The Configuring Light team have already been working with the children to find out how they use the exterior spaces of the playground which is part of a much wider redesign of the school ‘Acland Burghley Better Spaces’ (ABBS).

“We are very excited to begin our international workshop series here in our hometown London – and with young and enthusiastic workshop participants!” said Dr Joanne Entwistle. “It is a real joy to work with children on questions around lighting and public space, they are immensely creative and resourceful” added Dr Elettra Bordonaro.

The workshop with pupils will comprise a range of activities that explore the power of light to change the look and feel of public spaces. Pupils will be asked to bring along a ‘memory object’ to make a ‘garden of memories’ and will also have the opportunity to experiment with iGuzzini lighting fixtures in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of light in transforming the school.

The public event on 27th January from 6.30pm will also comprise a laser show at 7.00pm with international lighting company Urban Electric and the ‘switch on’ will be by local Homeland and Wolf Hall actor Damian Lewis. It will be the first of a series of celebrations to mark the school’s 50th birthday.

The Acland Burghley workshop is part of Dr Elettra Bordonaro’s 2-year LSE visiting fellowship with the LSE Sociology Department, funded by the Italian lighting manufacturer iGuzzini. During the fellowship, Configuring Light and Dr Elettra Bordonaro are hosting a series of six workshops across the globe – from Muscat, Oman, to Sydney, Australia – to explore and build expertise in social research in lighting design. Every workshop works with actual public realm spaces to see how social research can be integrated in design processes, and how design engagements can impact social research methodologies.

This project is a collaboration with iGuzzini.