How Lego play sessions can smooth the retrofit journey

Imagine a Martian lands in London and asks the nearest person for the best route to Clapham. In Martian speak.

That’s how big the disconnect can appear between some architects and professionals in the built environment trying to explain their vision for retrofit design to residents, building users or pretty much anyone outside their profession.

Don’t just take my word for it. A major new report on the built environment from the Centre for Social Justice reports on polling that ‘found that most adults feel cut out of the development process and that they have little to no say in how their communities change over time’.

Architects have long known there is a phrase for their jargon: archispeak. The Urban Dictionary defines this as ‘large, made-up words that architects and designers use’ – which could go some way to explaining the disconnect.

Architects are technical people

So, with a well-documented communication problem (and it’s not just architects in our industry, by the way) the question is: what to do about it?

Architects are some of the most creative and technical people in the built environment. But when you’re retrofitting, it can often involve tenants still in situ, so creating engagement programmes that make sense to everyone is key.

There are many ways to approach this and one is by carrying out a Lego play session. It might look like child play, but it is far from childish.

It means being creative, accessible and inclusive. Imagine an architect comes up with imaginative new ways to retrofit an educational building. It can look fantastic on paper, in CAD, and in VR even, but how does it translate for people using the facilities … the academics, students and administration staff? Sitting them down with Lego and finding ways to demonstrate is crucial.

Stakeholders can create a model that represents their current experience in the building and then another design that showcases the ideal situation. By encouraging explanation of different models, clients and architects can quickly learn about what matters most to each person and integrate this into their design.

It’s a two-way street. The people using the building get to ‘see’ the architect’s vision, offer their views, and the architect takes ideas onboard.

Overcoming barriers is not everything

Traditionally there can be a focus on overcoming barriers in retrofit, which can be heavy going, so the fun should start early – the design stage.

Sometimes, the simplest ideas turn out to be the most effective. Thinking in a child-like way can help us cut through complex challenges.

This playful approach can reap dividends in other areas, for instance making compliance feel less daunting and more achievable. By experimenting with interactive AI-powered training or visual tools, professionals can get hands-on experience with regulatory requirements.

This makes understanding guidelines easier. Ultimately, a playful attitude helps professionals – and clients – feel more comfortable engaging with these frameworks and using them as tools rather than seeing them as barriers.

Playful solutions to retrofit

When one company embraces playfulness in retrofits, it shows others that there is more than one approach to professionalism. Playful solutions inspire others to look at projects with fresh perspectives; to challenge the status quo.

This ripple effect can lead to (very much needed) industry-wide shifts in how we view retrofits. They aren’t just upgrades but opportunities for innovation and sustainable transformation.

So back to the architect’s client. Let them take a breath before laying out your wares! Let them play with ideas, explore their passions and, most importantly, take feedback onboard.

People are often the first thing to get valued out of the project, but the impact on people and making their lives better is crucial.

Every architect and consultant can make a huge difference to Britain’s retrofit journey, and it begins with communication and making the process more fun.

James Beckly is a senior partner at built-environment consultancy Ward Williams