My Dream House
A screen-free architecture and model-making journey in imagination, design and spatial thinking
What if children could design a home not just by drawing rooms, but by imagining how a space should feel?
My Dream House invites children to step into the role of architect and designer, transforming imagination into structure through drawing, planning and model-making. In this hands-on workshop, children reflect on how spaces make them feel; calm, excited, safe, inspired and use those emotional responses as the starting point for designing a dream home of their own.
Working entirely away from screens, participants move from initial sketches to scaled drawings and finally to a three-dimensional model, learning how ideas develop step by step into something tangible and thoughtfully made. This is a creative and highly rewarding project that introduces children to the foundations of architecture while nurturing confidence, independence and a richer understanding of space.
9 to 12 years old
90 minutes. 3 sessions
Family homes (West London)
Imagination
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Space
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Design Thinking
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From Idea to Structure
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Architectural Model-Making
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Imagination - Space - Design Thinking - From Idea to Structure - Architectural Model-Making -
From idea to structure
One of the most exciting things about this project is that children experience the full creative journey.
They begin with ideas and sketches, then learn how to refine those ideas into more structured drawings and finally turn them into a three-dimensional model they can hold and look at from every angle. This process helps children understand that creative work often develops through stages: imagining, planning, testing, refining and building.
That is a powerful lesson in itself. It helps children see that ideas do not need to be perfect at the beginning. They can grow, change and become stronger through process. For many children, this is one of the most satisfying parts of the project: seeing something that began in their imagination gradually become real.
Architectural Model - Making project
My Dream House offers children a beautifully balanced introduction to architecture and design.
Rather than simply asking them to “build a house,” the project begins with something deeper: how space feels. Children are encouraged to think about the atmosphere of a room or home; what makes a place feel peaceful, welcoming, inspiring or playful and to use those reflections as the basis for their design.
This makes the project much more than a craft activity. It becomes an introduction to the way designers think: how form, layout, light, scale and structure can influence experience. Children begin to understand that spaces are not only functional, but emotional too. That makes the process both imaginative and intellectually rich.
9 to 12 years
90 minutes per session
3 session series
In-person, fully screen-free
Age Group:
Duration:
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WHAT CHILDREN WILL EXPLORE & LEARN
Guided by an architect and illustrator, sessions balance structure with creative freedom.
Children are encouraged to think like designers, questioning how space works, how it feels, and how ideas evolve through making. The emphasis is on process as much as outcome: exploring, testing, refining and completing a thoughtfully constructed model.
This approach helps children feel both supported and empowered, giving them the confidence to develop original ideas while learning the discipline of design.
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Considering how different spaces influence emotions.
Designing rooms and environments that reflect personal interests.
Exploring the relationship between function and feeling.
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Introduction to simple floor plans.
Understanding scale and proportion.
Translating 2D drawings into 3D structures.
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Moving from idea to physical model.
Working through structural challenges.
Making design decisions independently.
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Measuring, cutting, assembling and constructing.
Exploring different materials and textures.
Refining details using pen and paint.
PROJECT ESSENTIALS
Materials
Materials are thoughtfully selected and provided by the artist and may include:
- Pencils, rulers, erasers
- A3 drawing paper and tracing paper
- Modelling card and paper
- Scissors and cutting tools
- Glue and assembly materials
- Fine-line pens and paints
- Brushes and finishing tools
Additional materials may be introduced depending on the direction of the project.
Safety & Accessibility
- Cutting tools are used carefully under supervision
- The artist may pre-cut complex elements where appropriate
- Sessions are adaptable to suit varying levels of fine motor skill
- Clear workspace organisation to ensure safe handling of materials
Learning Outcomes & Benefits
Participants develop:
- Introduction to architectural drawing and planning
- Understanding of scale and proportion
- Spatial reasoning and structural thinking
- Confidence in translating ideas into tangible form
- Practical construction and model-making skills
- Creative independence and design ownership
Pricing
£150 per session (materials included)
WHY PARENTS LOVE IT
A CREATIVE, SCREEN-FREE INTRODUCTION TO ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN.
ENCOURAGES CHILDREN TO THINK INDEPENDENTLY AND MAKE THEIR OWN DESIGN DECISIONS.
DEVELOPS SPATIAL THINKING, PLANNING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS.
COMBINES DRAWING, BUILDING AND CREATIVE THINKING IN ONE PROJECT.
BUILDS PATIENCE, PRECISION AND HANDS-ON CONSTRUCTION SKILLS.
CHILDREN EXPERIENCE THE FULL CREATIVE PROCESS, FROM IDEA TO STRUCTURE.
Get started today
About the Project Leader
Nissam
Architect, Illustrator & Movement Educator
Nissam is a multidisciplinary creative practitioner working across architecture, illustration, movement and language education. As an award-winning illustrator and trained architect, Nissam brings a strong understanding of structure, spatial awareness and visual storytelling into her teaching practice.
Alongside her visual arts background, Nissam is also a dance instructor, integrating movement, expression and body awareness into creative learning. For the past five years, she have delivered drawing, dance and language tutoring, supporting children and young people to develop confidence across disciplines.
Her workshops encourage holistic expression, combining visual creativity, emotional reflection and physical awareness. Nissam holds a basic DBS check and delivers sessions that are calm, adaptable and responsive to individual needs.