RIBA presents The Liveable City
RIBA North West and the Danish Embassy is co-hosting a series of seminars in Manchester to discuss how to create beautiful cities with a more resilient economy, healthier residents and a better quality of life.
Held between the 20 and 27 November at the Manchester School of Art, 'The Liveable City' will look at ways that planners, architects and local communities can play their part in the development of a dynamic, liveable city. Speakers will be a mix of Danish and British architects and decision makers.
In addition to the seminars, an exhibition at the Manchester School of Art will show some of the highlights of contemporary Danish architecture and give an insight into its core values.
Claus Grube, Danish Ambassador, said: "It is important for us to engage in partnerships and co-operations all over Britain, keeping in mind that there is more to the UK than London. In terms of size Manchester is comparable to Copenhagen, Denmark's largest and very liveable city."
The event is in partnership with the Manchester School of Architecture.
There are problems with the livability of our cities which I think are explained in the way they are perceived, designed, delivered and managed. The answer does not lie in silo thinking (architect/planner/decision maker) but in co-design that understands the city as an urban ecology not a taste driven aesthetic. I heard Claus Grub speak a few week ago and he talked nonsense about the psychology of cities. The discussion needs to be opened up to wider disciplines concerned with people and place and the built environment professions need to take an objective look at what passes for an academic basis for city design – ref Dr Stephen Marshall UCL (no relation!)
By Graham Marshall
…sincere apologies to Claus Grube the Danish Ambassador. We have never met, I have not heard him speak on the psychology of cities and I expect he is a fine man. My comment was aimed at one of his fellow countrymen…and others who are currently adding wellbeing soundbites to their already shaky urban design ones!
By Graham Marshall
Mr Marshall. I have not met you either nor heard your learned speaking on cities. If you believe that the psychology of a city is nonsense, then you are sadly mistaken my friend. Many academic studies across Europe prove otherwise
By Claus Grube