Level 3 and Extended Art & Design students from Lambeth College recently had the incredible opportunity to visit Heatherwick Studio, one of the world’s leading design and architecture practices based in King’s Cross, London.
The visit offered students a unique insight into the creative process behind some of the studio’s most celebrated projects — including the Coal Drops Yard development in King’s Cross, the Maggie’s Yorkshire cancer care centre in Leeds, and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town. The firm’s diverse portfolio spans architecture, public spaces, transport, and design objects, with current work ranging from Changi Airport Terminal 5 in Singapore to the BT Tower redevelopment in London.
During the visit, students heard about the story of Thomas Heatherwick, the studio’s founder and design director, whose philosophy centres on creating “radically more human” buildings and spaces that are joyful, engaging, and connected to real-world experiences. The talk explored the studio’s approach — combining art, engineering, and craftsmanship to design places that feel soulful and alive.
The group then toured the stunning Making House, the studio’s combined workshop and design hub. Here, they saw up close how ideas move from sketches and materials testing to beautifully detailed physical models. Students were fascinated by the level of detail and collaboration involved — where architects, designers, engineers and craftspeople all work side by side to turn ambitious ideas into tangible designs.
For many of the students considering careers in architecture, product design or the broader creative industries, the experience was both inspiring and eye-opening. They came away with a deeper appreciation for how innovation and practicality can coexist — and how design can have a lasting impact on the way people experience the world around them.
The visit formed part of South Bank Colleges’ continuing commitment to providing students with meaningful exposure to industry leaders and helping them explore potential career pathways through real-world insight.
