AN innovative project taking place in Watchet, to get local teenagers to design and build their own common room has just begun, with a successful architect-led design workshop.

Last Thursday saw 25 local teenagers come together to design a structure for Splash Point Pleasure Ground in Watchet, under the guidance of award winning architect, Kate Darby, national timber expert, Charley Brentnall, local volunteer group, the Watchet Community Makers, with Georgie Grant and Sally Lowndes from the Onion Collective as facilitators. The workshop took place in Watchet’s Phoenix Centre, and included free pizza.

After working together to establish what was needed for local teenagers, the teenagers were split into four groups, and asked to draw, then 3D model their ideas using balsa wood. They all then voted on their favourite structures, and the key aspects of each that should be incorporated into the final design.

Architect Kate Darby said: “It was fascinating to see so many engaged and creative young people come together to design with such confidence. My job now is to amalgamate the key features into one coherent structure that fits their brief. A first draft will be presented to them for comments before I make amends and the Onion Collective can submit to planning.

Splash Point is a community area on the cliff top in Watchet that looks out onto the marina, managed by the Onion Collective CIC.