Neil

What a way to start the year. Individual of The Year 2025 - Inspiring Future Generations Award 🥹. Thank you @thorntoneducationtrust for the award and Dennis Austin for nominating me. It was genuinely a super nice surprise, and to be shortlisted by such a powerhouse of a judging panel feels extra special. My usual awkward self was out in full force on stage, but it does mean a lot to be recognised for the continual drive it takes to make shit happen, year in and year out, so thank you 🙏 To everyone who was apart of @beyondtheb_x these past 8 years - this one’s for you 👍 #beyondthebox #indivdiualoftheyear #awards #tetawards2025

A beautiful way to kick start 2026, five days spent in majestic Istanbul. Averaging 25km on foot each day 😅 because there is just SO much to see and do here. The history of Turkey and Istanbul, where two continents meet (Europe and Asia) has been genuinely fascinating to learn. Empires' influence across the ages, from Roman to Ottoman and beyond, has all left its architectural and cultural footprint. Here are my top spots. Basilica Cistern (Roman Engineering at its finest) Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) Hagia Sophia Mosque (going through major works currently, but still beautiful) Dolmabahce Palace Museum Galata Tower Chora Museum Beylerbeyi Palace The New Mosque Bosphorus Sunset Cruise In short, if you haven’t been, go visit. P.S. If you travel with someone who loves cats, be sure to add an extra 15 minutes to every journey between destinations 😹 #instanbul #turkey #travel #2026 #pussypalace

This summer the People’s Pavilion reminded me that community is more alive, more creative and more beautiful in its diversity than ever. Our project brought together young people from all backgrounds across London to design a space for the wider community. Our industry partners gave their time, resources and energy to up-skill the next generation. Our community came together to help us raise vital funds and responded to our call to action. Over 70 volunteers came together to build the pavilion and bring this vision to life. Our creative partners worked with us to design an accessible arts and culture festival. The pavilion created space for music from all over the world, with Egyptian and Syrian refugees and migrants playing to sunset settings. Antiguans, Barbudans, and Dominican big band sounds filled the skies. Steel pan rhythms of Trinidad and Tobago got everyone dancing & we all beat the drum to the acoustic sound of Gambia. The pavilion became a stage for one of London's largest Hindu festival. The festival created space for neurodiversity inclusion, for climate action conversations and nature inspired crafts. We celebrated local film makers who shared their stories and young Londoners performed to intergenerational audiences. Our young producers were central to the delivery of this Arts Council funded festival, and a huge shout out goes to them. The People’s Pavilion always reminds me that everyone contributes to this world of ours in magical ways - if we want to understand what makes a place, town, city or country great, then we must step outside, in every way, and engage with people, enter into exchange and have faith that we, as a human race, have the ability to celebrate the best of our common-unity and our unique individualities and cultures within that. Thank to you everyone who made this year’s People’s Pavilion the best one yet. Special thanks to the William Morris Gallery, the Waltham Forest Councils Cultural Team and to our engineers Scale Rule/Simple Works and architects McCloy Muchemwa With energy, creativity and care ✌️ #peoplespavilion2025 #codesign #coproduction #community #unity

The People’s Pavilion arrives in Waltham Forest from 15 August to 21 September - bringing free workshops, live music, family days, and creative events for all to enjoy. Set in the beautiful green space outside the William Morris Gallery, the specially built pavilion is the work of talented young Londoners, from design through to construction. We’re delighted to support a project that celebrates creativity, community, and the next generation of designers. (link in bio) @neilonions84 @beyondtheb_x @morrisgallery @lbwalthamforest #BeyondTheBox #WilliamMorrisGallery #EastLondonEvents #ArtAndDesign #MusicAndFilm #CreativeLondon #FreeEvents #Walthamstow #WalthamForest #EastLondonEvents #PeoplesPavilion #CommunityFestival

This evening I took the time to appreciate what all the hard work is for - expression, creativity and community, the ones we know and the ones we are yet to meet. This summer has been surreal, a project with the @southbankcentre for @_emmalwarren_ Dance Your Way Home Season, madness. Those that have known me over the decades will know my love to dance, it was therapy and healing for my young gay self who danced till dawn to heal my soul. So to be invited to design a dancefloor got me beyond excited. I knew it shouldn’t be a floor, more a framing of a space and I knew we needed to engage with community to explore its design, I also knew @qsp.___ was the one i wanted to collaborate with to design it with us @beyondtheb_x . So this evening, to see the young creatives as part of @ourheartbeatsdjs heartbeats DJ under our installation was a beautiful moment. In a time where politics is polarising and people are labelled before being seen, what @counterpointsarts arts are doing is genuinely inspiring. Congratulations to everyone involved in the cultural programme of Dance Your Way Home, what a beautiful, beautiful thing music and community is. #danceyourwayhome #thespacebetween #southbank #dance #community #humanrace

