Academy of Urbanism
http://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/events/
Academy Spring Debate
April 27 @ 2:30 pm - 8:30 pm
https://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/events/the-academy-spring-debate-and-award-shortlisting/
AoU Congress XI: The Future of Urbanism
9th June London
https://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/events/event-aou-congress-xi-the-future-of-urbanism-june/
Landscape Institute
Beyond the Green Belt
Exhibition
http://www.landscapeinstitute.co.uk/events/
East Midlands
Delivering Successful Places - From Concept to Reality
21 April
http://rtpi.org.uk/events/events-calendar/2016/april/place-making/
West Midlands Urban Design Forum
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MADE
Essentials of Urban Design in Planning
14th April
http://made.org.uk/events/essentials-of-urban-design-in-planning
The Future of Green Belts
22nd April
City Builder Academy
July 2016
http://made.org.uk/events
Engage Liverpool
https://www.engageliverpool.com/events/
Parks debate
19th April
Placemaking for the Common Good
20th April
Yorkshire
Northern
Urban Design London
Events coming up – extensive programme some free, some charged/ £175+VAT (Free for UDL subscribers)
http://www.urbandesignlondon.com/events-listing/
The Principles of Good Design & the Design Process
21st April 2016
Design South East / Kent Design
http://www.kentdesign.org/events/
Event Calendar
http://www.kentdesign.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Event-Calendar-2015-16-edited-14.4.15.pdf
RTPI
Design in the Planning System
12 May - London
http://www.rtpi.org.uk/events/events-calendar/2016/may/design-in-the-planning-system/
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Architecture and Design Scotland
http://www.ads.org.uk/category/news/
Say Hello to architecture
IHBC
http://ihbc.org.uk/events/
Museum of Walking
Dash or Dawdle – Clerkenwell Pubs
Any day until the 22 March 2016
http://www.museumofwalking.org.uk/events/
Find your London: Tree or False?
1.00am-12.30pm Sunday 20 March
Stalking the Hardy Ash up the Fleet river
6.30pm-8.00pm Monday 21 March
Haiku on Foot
Thursday 7 April 6.30pm-8.00pm
Centre for Cities
http://www.centreforcities.org/events/
City Horizons: the future of urban policy in the UK
18 April - Manchester
http://www.centreforcities.org/event/city-horizons-tristram-hunt-future-of-urban-policy/
BOBMK Events
http://bobmk.org.uk/our-programme/
Future of Transport and Innovation
Electric Vehicles, Buses, Pods etc
Thursday 28 APRIL 2016 Milton Keynes
Place Alliance – Big Meet 5
Friday 29th April
http://placealliance.org.uk/whats-on/
PTRC
Transport Practitioners Meeting 2016 – Nottingham
29-30 June 2016 | Nottingham
Call for papers open.
https://www.ptrc-training.co.uk/Events/TPM2016.aspx
Transport Planning Society
http://www.tps.org.uk/main/events/
Housing for London
14 April @ The Gallery 70 Cowcross Street
Transport modelling – fact, forecast or fiction?
Thursday 21st April 2016 18:00 to 20:00
http://tps.org.uk/transport-modelling-fact-forecast-or-fiction
Research Events
Feeling good in public spaces – Dialogue series
http://www.arcc-network.org.uk/health-wellbeing/feeling-good-in-public-spaces/#.Vr3l7vmLTZ4
Sensing the place – experiences and wayfinding
27 April
CIHT
Society of Road Safety Auditors Conference
21 June 2016
http://www.ciht.org.uk/en/events/events-listing.cfm/society-of-road-safety-auditors-2016-conference
RIBA
Essentials of Urban Design in Planning
Birmingham 14 April
https://www.architecture.com/WhatsOn/April2016/EssentialsofUrbanDesigninPlanningBirmingham.aspx
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Latest Lectures
on UrbanNous
New
Improving the quality of new housing: Negotiating improvements in delivery and design
Amy Burbidge is Design Action Manager at North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit.
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/housing-quality.htm
Improving the quality of new housing: New issues for affordable housing.
Andy von Bradsky is former Chairman of PRP, Chair of the RIBA Housing Group, Board Member of the Housing Forum and recent chair of the Government appointed Challenge Panel for the Housing Standards Review that advised on UK standards for housing of all tenures.
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/housing-affordable.htm
A better future for high streets and town centres.
Julian Dobson, Urban Pollinators
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/from-agora-to-polis.htm
Towns and cities: Function in form
Julian Hart, Lancefield Consulting
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/cities-function-in-form.htm
Designing the business model: Sharing land uplift and unlocking long term value.
Yolande Barnes, Director of the World Research team at Savills
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/development-economics.htm
Weather in the City – How Design Shapes the Urban Climate
Sanda Lenzholzer
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/climate-and-city-design.htm
All urban designers, architects, planners, and highway engineers should have a knowledge of this subject.
UrbanNous Catalogue available on-line
Highlights include Christopher Alexander, George Ferguson, Hans Monderman and scores of others.
www.urbannous.org.uk
Urban Nous is produced and operated by Fergus Carnegie for the benefit of practitioners worldwide.
