Written by:
Guest Author
By Stephen Smith
Never afraid to the ask the big questions at The Glass-House: I joined the WEdesign event, facilitated by students from the Bartlett School of Planning, UCL to debate how we make Healthy Cities?
In our day-to-day design work we are being ever more conscious of how light, acoustics, views and connection to nature can help make better spaces and places. This debate was broader than this though – thinking at an urban and society – scale we were presented with the opportunities to collectively think about attitudes, values and action.
Within the frames of Community, Policy, Practice, Ecology and – the rules were set for a lively debate of how we can live in more heathy spaces, in places that open opportunities to improve our wellbeing and sense of connectedness.
A new take on citizenship where views are shared and the shape of the future discussed – ‘citizen-shape’/‘citizen-shaping’ perhaps – this forum was a refreshing way for students to engage with real-life issues and things that matter most to them.
The Policy group explored a phased approach to multi-generational thinking – how can steps be put in place for incremental and long-lasting growth. The Practice group led us to think about forging fruitful and inclusive relationships, breaking down barriers to access and inform decision-making at multiple levels. A tapestry of ideas represented Community – how do we weave together thoughts and ideas. The Ecology group about a multi-faceted and multi-scaled appreciation of how nature can impact our wellbeing; ranging from the soil under our feet, our role and response to ecosystems and temporal changes aligned to the rhythms of nature.
Grow, connect, access, share, interweave – this was a debate with a soul and direction.
Making is integral to The Glass-House philosophy of actions delivering action – a wonderful array of mind-map models gave tangible form to the debate above – note to architects and clients: build more models, think more freely!