Lord Foster launches CABE campaign

Lord Foster is backing the How Places Work campaign, which encourages young people to explore great architecture and public spaces.

Lord Foster is backing a national campaign to help young people to demand great architecture and public spaces. The campaign, How Places Work, was launched at the British Museum. Pupils from Mossbourne Academy in Hackney, London, joined him to learn more about the Great Court there - the largest enclosed public space in Europe, designed by Foster and Partners.

At the launch, John Sorrell, chair of CABE, challenged the widespread assumption that young people do not care about their surroundings.

Pupils in Hackney certainly demonstrated their interest with a barrage of questions. Asked which building first made him go \"wow!\", Lord Foster revealed that it was Blackpool Tower.

In partnership with the Architecture Centre Network, CABE will give 12,000 young people aged 11-14 the opportunity to see inspiring buildings and public spaces in the company of architects and designers. Lord Foster, Lord Rogers, Amanda Levete, Michael Hymas, Sir Richard MacCormac and the Eden Project's Tim Smit will be leading visits over the next two years.

CABE believes that the time is right for this campaign. The government is soon to launch a manifesto on education outside the classroom. By 2010 every school will be expected to offer a varied programme of extended learning, including visits.

How Places Work is the first national programme for schools and teachers to deliver on these new expectations. CABE wants every pupil in the country can benefit from experiencing amazing buildings and spaces.