Shaping the makers of tomorrow – Heatherwick studio launches major new creative education programme for young people

Heatherwick studio has launched a three-year creative education programme that will work with 600 young people aged 10-14. Named In The Making, the initiative will be one of the biggest programmes run by any design studio in Britain. It aims to inspire young people to see themselves as creative and support all 6,000 architecture practices across the UK to engage with schools.

In The Making launches as the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, kicks off a hugely significant Curriculum and Assessment review. This looks set to change school accountability measures, including Progress 8, and give more weight to creative education in the way that schools are assessed.

In support of these efforts, Heatherwick studio has developed a unique programme of light touch, high volume creative learning for 10–14-year-olds. This has been co-designed with young people and then tested through a year-long pilot involving 230 teenagers, 21 architects and designers, and 14 workshops with two pioneering youth organisations, Global Generation and IntoUniversity.

“This is a pivotal moment for arts education and Britain’s creative industries,” said Thomas Heatherwick, founder and design director at Heatherwick studio. “Everyone working in design is passionate about supporting young people. But most programmes offered by the sector are too rare, too small, and too late. We need to intervene earlier, before students choose their GCSEs, and help young people see themselves as creative.”

• Programme run at the studio’s home in Kings Cross will be one of the largest in the country

• Hundreds of 10-14 years olds will take part in hands-on workshops inspiring young people to see themselves as creative

• Free resources offered to 6,000 architecture practices to help the whole sector get involved in creative education 

• Launch coincides with the government’s new Curriculum and Assessment review and commitment to tackle the crisis in arts education

Arts education today is deep in crisis. Despite a growing body of evidence which shows that creative education positively impacts on young people’s attendance, performance and mental health, delivery in schools has collapsed on the back of government funding cuts and introduction of the EBacc which deprioritised creative subjects.

The number of hours spent teaching creative subjects in English state-funded secondary schools fell by 23% from 2011-2024 and the number of teachers teaching those subjects by 27%. Unsurprisingly, this has led to a 37% decline in GCSE entries for these subjects.

In 2022, The Guardian reported that on average specific government funding for music, arts and cultural programmes equated to just £9.40 per pupil this year. 

To help turn the tide, Heatherwick studio is publishing three open-source assets, freely available to any architecture practice. These are:

• The template for a 2-hour workshop that can be adapted and used in any setting to run a creative education session with young people.

• An accompanying Practice Guide with tips and ideas for designers who haven’t previously worked with schools and young people.

• A short Evidence Review summarising all the available research on the current state of creative education and its potential impact on young people.

“The great thing about architecture in the UK is that it has much greater geographic reach than most other creative professions”, said Matt Bell, Heatherwick’s Strategic Communications Director. “The Government rightly wants to expand the choices available to every child wherever they live and whatever their background. Architects are brilliantly placed to support this. If every architecture practice in this country ran one workshop each term with a class from their local school, that would reach 180,000 young people.” 

Programme endorsements

“Heatherwick studio’s ‘In the Making’ is a fantastic example of how the profession can contribute to and encourage the creativity of future generations. No young person should miss out on a creative education. The Government must work together with the creative industries to ensure that access is universal.” 

• Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) President Muyiwa Oki

“Young people were involved from the very beginning to co-create the content of the workshops, to name the programme and train Heatherwick’s designers how to work with young people. There is so much potential for this programme to develop if more architect practices and design studios reach out to local schools."

• Nicole Van den Eijnde, Joint Director, Global Generation
  “Creativity and the arts are a vital part of what brings meaning to our students' lives. Arts education develops a lifelong curiosity, it gives them the chance to look at the world from different perspectives, and through craft develops a sense of quality. These qualities are all vital to a thriving society.”

• Tom Aldridge, Head of Art, Maria Fidelis Secondary School, London
  "Working directly with people who have made successful careers in design and architecture is a really powerful tool for inspiring the next generation to unlock their own creative potential. So far, 128 young people from IntoUniversity centres have already benefited from this unique programme.”

• Michael Spierin, Head of Operations (Strategy & Impact) at IntoUniversity.

Please click the image for the PDF file

Please click the image for the PDF file

About Heatherwick studio

Heatherwick studio is a design team of over 250 problem solvers dedicated to making the physical world around us better for everyone. Their recent work includes two new campuses for Google in Bay View California, Little Island in New York, Coal Drops Yard in Kings

https://heatherwick.com

Capella Kenting Resort: A Masterpiece by ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel

The Capella Kenting resort, conceived by ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel for Riant Capital and Capella Hotels and Resorts, epitomizes a seamless blend of luxury and nature. Nestled in Taiwan’s southernmost county, just north of the scenic Kenting National Park, this resort draws profound inspiration from its rich cultural context and captivating landscape.