Codesign never looked so good! Last Thursday we officially opened the People’s Pavilion 2025 at the William Morris Gallery. Over the past two weeks, young Londoners, architects, engineers, and volunteers have come together to create a sanctuary on the island outside the Gallery — once the family home of William Morris. The Pavilion forms part of a live installation, where we will collaborate with craftspeople and the community to create material panels that will wrap the structure over the coming weeks. For the next five weeks, the Pavilion will come alive with events with and for the community. The first takes place on Tuesday 19 August — and we can’t wait to welcome you. ✨ Designed by young co-designers in collaboration with McCloy + Muchemwa ⚙️ Engineering by Scale Rule x Simple Works 🌱 Materials: 50% repurposed by Recollective 🪚 Carpenter and Maker Asher Preston Thank you to our 70 volunteer builders who gave their time over 7 days, to our sponsors, and to our crowdfunders who made this possible. Join us in celebrating youth creativity, culture, and community. #PeoplesPavilion2025 #BeyondTheBoxCIC #Walthamstow #WilliamMorrisGallery #YouthLed #Codesign

Only @cambridgeuniversity to celebrate the graduation showcase of @s_elbahja . I’m blessed in my career to do a job that brings me joy - and watching Samira grow over the past 5 years has been nothing short of joyful. We’re all very proud of you Sam, all you have achieved and all that you’re yet to achieve. The architecture and design industry is lucky to have you. #gogetem #mentee #proud #architecture

MEET YOUR MENTOR! Introducing one of the ‘Space to Ideate’ mentors, Neil Onions. Neil is the founder of Beyond the Box CIC, with over 20 years of experience in community-driven co-design and cultural placemaking. Neil has led groundbreaking initiatives-like the award-winning People’s Pavilion and cultural placemaking on Broadwater Farm Estate. Space to ideate is a 3 day creative lab to support young designers/architects who want to start their own collective. Participants would be guided by industry professionals who have successfully started their own initiatives over the three days. Tickets are in the link bio. Date: 17th June - 19th June Time: 3-6pm Venue: AHMM architects, 5-23 old street, London, EC1V 9HL

Excited to be joining the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust #SBMentors Pilot - an inspiring programme all about connecting young people with professionals in the music, media and business world to give them the tools, networks and #SelfBelief needed to step confidently into their careers. Each month, mentors from Jamal’s wide reaching network are meeting 1:1 with young people aged 18–25 to offer guidance and industry insight. I’m proud to be part of that journey, helping to unlock potential, build Self Belief, and open doors for the next generation. This is more than mentorship - it’s about continuing Jamal’s legacy by showing up and connecting young people with different worlds of work, just like he did. #SBMentors #JESB #SelfBelief

Surrounded by the journey. This evening at @riba , I was honoured to receive an Honorary Fellowship — made all the more meaningful by being joined by some of the people who helped shape the path that led here. To the women in industry — who I now proudly call friends — thank you for standing in my corner and guiding my journey into the built environment: @dianslivingirie , @stephanie_edwards_urbansym , and the powerhouse who encouraged me to start @beyondtheb_x , @laurcobb . To @shawn_adams — from student on my programme to mentor and now practice owner — your growth has been a privilege to witness. And to @s_elbahja , the first People’s Pavilion designer, now graduating from Cambridge University — your journey continues to inspire. And to one of my oldest friends, @rhonad123 — who’s been there through it all — love you always. From my speech: “The systems of inequity are products of design — and can therefore be redesigned.” Thank you to those who nominated me and shared letters of support: @mishkk , @daniel.davies , @drmm_architects , @s_elbahja , @shawn_adams , @karakuseviccarsonarchitects , @laurcobb and others. Tonight, standing among professionals from all corners of the sector, it was especially powerful to see community and youth engagement represented alongside engineers, PR consultants, developers and planners. This one’s for everyone working to centre communities. #equitybydesign

Incredible News! 🎉 We’re beyond thrilled to share that Beyond the Box CIC’s Founding Director, @neilonions84 , has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship from @riba for 2025! 🥇 ✨ This prestigious recognition celebrates Neil’s dedication to championing diversity, youth inclusivity, and community-led design. As the founder of Beyond the Box CIC, Neil has led groundbreaking initiatives—like the award-winning People’s Pavilion and cultural placemaking on Broadwater Farm Estate—proving that design is most powerful when shaped by the people it serves. Neil’s work has pushed boundaries, creating real opportunities for young people and underrepresented voices to influence the built world. His leadership continues to reshape how architecture engages with communities, ensuring that inclusivity is at the heart of design. A huge congratulations to Neil and all the 2025 RIBA Honorary Fellows! 🎖️👏 Read more about the announcement by visiting the link in the bio and hitting news: #RIBAHonoraryFellow #BeyondTheBoxCIC #CommunityLedDesign #InclusivePlacemaking #ArchitectureForAll

At Beyond the Box, we believe in the power of community-led placemaking—something our founding director, Neil Onions, explores in his latest think piece, Sharing Place for The Glass-House. Neil reflects on the importance of reclaiming public spaces at a time when privatization and restrictive policies are limiting creativity and community access. He highlights how collaboration—like our recent work with @buildhollywood in Shoreditch—can transform spaces into platforms for cultural expression, resilience, and connection. His piece is a call to action: spaces should be shaped with and by the communities that use them. When people are actively involved in design and stewardship, public spaces become more than just locations—they become places of belonging. Read the full piece by heading to the link bio and hitting news. #publicspace #inclusion #codesign #coownership #public