By Samantha Walker, Ajay Choksi and Professor Kate Allen from purpleSTARS at RIX Inclusive Research (UEL)
We are part of the Architecture of Pharmacies research project led by Dr Ranjita Dhital at University College London (UCL) which rethinks the architecture of the community pharmacy and is funded by Pharmacy Research UK.
The Architecture of Pharmacies project explores existing high-street pharmacies and invites experts by experience, pharmacists, architects, social prescribers, etc. to share their observations and explore ideas through multi-sensory materials, art and technology in conjunction with traditional research methods.
purpleSTARS name developed from ‘purple’ the colour associated with the economic power of disability, with STARS standing for Sensory, Technology, Art, Resource, Specialists. We are an inclusive practice-based research group, composed of individuals with and without lived experiences of learning differences and disabilities. We employ sensory materials, art, and technology to make museums, heritage sites, and now pharmacies more inclusive, enjoyable, and fun.
As part of our efforts to improve accessibility, Samantha created a video that reflected on the changes her local pharmacy had made to analyse how to make pharmacies a better space for people with learning differences and disabilities.
Ajay led a workshop that invited people at the Bromley By Bow Health Centre to design bags of Well-Being to contribute their ideas to the Architecture of Pharmacies exhibition, Counter Culture. Each bag represents people’s ideas of how they maintain good health and contributes their ideas of healthy spaces for future pharmacies.
For more information on the Bags of Wellbeing Padlet.
By employing creative practice-based action research, using easy-read, and technologies for self-advocacy, we empower people to share different perspectives, and designs of future pharmacies. We have enjoyed the research process of the Architecture of Pharmacy project fostering new interdisciplinary ways of thinking, doing, and discussing Public Health creatively and collaboratively.
You are all warmly invited to the Architecture of Pharmacies exhibition Counter Culture at the Bromley By Bow Health Centre, 6-8pm on Wednesday 29th May. The exhibition runs until Friday 7th June. Find out about more Architecture of Pharmacy Exhibition Events including Counter Culture: Reimagining Community Pharmacy 6-8pm on Monday 3rd June, part of the London Festival of Architecture.
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