Autobiographical Houses

By Helena Lyons

This project is inspired by the work ‘House’ by British contemporary artist Rachel Whiteread, a monumental concrete cast of the inside of a Victorian terraced house made in the early 1990s.

In this activity, learners are invited to consider spaces where they feel safe, how those spaces make them feel, and the memories they associate with them. To ensure inclusion and sensitivity towards our different experiences of home, invite learners, where applicable, to consider other spaces that feel safe for them. This could be their home, a particular room in school, a house from a story, a friend’s house, a den, a treehouse, or even a museum.

Using a range of techniques such as cardboard construction and frottage (rubbings), monoprinting and collage, leaners will create a freestanding structure of an ‘autobiographical house’ that communicates personal feelings and associations. 

This activity is aimed at KS1 and KS2 children, but could be adapted and enjoyed by older age groups too. To engage fully with the range of techniques, you will need between 3 and 4 one hour sessions to complete this activity.

 

Log in as a member to access the resource below.

A pupil holding up her autobiographical house sculpture


Please log in here to access full content.

Username
Password


Remember me
Forgot Password

 

To access all content, I would like to join as…

An Individual

Creative practitioners, educators, teachers, parents, learners…


An Organisation…

Schools, Colleges, Arts Organisations: Single and Multi-Users



AccessArt is a UK Charity and we believe everyone has the right to be creative. AccessArt provides inspiration to help us all reach our creative potential.



You May Also Like…

Printed Houses

photographing outside

Making A Treehouse

Finished AccessArt Treehouse

Talking Points: Architecture

Architecture


Curiosity and Kindness: Prompt Cards for Making

You May Also Like…

AccessArt art week 2026: Curiosity and Kindness

Kindness and Curiosity Art Week Logo by Tobi Meuwissen

AccessArt art week 2026: Curiosity and Kindness Activities

Medals by Jan Miller

explore other art week themes

Collage Plant by Jan Miller

Prompt Cards for Making

AccessArt Making Prompt Cards Saatchi Learning Workshop By Lala Thorpe

roots and shoots

Roots and Shoots Made From Found Materials

playful making inspired by nnena kalu

Finished Group Sculptures Inspired by Nnena Kalu by Lorna Greenwood


Speech Bubble Challenge

You May Also Like…

Collaged Costume for Cardboard Figures

Final Cardboard Fashion Figures by Tobi Meuwissen

Word and image: creating new narratives

Text and Image Word Play by Joe Gamble

Talking heads

Talking Heads by Tobi Meuwissen


Adapting AccessArt: Plinth People

This Project Uses The Following Resources…

Plinth people: Sculptural Self Portraits

Once the plaster was set the cardboard was removed. The corrugations gave the plinths an architectural feel

Quick Clay Figurative Sketches

Quick clay figurative sketch


Talking With Your Hands


Sensory Sculpture inspired by Barbara Hepworth


Engaging Audiences Through Transportation


“Acts of Kindness” Workshop


Adapting AccessArt: From 2D to 3D

You May Also Like

Manipulating Paper: Turning 2D into 3D

13

Making Prompt cards

AccessArt Making Prompt Cards Saatchi Learning Workshop By Lala Thorpe

playful making pathway

Medals by Jan Miller

ASTRONAUT PAPER BODY CASTS

Figures on wall - Astronaut body casts with Gillian Adair McFarland

Turkish map fold

Theresa Easton Turkish Map Fold

Adapting AccessArt: Playful Making Inspired by Nnena Kalu

Finished Group Sculptures Inspired by Nnena Kalu by Lorna Greenwood


Ice Worlds

You May Also Like…

Pathway: Using Art To Explore Global Issues

This resource is features in the 'Using Art To Explore Global Issues' pathway

This resource is features in the ‘Using Art To Explore Global Issues’ pathway

Drawing Source material: ice

Iceberg by Frances Hatch

Talking Points: Drawn To Antarctica

Travelling to the Antarctic by Frances Hatch

Mini world Lightboxes

Mini World Lightboxes by Anna Campbell


Adapting AccessArt: Stone Age Clay Play

See This Resource Used In Schools…

Year 3, Sutton Valence Prep School
Year 3, Sutton Valence Prep School
Year 3, Sutton Valence Prepatory School

You May Also Like

fruit pinch pot

Fruit Pinch Pot Rachel Dormer

clay pens

Painted Clay Pen by Tobi Meuwissen

how to clay play

Exploring clay and water


Our Creative Community: Inspired by Samantha Bryan Part One


Our Creative Community: Inspired by Samantha Bryan Part Two


Our Creative Community: Yorkshire Sculpture Park Visit


Mobile Construction Methods

You May Also Like…

Pathway: Explore Sculpture Through Making a Mobile

IMG_4127 copy

Heavy/Light Mobile – Drawing and Making

Drawn Mobile

Coat-hanger Shells

A shell inspired sculpture.


Adapting AccessArt: Playful Making Inspired by Nnena Kalu

You May Also Like

Roots to shoots

WhatsApp Image 2021-03-03 at 10.46.22

Prompt cards for making

AccessArt Making Prompt Cards Saatchi Learning Workshop By Lala Thorpe

coat-hanger shells

A shell inspired sculpture.


Adapting AccessArt: Making Birds Pathway for Pupils With Special Educational Needs

You May Also Like…

Pathway: Making Birds

Making birds from card, paper and wire

Flying Minpin Birds

Minpin Birds

Visual Arts Planning: Birds

Drawing Birds with Oil Pastels and Washes


An Introduction to Sculpture

You Might Also Like…

Talking Points: Wassily Kandinsky

Improvisation 35 (1914) painting in high resolution by Wassily Kandinsky

Inspired by Miro – Collage, Automatic Drawing, & Sculpture

miro

Design Through Making

AccessArt Making Prompt Cards Saatchi Learning Workshop By Lala Thorpe


Wet Strength Tissue Paper Cups

You Might Also Like…

Sculptural Modroc Pots

2cups

Art Club Cafe

Anna Campbell Art club cafe - donuts

Manipulating Paper: 2D into 3D

13


Painted and Sculptural Plant Pots

You Might Also Like…

Drawing and Making Flowers

Finished flowers at Ridgefield Primary School

Painting on Plaster Inspired by Vincent Van Gogh

14

Cut Paper Collage Still Life

1