This paper explores a proposal for a new form of ‘architectural agency’ as a means to undertake live projects in education. This has been tested by the authors in a programme of live projects named OB1 LIVE begun in 2008. These projects are commissioned by community-based clients and created by year one students at Oxford Brookes School of Architecture. Live projects are often understood as ‘building’ projects happening outside the studio as if in opposition to design studio projects. OB1 LIVE seeks to take theoretical ideas into the city and bring the real world into the studio.
The paper tests and extends pedagogic theories raised by John Hejduk’s Education of an Architect and explores the realisation of his theoretical projects into built works by reflecting on Writing the City his student-built project in Stockholm in 1998. Live projects expose the social cultural and political processes of both design and construction. We outline our pedagogical strategy to use live projects to situate the learning of students in a place that is relevant to their expectations of both architectural education and practice.
This creates a shift in teaching method from the contemporary student/tutor relationship. The ‘architectural agency’ requires tutors to negotiate with a client willing to give time and flexibility of expectation in return for the energy and originality of student designers. The tutor-as-agent is critical to the dynamic of this relationship their skills being essential to support learning and creativity and meet the expectations of all participants.