The case for space

Posted on: 16 September 2011
By: mackene
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A report published by RIBA argues that the average new three-bedroom home currently being built by the UK’s top house builders is around eight per cent smaller than the basic recommended minimum size, leaving thousands of people across the country short-changed. The research uses a benchmark based on the London Plan space standards for a two-storey, three bedroom home big enough for five people.

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Urban morphology and the post-carbon city: 18th International Seminar on Urban Form. Montreal, 26-29 August, 2011

Posted on: 31 August 2011
By: mackene
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The International Seminar on Urban Form (ISUF)  is the international organisation of urban form for researchers and practitioners. It was inaugurated in 1994, bringing together urban morphologists worldwide.  It seeks to advance research and practice in fields concerned with the built environment. The 18th International Seminar aimed to explore the contributions of urban morphology to current debates on cities and key environmental challenges of our times. The event considered: urban morphological theory; urban morphology, planning and design; case studies of urban form around the globe; and urban morphology with regard to climate or climate change,urban mega-projects, transportation, brownfield redevelopment, walkability, health impacts, automobile suburbs, urban heritage, and the pre-carbon city. Other issues covered included: geospatial technology in urban morphology; urban form and environmental performance; and typological research and design. Over 50 full text versions of papers presented at the event are available online.

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WELL-BEING 2011: The First International Conference Exploring the Multi-dimensions of Well-being. Birmingham, 18-19 July 2011

Posted on: 31 July 2011
By: mackene
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This event,. hosted by Birmingham City University in collaboration with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), set out to explore the current agenda relating to well-being, inviting a diverse audience drawn from different disciplines, sectors and organisations ranging from the environment, social, health, arts and humanities, including architects, landscape architects, health and community workers, Birmingham City Council, Dudley NHS, community and housing organisations, research councils, and universities. Papers are available online.

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A guide for assisted living: Towards LifeHome 21

Posted on: 8 July 2011
By: mackene
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This RIBA/BRE Guide on Assisted Living aims to provide authoritative guidance for architects, other design professionals and many other interest groups on the appropriate design of new and refurbished homes to create the right sort of detailing and services both within the home and adjacent to the home that will enable those living with long term chronic conditions to remain in their homes and to lead independent lives for as long as possible.  Creating flexible and adaptable homes will include the installation of digital services to create a safe and comfortable internal environment and, of course, to support the occupants’ health and wellbeing and their contacts with friends, family, carers and the wider community. The first section addresses building fabric and space issues, while the second looks at approaches to the integration of digital infrastructure into homes and small communities such as residential blocks. Presentations from the report launch, held on 30 June 2011, are available here.

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