Extinction Rebellion Architecture Studio

In 2021-22, Birmingham City University’s School of Architecture and Design partnered with CoLab Dudley to investigate Dudley, examine the High Street, and, by using the Extinction Rebellion themes, create a development that involved Dudley, implemented regenerative and sustainable concepts, and generally bolstered the community!

They continued the notion that “doing less bad is no longer good enough”, and thoroughly explored all aspects of Dudley through multiple stages through the seasons. In the beginning, students worked in groups to examine the High Street as a model which people could pick up, alter, and redevelop, through the lens of history, and what made Dudley the Capital of the Black Country, and as a means to bring awareness to the deadly problems that people in Dudley face every day. This was presented to the public at CoLab Dudley’s space on the High Street in a public exhibition.

Students then split up to work on individual projects that further explored these concepts, which was also presented as a free exhibition that welcomed people in to examine the concepts and to give feedback on the ideas. These ranged from growing lichen all over Dudley, so digging up the High Street to propose a roadblock.

Finally, these projects came ahead to a final piece that was also hung up and put on show for anyone who visited. This included projects such as the Dudley’s Bug Hub, and Terra archaeological laboratory!