Join us to co-build the first internal wall structure in the Neighbourhood Public Square microfactory with MJM Bespoke + Material Cultures.

You are warmly invited to a practical co-build on site to learn together with us as we construct a partition wall inside the Depot together; the beautiful Art Deco building on the Neighbourhood Public Square (https://civicsquare.notion.site/Neighbourhood-Public-Square-Explore-The-Planning-Application-342b14daefb680adb1d8f3617fb776b2?pvs=73) site.

Taking place across two days on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th September, together we will construct the internal wall following a novel modular system, made using panels of reclaimed timber from old scaffold boards, designed by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

Working together in small groups with MJM Bespoke (https://www.mjmbespoke.com/), Material Cultures (https://materialcultures.org/) and members of the CIVIC SQUARE team, you will build foundational joinery skills, work directly with materials to understand the value of alternative construction materials and processes, and discover more about the INBUILT (https://www.inbuilt-project.eu/) project as an early live demonstrator for regenerative building technology on the Neighbourhood Public Square site.

Anyone aged over 16 is welcome to sign up, and no previous experience is required. However, we ask that you bring your curiosity, attention and collaboration to help us prototype how we practically build together like this on site, as we continue learning about how construction processes on working sites—that are often closed to the public—can be opened up in a range of ways.

You can either take part for one day, or both days, with a vegetarian lunch and nourishment provided from The Floating Front Room, our neighbourhood cafe on the cnaal, for all hungry / thirsty co-builders across both days.

Due to the nature of this activity, you will also need to read the Site Safety section of this page carefully before registering. Let's build!

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What To Expect

When you arrive, head for The Floating Front Room, a green barge moored canalside in South Loop Park to meet the team and pick up a welcome drink if you'd like at 9.30am

Together, we'll then head over to the courtyard and collect our PPE (personal protective equipment), before crossing the courtyard to the site's Depot building

The co-build takes place in the Neighbourhood Public Square Depot, meaning you will be joining the working construction site of a disused industrial building, rather than a closed space or training centre

The two days of the co-build will be different, and will build upon one another, moving from tools and techniques, through to the practical wall build itself

Some tasks as part of the co-build will be hands-on, others more observational, with space for conversation and reflection throughout the day

There will be around 12 co-builders joining us for each day, alongside the practitioners and our team, with a total of roughly 30 people on site together

Day 1—Tuesday 29th September

We'll start with introductions to the INBUILT Project and the workshop collaborators, before moving onto an introduction to the tools and foundational joinery techniques being used in the construction of the wall, including why and how to work with reclaimed timber. The group will then build test panels and move into fabricating the panels that will form the wall.

Day 2—Wednesday 30th September

The focus shifts to the wall build itself, alongside an introduction to and further exploration of regenerative wall insulation. This stage of the build offers a chance for deeper learning and observation of the insulation products being tested as part of the live demonstrator alongside more readily available options already accessible.

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Is This For Me?

This activity is designed as a co-builder opportunity, as part of a Site As A Classroom approach. This means it is open to neighbours and curious people aged 16+ who want to get hands-on with the making of Neighbourhood Public Square together.

Opportunities for co-builders are learning spaces that are designed to support those without specialist construction experience to build confidence, learn practical skills and contribute meaningfully to the ongoing retrofit and construction of our site(s).

You might love this co-build if you:

Would like to build foundational joinery skills (measuring, marking out, cutting to size, drilling, fixing etc) through accessible, embodied, hands-on learning, developing transferrable skills rooted in woodwork and basic joinery

Are interested in building knowledge of regenerative building practices, working directly with materials like reclaimed timber and low carbon insulation to understand the value of alternative construction materials and processes

Are keen to learn about the INBUILT project as a live demonstrator on the Neighbourhood Public Square site, including its connections to and impacts on different systemic layers of regenerative co

Description supplied by the event organiser.