Savannah Williams

How the changing population will affect architecture. Population change is one of four key themes identified by RIBA Horizons 2034 as shaping the global future. Pollard Thomas Edwards' lead for later living and co-design projects, Patrick Devlin, discusses its implications on architecture: https://ow.ly/HKyz50SaWsJ RIBA Horizons 2034 is sponsored by Autodesk

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As highlighted in this insightful essay by RIBA, humility could be the key to addressing the climate crisis in architecture. As professionals, it's crucial for us to acknowledge our impact and adopt a more humble approach to design. By prioritising sustainability and embracing humility, we can create a better future for our planet. Read more: https://lnkd.in/edr-q29S #RIBAInsights #ClimateCrisis #ArchitectureHumility #SustainableDesign #ClimateAction #ArchitecturalResponsibility #GreenArchitecture #BuildingForTheFuture #EnvironmentalAwareness

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While it is enormously encouraging to see mainstream coverage about reflecting changing demographics in architectural practice, I am still left feeling there is a large elephant-sized gap in the room in articles like this one from RIBA Journal ie; a factor lesser discussed yet equally important is that the changing demographic (the ageing population) will inherently see an increase in the disabled population, too. While tackling social isolation is an entirely valid issue, it needs to be discussed alongside improvements in the physical access of whatever spaces we create. And I don’t mean merely complying with Doc M - the spatial requirements of which (namely the 1500mm turning circle) are themselves based on an aged population of out of date anthropometric data and cultural attitudes towards ‘adequate access’ which also pre-date the disability rights movement. High quality accessible and age supportive design go hand in hand. But currently the ‘accessible design hand’ is extremely outdated and in need of huge reform well beyond the minimum requirements peddled via Doc M - the basic mere compliance with which is endemic in our current design practice. Beyond Access #accessibledesign #inclusivedesign #disability #rights #ageing #intersectionaldisability

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As part of the new Masterplan Concept being developed for the city of Kharkiv, the Norman Foster Foundation along with the Kharkiv City Council, #UNECE #UN4UkrainianCities Initiative, Arup, the Kharkivproject Institute and Buildner are launching an international competition to upgrade #housing and residential neighbourhoods in the city.   This initiative calls for the development of an innovative modular system capable of retrofitting existing concrete panel housing blocks and enhancing public spaces, to create safe, energy-efficient and vibrant neighbourhoods. The competition will focus on Saltivka, the most-populated district in Kharkiv, and more precisely in North Saltivka, the most heavily damaged area after February 24, 2022. Given the similarity of residential areas across #Kharkiv, the greater ambition of this project is to extrapolate the winning designs to other residential areas throughout the #city.   #Competition participants will be expected to develop concept design-level proposals. After the announcement of the winners, selected proposals will be further developed into detail designs for its #construction. Winning teams will collaborate with locals in this stage under a funded scheme.   We invite you to participate in the competition and look forward to your contributions for the future of Kharkiv and #Ukraine: https://lnkd.in/ePEariTh Press release: https://lnkd.in/eqDkQwg5 Paola DEDA | Thâmara Fortes | Melanie Steinkemper | Enkel Leskaj | United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

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https://lnkd.in/dSAMB6hR I’m running a masterclass on walkable, fine-grained, mixed-use, transit oriented development on Day 3 of this conference, which leaves me free to enjoy the day 1 and day 2 presentations; and they are already showcasing interesting projects that highlight important issues. I’ve been asked why I put the effort into going to conferences. My answer is that to learn about houses, one must experience many houses; it’s the same for cities.

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🌍🏛️ Exciting Opportunity for Architects and Urban Planners! All Things Urban is thrilled to announce our latest initiative: Call for Project Submissions 'Collaborative and Sustainable Architecture'. We are on the lookout for completed projects that showcase innovative approaches to sustainable and inclusive design, deeply integrated with ecological principles and community collaboration. What Are We Looking For? 🔸 Innovative projects ranging from buildings to master plans completed within the last five years (!). 🔸 Designs that effectively address ecological and social challenges. 🔸 Projects that inspire and demonstrate the transformative power of architecture. Why Submit Your Project? 🔹 Showcase your work to a global community of over 70,000 urban professionals. 🔹Gain visibility on our platforms including our blog, social media channels, and during our online networking events. 🔹Connect and engage with other leaders in urban development and sustainability. How to Submit? Please send your projects by 25th April 2024, 6 PM CET / 12 PM EST. ✨ For more details, visit the open call announcement on All Things Urban: https://lnkd.in/dHNXcy7X Let's highlight how architecture can not only exist but thrive in harmony with our planet and its communities. We can’t wait to see your incredible projects and feature the best and most innovative solutions in our network! 🔗 Submit Now! https://lnkd.in/dHNXcy7X If you find this opportunity relevant for the urbanists worldwide, consider resharing ♻ and follow us All Things Urban for more content like this. 💬 Know someone perfect for this? Tag them! #opencall #architecture #urban #urbandesign #callforsubmissions