The resort features over sixty private villas, each designed to immerse guests in nature. These villas offer an unparalleled experience of Kenting National Park's extraordinary biodiversity, including its sandy beaches, striking rock formations, and lush natural vegetation. Complementing the villas is an array of amenities designed to cater to a diverse range of travelers, from solo vacationers and couples to families.

Embodying Capella Hotels and Resorts’ commitment to holistic guest experiences, the project pays homage to local craftsmanship and construction traditions. Patterns, textures, and geometries throughout the resort echo the unique character of the region, fostering a deep connection with its locality.

The resort’s layout reflects a thoughtful relationship with the sea and surrounding landscape. Its design reshapes contours and slopes to emulate the lush environment, creating a dialogue between architecture and nature. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by a sunken drop-off area bathed in natural light and greenery, creating a striking transition. Landscaped garden paths lead to the villas, evoking a sense of arriving home in a private park. The villas themselves boast unobstructed views of the sea and sky, connecting guests organically with nature while preserving the natural environment through thoughtful lighting design.

Balancing privacy with interaction, Capella Kenting's shared spaces, including the iconic Capella Living Room and Clubhouse, serve as vibrant communal hubs. The resort’s extensive wellness facilities—such as the spa, swimming pools, gym, and Onsen bathhouses—prioritize tranquility and seclusion.

“The Capella Kenting resort seamlessly blends luxury, locality, and ecological harmony,” said Chung-Yi Yang, partner at ACPV ARCHITECTS. “All villas are thoughtfully designed to flexibly accommodate guests’ preferences and adapt to diverse configurations, including additional guests.”

Sara Busnelli, partner at ACPV ARCHITECTS, highlighted the essence of the site’s surroundings: “Rediscovering the essence of the site’s surroundings was paramount in designing Capella Kenting in Taiwan. To achieve this, we meticulously curated design details that subtly immerse guests in the landscape, celebrating a unique combination of traditional culture and nature.”

Antonio Citterio emphasized the resort’s profound connection with its environment: “The resort’s overall concept revolves around a profound interplay between the site and the sea. Every architectural detail is meticulously crafted to provide uninterrupted views of the water and horizon, granting guests a sense of unity with nature.”

Patricia Viel added, “The design of the resort is inspired by the rich cultural context of the location. We integrated traditional craft and construction techniques to emphasize the local character of the development. For example, the resort’s design integrates low walls made up of stacked stones, a part of the aboriginal culture, not only to tie the design to the location but also to minimize the visual impact on nature.”

Capella Kenting stands as a testament to ACPV ARCHITECTS' dedication to creating a luxurious, yet ecologically harmonious retreat that deeply resonates with its cultural and natural surroundings.

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ABOUT ACPV ARCHITECTS ANTONIO CITTERIO PATRICIA VIEL

ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel is an international collective with the aim of nurturing shared well-being through unique, high-profile architectural solutions worldwide. Founded in 2000 by Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel, the studio is currently enhanced by the creativity of more than 190 professionals and the leadership of 11 partners. From urban planning to residential and mixed-use developments, from corporate campuses to public buildings and hotels, each ACPV ARCHITECTS project embodies a new vision where nature and the noblest human aspirations can find new centrality.

ABOUT CAPELLA HOTELS AND RESORTS

The Capella Hotels and Resorts constellation consists of properties located in Singapore, Sydney, Ubud, Bangkok, Hanoi, Shanghai, and Hainan. Future openings include exciting destinations such as Taipei, Kyoto, Riyadh, Nanjing, Shenzhen and South Korea. The exceptional hospitality brand, taking its name from the brightest star of the Auriga constellation, shines a spotlight on local heritage, culture and community whilst crafting authentic guest’ experiences with the highest level of personalised service and combining a legacy of thoughtful design.

Capella was named the Best Hotel Brand in the Travel + Leisure ‘World’s Best Awards’ for 2023 and 2024. Capella Bangkok and Capella Singapore earned the distinction of being included in the debut lineup of The World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2023. Capella Hotels and Resorts is a member of DISCOVERY, a multi-brand loyalty programme representing a collection of 40 independent hotel brands over 100 countries worldwide.

ABOUT RIANT CAPITAL LTD.

Riant Capital (RC) is a private equity real estate investment and asset management company. The portfolio of both current and past projects include but not limited to The Sky Taipei in Xinyi district of Taipei, Riant Plaza neighbouring to Hsinchu Science Park, and a built-to-suit flagship luxury building in Omotesando, Tokyo. RC’s subsidiary, Riant Hotels, also operates its self-grown brand, Hotel EPISODE, currently with two properties, EPISODE Hsinchu, JdV by Hyatt, and EPISODE Daan Taipei, JdV by Hyatt.