On Friday 29 June, the Venice Biennale saw the premiere screening of ‘What We Do Here’: a documentary film about the role that the B.15 model-making workshop, plays in student and staff learning and development at Manchester School of Architecture.

The long-established workshop, which has served the School since 1970, introduces students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels to model-making as an important design tool.

Documentary filmmakers Kieran Hanson and Howard Walmsley set about recording the plethora of daily happening in the workshop environment in September last year. The aim was to explore model making pedagogy for the many students and staff at Manchester School of Archiecture which use the workshop space.

The screening itself took place as part of the 'Venice Biennale Sessions' at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice. The sessions initiative is dedicated to institutes of higher learning, research centres, universities and academies of fine or applied arts, giving them the opportunity to take students to the Biennale and to deliver activies and seminars across the prestigous event's venues. 

The film was introduced by Professor Tom Jefferies, Head of Manchester School of Archiecture, while Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios, the arhcitcture firm behind Manchester School of Art's Benzie Building, and award-winning furniture maker Hugh Miller delivered resentations before the screening, leading to constructive debate on the subject of making in design. 

'What We Do Here' is now resident at the Time Space Exsistance exhibition space at Palazzo Bembo on Venice's famous Grand Canal. Entry is free, and is expected to attract many visitors across the summer up until the end of November. 

The completion of this film and it's associated events has been generously supported by 4DModelshop, Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios and BDP. 

B.15 model-making workshop's team are currently planning a number of local screenings and UK events for the coming year. 

To find out more about the B.15 model-making workshop via our facilties webpages