RICS
Sherford New Town Update
27 April - Plymouth
http://www.rics.org/uk/training-events/conferences-seminars/sherford-new-town-update/plymouth/
Placemaking and viability: delivering more and better quality developments.
30 June - London
http://www.rics.org/uk/training-events/conferences-seminars/rics-viability-and-planning-conference-/london/
China Design Centre
2016 China-UK Ideal Town and Garden City Summit —Building Green, Liveable and Thriving Towns
26 April - London
http://www.chinadesigncentre.com/index.php?c=article&id=177
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Urban Design around the World Global
Habitat III – What role for urban design?
http://citiscope.org/habitatIII/news/2016/04/quito-questions-what-role-will-urban-design-play-new-urban-agenda
The New Urban Agenda will be the outcome document agreed upon at the UN Habitat III cities conference in October 2016.
Canberra light rail viability questioned by Grattan report – but robust defence offered
"City building is about more than simply economic logarithms, it's also about making sure we deliver the best design outcome for the Nation's Capital" "The Government has to take account of economic, but also urban design and other considerations in deciding the best transport outcome for our city."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-05/canberra-light-rail-business-case-criticised-grattan-institute/7299108
What to do with a disused brick vaulted urban reservoir.. Sydney’s hidden Roman gardens.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/paddington-reservoir-from-a-dark-dank-water-reservoir-to-hidden-garden-on-bustling-oxford-street/news-story/ae1d33b1f2c6f4a3a3e5cef31ac8a09b
Designer rubbish bins for Sydney
http://www.governmentnews.com.au/2016/03/jimmy-choo-just-loves-clover-moores-new-designer-rubbish-bins-for-sydney/
Green cities: What Australia can learn from Asia - 10th annual Green Cities
http://www.eco-business.com/news/green-cities-what-australia-can-learn-from-asia/
Queensland government sets sights on housing affordability
http://www.domain.com.au/news/queensland-government-sets-sights-on-housing-affordability-20160328-gnpfrf/
Stacked pods with green screens
http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/cox-propose-stacked-pods-with-green-screens-for-ne
China
Water Sensitive Urban Design needed to ensure Hong Kong water security
Chinese government in push to develop pilot “sponge cities”.
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1931552/when-it-comes-water-security-hong-kong-should-suck-it
Costa Rica
Improving equality in Costa Rica through urban design
http://www.ticotimes.net/2016/03/26/gender-city-improving-equality-costa-rican-urban-design
Ireland
New wave of landscape interpretation
http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/new-wave-of-landscape-interpretation-1.2598889
Israel
Concern over the quality and attractiveness of Israeli buildings
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.711814
New Zealand
Albany Retail Development Hubris?
“Distinctive high quality urban design is provided for, including a 'green network' to create an attractive urban environment.” The photo accompanying this article is of something that looks like a cross between a motorway service area and a 1980s style retail park.
http://truecommercial.nzherald.co.nz/insights/news/property-articles/albany-hits-its-stride-at-last/?ref=NZHNetwork
Where is our collective imagination?
An appeal for the improvement of towns and cities and well as private property
http://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/where-is-our-collective-imagination/
UK
Housing crisis is a threat to London's industry, business leaders warn
Signatories include Sir Terry Farrell
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/housing-crisis-is-a-threat-to-londons-industry-business-leaders-warn-a3219171.html
Fifty Thousand Homes Campaign Launched by London First
http://fiftythousandhomes.london/
Housebuilding slump sees growth hit three-year low
http://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/housebuilding-slump-sees-growth-hit-threeyear-low-a3217511.html
East Bergholt Residents protest over urbanization of Constable Country
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/east_bergholt_villagers_explain_why_preserving_constable_country_means_so_much_to_them_1_4481175It
Unfortunately, while the planning system has succeeded in protecting conservation areas, the settings have often been damaged, with many villages already surrounded by poor quality 1960s and 70s suburban style development. The problem has been that clone style development has been allowed arbitrarily on the radial routes in and out of villages, so communities with buildings 400 or 500 years old have feel as though they are in a housing estate. To prevent this, development on the radial routes should be restricted, and screened development concentrated in the fields between the routes.
Urban Design Framework to combat Tunbridge Wells Town centre woes
The Morrisons store in Tunbridge Wells as closed, creating a second redundant site following the closure of the town centre cinema and associated shops.
https://www.timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk/not-again-supermarket-shut-down-adds-to-town-centre-eyesore-woes/
In recent years, an industrial estate 2 miles outside of the town centre has morphed into a retail park with multiplex cinema, posing a threat to other towns in the area. The site is next to the A21 trunk road, which is currently being rebuilt to near motorway standard. Highway works linking the trunk road to the estate have been criticised for failing to provide for cyclists or pedestrians, with the spine road having a 40mph speed limit. It is hoped that the new Urban Design Framework will give Tunbridge Wells the long-term structure that it so desperately needs. A framework is needed at a strategic county level, but has been clearly lacking.
