Matthew Springett and Fiona MacDonald collaborated on the Made in Oakfield project to work with students from Oakfield School in Hull to design and build an allotment den on the school's land. Through a 12-week design phase and 1-week build, the students provided input into the design and helped construct a sheltered outdoor classroom space with sloped roofs, opening walls, and a covered deck area. The project gave the students hands-on experience in architectural design and construction.

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Project Provides Opportunity for Future Self Builders
In collaboration with Hull City of Culture 2017 and No Limits programme, a project
called Made in Oakfield was carried out this year. The two leaders and driving force
of this enterprise were Matthew Springett, Architect and Fiona MacDonald,
Educator.
They formed a joint venture back in 2016, called MATT + FIONA and in partnership
worked on many projects together including the Made in Oakfield one. The
collaboration they formed enables them to work together on architectural-based
education initiatives, allowing them to provide unique, hands-on, practical education
programmes for children and young adults.
Made in Oakfield saw Matt and Fiona working with students and staff from Oakfield
School in Hull. Additional support was provided to the project from a group of
hardworking and committed volunteers.
Initially there was a 12 week period of design planning involved with this
collaborative venture, which climaxed with a 1-week build. The students created their
own allotment ‘den’, located within close proximity of the school on a plot of land
owned by Oakfield School.
The den functions as an artificial classroom for extra-curricular activities for the
students. The den also acts as a protected space to provide shelter to students or staff
when they work on the allotment.
Workshops were conducted during the design planning stage of the project to give all
students taking part the chance to put forward their own ideas in the design phase.
Students were provided with the opportunity to model their designs. Elements from
each student’s ideas were then used as the basis to form the final design.
Some of the most common ideas that the students produced are listed below.
• Having a change in level for the design, with possible lookout incorporated
and the inclusion of sloping or pitched roof. These ideas were combined
within the final design.
• Walls and roofs that open up through mechanical elements and a decked area
with a canopy to provide protection from the weather. The final design
featured pivoting walls that had functionality to open to create a canopy above
the decking area.
For anyone who is thinking about undertaking any type of self-build project, whether
it is a new build or changes to an existing property, it is very important to have the
right level of self-build insurance. This should be in place to provide you with the
protection and peace of mind that is needed when carrying out such a venture. For
more information about self-build insurance please visit: www.selfbuildinsure.co.uk