Building on knowledge acquisition

Today I had an interesting meeting with Ed Cutler, who is in his sixth year of studies at Manchester School of Architecture.

We spent two hours chatting about Bion’s theories on groups, the boy in Cinema Paradiso, Scout’s methods of knowledge acquisition in To Kill a Mockingbird, and the importance of Mayan midwives in Lave and Wenger’s Situated Learning Theory.

We also talked about the various merits, or otherwise, of Manchester’s cultural venues with regard to architecture and a visitor’s navigation through the building. Top of my list for welcoming, open spaces and the immediacy of the exhibits, is Whitworth Art Gallery. Most of the exhibition spaces are on the ground floor and one is able to walk through the foyer and into the rooms without hindrance (either physical or human). Bottom of my list is the Lowry. Whenever I have visited the Lowry, whether for the art or the theatre, I have never known in which direction to go. The layout is confusing and visiting the loo is disorienting due to the different levels and sloping floors.

Ed had brought his gorgeous book: 6 connections (provocations and influences), with him and kindly allowed me to keep his only copy (he’ll print off another one).

I have put Ed in touch with the learners on the Power and Performance course to see if any of them would like to contribute to his research on learners’ perspectives of educational buildings.

You can view Ed’s very short video filmed in Blackpool’s amusement arcades here.