The Ludlow Foyer

Client: Housing Association
Cost: £2,000


The Foyer is a halfway house for older children/young adults who have left their family home for various reasons. The Foyer provides secure accommodation on condition that residents attend training courses to prepare them for an independent life.

The Ludlow Foyer had a large enclosure used for storing bins. However, it was much bigger than it needed to be and was a bit of an eyesore, being right outside the main entrance.

The Client saw an opportunity to provide some interesting training for the residents, replacing the bin store with a new garden at the same time.

I was commissioned to draw up and carry out a training programme that would involve the residents designing and constructing the garden.

The programme involved the residents engaging in a number of real-life activities:

Prepare Brief
· Group interview of Client to ascertain Client’s needs; preferences; vision; constraints; budget, etc. · Each student preparing a written Brief based on the interview.

Site Analysis
Noting specific features of the site that may have an influence on the success of the scheme.

Scheme Preparation & Presentation to Client
· preparing a draft scheme and preparing a verbal presentation to the Client, explaining the scheme and how it fulfils the Brief. · Presenting the Scheme to the Client.

Construction
· Interpretation of drawings. · Measuring & marking up. · Correct use of tools. · Teamwork. · Safety of other users and visitors.

Post Construction

· Self-critical assessment of success of project, including feedback from the Client.

The project was very successful and the residents learned a lot of new skills and the Foyer has a new garden.