their future careers, these young deigners won’t be building with the high carbon methods commonly used today, which contribute so much to the rising sea levels, landslides and flooding that threaten both of our countries. We will explore how biocomposite materials and co-creative design can be a step-change in addressing our common global challenges.’

Tom Morton, Director, Arc Architects

Image: Mae-ling Lokko, Agrocologies Housing the Human Radialsystem Berlin 2019 (photography Mae-ling Lokko)