The design/build studio at the University of Nottingham (our alma mater) is a long-running and esteemed example of collaboration between the global south and global north, serving small communities in South Africa whilst giving architecture students valuable skills and experiences.

Each year, students from the Department of Architecture and the Built Environment at the University of Nottingham design a pre-school for a village in South Africa, travelling out in the summer to help local builders and architects to make the project a reality. All participants fundraise enough money to cover not only their travel expenses, but the entire build cost for the school, all while embarking on a curriculum of anti-racism and decolonisation.

For the past few years, Grimshaw Architects have supported this initiative with generous donations and valuable expertise, sending architects out on the build with the students for technical and general support. Grimshaw have also offered general teaching support throughout the year as well as occasional use of our London premises.

Your generous donations will facilitate this genuinely life-changing project. When we leave South Africa, the village we work with will be able to enjoy a brand new, quality school and community space, which will enrich the lives of children and families alike for generations to come.

For a video documentary of last year's project see here.