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Does architecture have objectively good or bad qualities, or is our appreciation coloured by personal or cultural bias? Look beyond prejudice to enjoy buildings better, argues Charles Holland in his new book, How to Enjoy Architecture https://ow.ly/nZ8y50Sxt8a

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It's great to see Women in Architecture UK and the RIBA bringing attention to this. If we don't support women and mothers in the architecture profession, how can they be represented in the built environment? #Diversity in practices leads to a built environment that better reflects its society. #WomeninArchitecture #DiversityAndInclusion

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👉🏻Check out this new guide which includes practical, #local actions that #cities can take to improve their #public spaces and #engage meaningfully with the #community 😄

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Collaboration is the focus of the latest World Architecture Festival newsletter. Thoughts on collaboration by Ian Ritchie (Founding Director of ritchie*studio) and his 10 commandments of collaboration are reflected upon by Paul Finch: "I am also indebted to the British architect Ian Ritchie, in an exchange on collaboration, to get another reminder, this time from his 1994 book (well) Connected Architecture (Academy Editions, 1994). He defined the crucial ingredients for successful collaboration as follows: - Each must take time to listen to the other, and suspend prejudices. Not only does this allow mutual respect to grow, but without it, the synergy of mutual creativity cannot flourish: the process, like brainstorming, in which nobody can quite remember where the solution came from - The commonality of aims is usefully complemented by a diversity of expertise - No barriers = no defences. There are those who feel threatened when another profession speaks their language and questions their assumption. [It is a shame we have these languages and hide behind them at times.] This is inhibiting to any free exchange. These principles of collaboration apply at all stages of a project; initially with a client, and later with a builder or fabricator. Differences of orientation can generate conflict, or can be harnessed creatively. The trick to helping this process to move in a constructive direction is often found by sticking rigorously to an open-minded approach where everyone's preconceptions – especially our own – are questioned, and we demonstrate a willingness to receive the ideas of others and modify our own, while at the same time refusing to compromise our design principles and values. Those ideas that survive this process of challenge are the stronger for having stood up to scrutiny, and the process is exciting. Ritchie’s ‘10 Commandments of Collaboration’ are as follows: 1. We will begin without preconception or prejudice. 2. We take nothing for granted except your commitment to the project. 3. We know how to listen, but are ready to question and to be interrupted. 4. Ideas are shared – no one can claim them afterwards. Everyone owns the problems, but nobody owns the solutions. 5. We recognize the project as a mediator which helps resolve differences of view. 6. We respect the minds of our collaborators. 7. There is time together (synthetic thinking and action) and time apart (reflection). 8. All participants are equal, there are no bosses. 9. We respect the common concept – Collective idea – as being more important than what any individual could have conceived. 10. We are prepared to improvise and side-step conventional ways of doing things. This is as apt today as it was when it was written, 30 years ago." #ritchiestudio #collaboration #architecture #design #WAF #ianritchie The full article link below: https://lnkd.in/eRQwrgjA

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Ahead of RIBA's election event on climate action: Delivering a low carbon built environment at 2.00 this afternoon, UK AD has sent each candidate (Oluwafunmbi Adeagbo, Duncan Baker-Brown and Chris Williamson) and the current RIBA President, Muyiwa Oki PRIBA, an Open Letter containing a set of key actions. More radical and systemic change is required, with the greatest action needed at the highest leverage points involved in changing any system. It is here that key institutions such as the RIBA must lead. We call on all candidates for this new term of office to engage clearly and directly with these policies as the driving force for the RIBA’s actions on the planetary emergency in the short, medium and long terms:   - The mindset or paradigm out of which the system - its goals, power structure, rules, its culture - arises. - The goals of the system. - The distribution of power over the rules of the system. - The rules of the system (incentives, punishments, constraints). - Information flows. - Material flows and nodes of material intersection. - Driving positive feedback loops. These 7 leverage point headings are taken from the Donella Meadows essay on 'Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System'. The full text of the open letter expands on the headings, explaining how RIBA can engage with these leverage points to push forward meaningful change. You can find the full text of the Open Letter on the News page of our website here https://lnkd.in/eZ5wafzX. #openletter #riba #action #climate #ukarchitectsdeclare #climateemergency #ribaelections

