Audio from the Change by Design report launch on 30 November 2015. 

London is undergoing a rapid transformation. Where is the space for communities in these visions?

In September 2014, Architecture Sans Frontières-UK in partnership with Citizens-UK, UCL, and the University of Sheffield undertook a workshop that focussed on the impact of the regeneration of the Euston area through the HS2 proposals. The aim of this engagement was to inform a Citizens Charter that captured local needs and aspirations for the foreseen large scale development around the station. ASF-UK utilised participatory design tools to engage with local residents, and this series of consultations uncovered a very different vision of the future than the one proposed by HS2.

ASF-UK, activists, and leading practitioners came together for this event to launch the Change by Design: London report and a debate about consultation and community involvement in developments. Questions during the evening included:

1. In a context where consultations are carried out with very little scope for substantial re-orientation of urban development initiatives, where are the opportunities for meaningful engagement that goes beyond consultative tick-box exercises?

2. In a context of increasing instrumentalisation of participatory processes, how can participatory practices capture the diverse set of needs and aspirations of localities, offering potentials for people-centered, rather than market driven, urban change?

3. In a context of increasing professionalisation of participatory practices, how do the financial and institutional conditions affect the possibility for meaningful participatory engagement?

The launch was a collaboration between Architecture Sans Frontières-UK, Citizens UK, UCL Urban Laboratory, The Bartlett Development Planning Unit UCL and the Sheffield School of Architecture.

Change by Design: Collective Imaginations for Contested Sites in Euston

Audio from the Change by Design report launch hosted by UCL Urban Laboratory on 30 November 2015. 

In a context of increasing instrumentalisation of participatory processes, how can participatory practices capture the diverse set of needs and aspirations of localities, offering potentials for people-centered, rather than market driven, urban change?

Session chaired by Katherine Wong (Architecture Sans Frontières-UK). Speakers in order:

Lianne Hartley (Mend London)
Catherine Greig (Make Good)
Viola Petrella (Architects for Social Housing)
Michael Edwards (Bartlett School of Planning, UCL)

The launch was a collaboration between Architecture Sans Frontières-UK, Citizens UK, UCL Urban Laboratory, The Bartlett Development Planning Unit UCL and the Sheffield School of Architecture.

Supporting Community Participation - Practice-Based Perspectives

Audio from the Change by Design report launch on 30 November 2015.*

Session chaired by Sophie Morley (Architecture Sans Frontières-UK). Speakers in order:

Cllr Sally Gimson (Camden Council)
Fran Heron (Resident, Ampthill Estate)
Stephanie Leonard (CitizensUK)

The launch was a collaboration between Architecture Sans Frontières-UK, Citizens UK, UCL Urban Laboratory, The Bartlett Development Planning Unit UCL and the Sheffield School of Architecture.

*Please note that Fran Heron's presentation is unfortunately cut short by the audio recorder, and Alex Frediani also presented in this session, but the audio quality for this part is not of use.

Making Space For Community Participation: Learning From Euston

Audio from the Change by Design report launch hosted by UCL Urban Laboratory on 30 November 2015.

Change By Design in Euston - Introduction by Beatrice De Carli

UCL Urban Laboratory is a crossdisciplinary centre for critical and creative urban thinking, teaching, research and practice.