The RIBA has launched its first children’s book, Colour and Create Architecture: Georgie Finds a New Home, illustrated by Nerea Bermejo Olaizola.
Colour and Create Architecture contains over 50 pages of children’s activities – including colouring and drawing skyscrapers, castles and houseboats – and focuses on the journey of Georgie the giraffe to find a new home.
In November 2019, the RIBA launched an open call to find the book’s illustrator, to present architecture in a creative and inspiring way for a young audience. Out of 81 submissions received, four were narrowed down for the shortlist and Nerea Bermejo Olaizola was selected.
Nerea is a Senior Architectural Illustrator at HTA London and trained as an architect at the Higher Technical School of Architecture of San Sebastian, Spain.
Commenting on the process behind the book, Nerea said:
“I wanted to create a story with a character that helps children think and be more aware of the scale and spaces they live in. Georgie the giraffe is very tall and has difficulties fitting into daily places. Hopefully, this will help children design a more inclusive future. I wanted to introduce children to the language of architecture promoting sustainability, collaboration and inclusivity in a fun way!”
RIBA Publishing and RIBA Learning collaborated to create the brief for the book, following customer requests to the RIBA bookshop for colouring books for younger children, and a noticeable gap in the market.
RIBA Director of Collections and Programmes, Adrian Steel, said:
“We saw this as a unique opportunity to inspire and inform a wider audience of young children about architecture. Over the past few years RIBA Publishing has widened its book programme, while the RIBA Learning programme delivers hands-on creative workshops and courses to support learners of all ages. This book encourages children to use their imagination, engage in architecture and explore the world around them.”
Colour and Create Architecture: Georgie Finds a New Home by Nerea Bermejo Olaizola (with RIBA Learning) is available now from RIBA Books at £9.99.
It will be available on Amazon.co.uk from 1 September.