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More radical and systemic change is required, with the greatest action needed at the highest leverage points involved in changing any system. It is here that key institutions such as the RIBA must lead. #openletter #riba #action #climate #ukarchitectsdeclare #climateemergency #ribaelections

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Duo Dickinson on the curse of The Box: "The Box costs less to build than other building methods. If cost is king, then simple and big become the default settings for value—resulting in, well, boxes that cover as much of a site as possible... Perversely, the density so prized in sustainable design is not complemented in these buildings by an approach that values social good. 'Density' in a Box means densely packed people." https://lnkd.in/eY-y7ybS

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New RIBA horizon scans predict global impact of population change – and call for architects to respond The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published its latest set of horizon scans, spotlighting trends in global population change that will shape society and the built environment over the next ten years.  Shifting patterns in births, deaths and migration are reshaping communities. The world faces ageing populations, swelling cities, and more people on the move than ever before. RIBA Horizons 2034: Population Change includes four horizon scans that consider how architects will need to adapt to respond to the changes. Written by leading academics and experts, they are commissioned by RIBA to provide foresight for building design professionals. The four horizon scans are:  - Urbanisation: the coming decade will be make or break for cities and the planet - Demographics: slowing population growth, changing families and an ageing population - International migration and displacement: the impact on the urban landscape - Designing for an increasingly diverse population: the implications of the ethnic diversification and age polarisation of Britain’s neighbourhoods They discuss how households and neighbourhoods will change, with a need for housing to respond to the reality of smaller families and older, more diverse communities, especially in the UK.  They also highlight the impact of unpredictable migration trends, driven by economic factors, but also by conflict and climate change.  To https://lnkd.in/eAJSrPi6

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We transform offices into spaces where people thrive, creating a home away from home. Our Managing Director Tina will be joining CALMfest to share insights on how we transform offices into a destination where people want to be and we do this by living by our commitment to employee wellbeing and productivity. A workplace is and should be a place to learn, grow and flourish. An inclusive environment which enhances creativity and provides a calm, inclusive environment. Click on the link below to join Tina and learn some tips how on you can start your journey. #workplacedesign #peoplefirst #peopleculture #healthandwellbeing Office Principles Calm In A Box

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Yesterday, I was reading an article about anxiety. Recently, I became a well-being champion at Mott MacDonald, and since then, I have been trying to learn more about mental well-being. In that article, it was mentioned that 85% of our concerns and worries are not going to happen, which made me think, why are we bothering ourselves? Overthinking? Burning out? And then I saw “Inside Out 2”—Phenomenal! Anxiety was portrayed pretty well. When you watch that and read this article, the puzzle will be completely solved—nothing is worth bothering yourself about. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/ecx33kam #architect #wellbeing #life #engineers #beyond #work #career #selfcare

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I loved participating in Women in Architecture UK's Communications Workshop Mentoring Programme. Alongside a stellar lineup - Stephen Drew, Katia Polidoro, and Karen Fugle - I shared a few insights on mastering personal communications in the architecture world. My presentation focused on the art of "spinning a bold yarn" to boost your personal profile and expand your professional network when you're starting out.  You can watch the full panel in the post below, but, in the meantime, here are my three key tips: 👉 Social media is exactly that, social, so have fun. Don’t be afraid to show personality. Post things that you would be interested in reading. 👉 Communications within the architecture industry don’t need to be serious, to be taken seriously. 👉 There's a difference between talking to other architects and talking to people outside the profession. The simpler you can communicate, the better. 👉 Think about your choice of words. If everything is ‘innovative’, nothing is.  👉 Give yourself the freedom to flop. Thanks so much for inviting me Tania Ihlenfeld!

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This post highlights the latest issue of Architecture Bulletin, focusing on designing for wellbeing to support health, inclusivity, and comfort. It features contributions from various authors, emphasizing the role of the built environment in enhancing people's wellbeing and quality of life. • Wellbeing articles discuss how architectural design can positively impact health and comfort. • Inclusivity is addressed through design strategies that cater to diverse needs, fostering a sense of belonging. • Architecture's influence on social value and quality of life is explored, highlighting the importance of thoughtful design. 💡You may want to consider integrating wellbeing and inclusivity principles into your architectural projects

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