Sue Illman highlights potential for Water Sensitive Urban Design
http://www.hortweek.com/hope-green-infrastructure-devolution/landscape/article/1389101
The remarkable red and white vaulted ceiling of the abandoned Crystal Palace Station
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/07/see-inside-the-secret-victorian-station-left-abandoned-in-london/
National Infrastructure Delivery Plan
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/510525/2904569_NIDP_2016-2021_updated.pdf
Pop-up village in south-east London to house homeless families
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/18/pop-up-village-in-south-east-london-to-house-homeless-families
USA
Urban Design Week – Phoenix Arizona
http://downtowndevil.com/2016/04/04/78911/phoenix-urban-design-week-roosevelt-row-potluck/
| Latest Research, Policy and Practice
Built Environment
Can Banning Fast Food From a Neighbourhood Help Curb Obesity?
The ‘Healthy New Towns’ being constructed in the United Kingdom ‘design out’ factors that contribute to poor health.
http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/03/29/can-banning-fast-food-from-neighborhood-curb-obesity
Internet of things threatened by obsolescence
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35984185
The built environment lifespan measured in decades or centuries is a mismatch for the lifespan of computers and information technology which is measured in years.
Competition to improve “urban design” of Burning Man festival produces over 70 alternatives
http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/mar/21/night-mayor-amsterdam-holland-mirik-milan-night-time-commission
“Sheffield’s estates show us the perils of half-baked regeneration” – A lesson from the 1920s
http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/mar/30/sheffields-estates-show-us-the-perils-of-half-baked-regeneration
Estate Renewal – What Works
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Economic benefits are not the prime justification for estate renewal programmes, but they are often cited as a benefit in the policy-making process.
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As would be expected, investment does increase property prices. However, the impact on the wider economy tends to be small or zero.
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It’s also important to distinguish carefully between effects on the local area and benefits to existing residents (who may be temporarily or permanently displaced as a result of estate renewal)
http://www.whatworksgrowth.org/policy-reviews/estate-renewal/
Politics, Philosophy, Economics
Why are we working longer hours? Why is productivity falling
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/our-working-hours-are-longer-than-ever-and-our-productivity-is-dismally-low-why-i-have-a-theory-a6956796.html
How the Roman Elite Hijacked the Beach
http://www.hakaimagazine.com/article-long/how-ancient-romes-1-hijacked-beach
Humans, Health, Society
Uncertainty can cause more stress than inevitable pain
Uncertainty causes stress, according to this research by UCL, which emphasises of the importance reducing uncertainly in society. It gives the example of real-time information boards at bus stops, which reduce the stress-inducing uncertainty of not knowing when or whether the bus will arrive.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0316/290316-uncertainty-stress#sthash.f1E53Wep.dpuf
Planning for Wellbeing - Rhiannon Corcoran and Graham Marshall
Free to download paper
http://www.urbandesignmentalhealth.com/journal1-planning4wellbeing.html
Charities call for urgent action over homeless children in the UK
Over 100,000 children currently live in temporary accommodation
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/charities-call-for-urgent-action-to-prevent-death-of-more-homeless-children-a6966601.html
Movement
Standing room only – on Paris Brussels 4th class express tickets
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/european-express-train-offers-fourth-class-tickets-just-dont-expect-a-seat-a6957376.html
HS3 rail link needs 'kick-starting', National Infrastructure Commission report concludes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35807472
'Corduroy road' logs found under Waterloo LRT construction
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/waterloo-corduroy-road-found-king-street-lrt-construction-1.3502375
A reminder that even in the new world – road and street alignments are often the oldest thing in the built environment.
Traffic Signals: An introduction to signalised junctions and crossing facilities in the UK”,
This new book charts the history of the technology from their first introduction worldwide, at Bridge Street, Westminster in 1868.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Introduction-Traffic-Signals-introduction-signalised/dp/1523489936
Traffic signals specialist questions the idea of turning off traffic lights to improve traffic flows
http://smarthighways.net/signals-expert-questions-traffic-light-switch-off-idea/
Mark Pleydell argues that “Five minutes of casual observation by an MP do not constitute rigorous insight.” And he is absolutely right in this, but he goes on to argue…“ do you really think that this and all previous governments would have invested the huge amounts of taxpayer money into developing and researching our transport network, the equipment, and systems if there wasn’t good evidence that these systems improved journey times and journey reliability, helped improve public transport, allowed people to use their own private vehicles to live an independent mobile lifestyle?” Yes, we do really think that. Much of the practice in highways, (and not to mention planning and urban design) has developed in the absence of robust evidence, but on the basis of specialist opinion and political whim. The long tradition of highway design has paid little attention to psychology and perception. Only in recent years has the notion of “risk compensation” - the idea that people adjust their behaviour according to how risky they perceive a situation to be – been incorporated into some areas of Government guidance.
The proponents for traffic light free junctions argue that signals is that they give road users a false sense of security: green means go, green means safe to go, while the reality is that people make mistakes, and some people wilfully disregard signals. They consider that signals are also part of a traffic movement concept that removes the requirement on road users to read the road. There is a need for a robust comparative study of signalled and signal free approaches that would look not only of accident data, speeds, and impact on traffic flow, but also on the impact on encouraging or discouraging walking and cycling. Such a study requires a large sample, and should be the primary responsibility of government to undertake.
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