- tuesday 20 march
The City After NowThe world has just acknowledged the birth of its seven billionth citizen. It’s a fifty-fifty chance that this new resident of the planet lives in a city. And, if so, it’s also fifty-fifty that he or she will live in a slum. The world is urbanising at a rate of close to a million people every week and the pace is increasing exponentially: ours is truly an urban planet. Unfortunately, our ability to create humane and sustainable cities lags far behind the uncontrolled and dysfunctional growth we confront. The characteristic forms of 21st century urbanism – slums, mega-cities, and sprawl – are not the answers but exacerbations of our problems. We cannot simply continue to pour population into these soul-destroying and environmentally catastrophic vessels. There is another way - designs and ideas that speculate about forms and strategies for creating cities that push the envelope of possibility, not by proposing extravagant or science-fiction alternatives but by consolidating and re-imagining what we already know but are too cautious or constrained to apply. Host: Jay Merrick, Architecture Critic, The Independent Speaker
Michael Sorkin,
Founder and Principal, Sorkin Studio, President of the Institute for Urban Design, Distinguished Professor of Architecture and Director of the Graduate Program in Urban Design at the City College of New York |
London 2012: the greenest Olympics everSustainability has been a key word throughout the design and construction of the Olympic site and arenas. From the methodology of the on site remediation through to the long term legacy of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the Olympic Development Authority has been determined to deliver a Games that sets new standards for sustainable design. How well have they achieved their targets and what lessons can the rest of the industry learn? Host: Peter Murray, architectural journalist, author, Chairman, Wordsearch and Chairman of NLA - London's centre for the built environment Speakers
Tom Jones,
Principal, Populous Architects, senior member of the design of the main London 2012 Olympic Stadium Downloads |
Architects and architecture in straitened timesHow can procurement reform stimulate growth? In a recession the procurement of professional services and projects has never been more important. UK Public sector construction procurement is the largest amongst all the EU states but significantly also one of the slowest, most expensive and unfair. Those responsible are being asked to find ways of reduce the costs, improve access for micro businesses and SMEs, and improve sustainability. RIBA President Angela Brady has set up a pan industry task force to see how the government can reform UK construction procurement; to make it simpler, more cost effective, to gain fair access to work for all including architects, and achieve better quality and more sustainable buildings. Host: Angela Brady, President, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and Director of award winning Brady Mallalieu Architects, specialists in contemporary sustainable design Speakers
David Ubaka,
David Ubaka, Independent Consultant, Placemakers Downloads |
How green is tall?It is often claimed that skyscrapers are sustainable, as they can use land efficiently and encourage use of public transport. But they also require energy-intensive construction and high levels of servicing. Are the environmental claims made for tall buildings only designed to make monuments to ego look good? Or do they actually stand up? Host: Rowan Moore, architecture critic, The Observer Speakers
Ken Shuttleworth,
Founder, Make Architects Downloads |
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