This episode considers the intersection of infrastructure, housing and design.

Host Charlotte Mitchell is joined by Louise Wyman of Homes England, who is currently on secondment as Design Lead for the West Midlands Combined Authority, and Madeleine Kessler, an architect at Haptic Architects and member of the National Infrastructure Commission's Young Professionals Panel.

Louise and Madeleine are also both members of the Commission's Design Group, chaired by Commissioner Professor Sadie Morgan.

Charlotte, Louise and Madeleine consider a wide range of topics, including: why good infrastructure is crucial to overcoming local concerns about housing developments; the importance of an effective public realm to any new housing project; and the value of good design to creating infrastructure that enables liveable and sustainable communities.

Episode 7: Infrastructure and Housing

Effective infrastructure is crucial to creating well-performing, liveable cities that people want to live and work in.

Host Charlotte Mitchell is joined by National Infrastructure Commissioner member Bridget Rosewell, who has previously served as Chief Economic Advisor to the Greater London Authority from 2002-2012, and Young Professionals Panel member Petra Marko, of Marko & Placemakers, for 30 minutes of chat on UK cities and their infrastructure.

The panel considers diverse city topics such as cycling, 'blue' and 'green' infrastructure, resilience, getting in and out of cities, and how city high streets evolve.

Episode 8: Cities

Embedding good design into major infrastructure projects creates an outcome that works well, looks good and enhances the quality of life for the people who use it. 

Host Charlotte Mitchell is joined by Chair of the National Infrastructure Design Group, Professor Sadie Morgan, and Sakthy Selvakumaran from the NIC's Young Professionals Panel. Together they discuss the new Design Principles for National Infrastructure, the importance of encouraging design innovation and how people-centred design helps connect citizens to where they live.

You can find out more about the Design Principles here: http://bit.ly/2S0Ag95

Episode 9: Design

In episode ten of infra[un]structured, regular host Charlotte from the National Infrastructure Commission's Young Professionals Panel - discusses the challenge of creating a low-carbon economy in the UK and what that means for infrastructure.

She is joined by Commissioner Professor Sir Tim Besley, and fellow YPP member Jenn Holgate, who is a lawyer for energy company Vattenfall. They discuss what the Net Zero carbon emissions goal means in practice, how cities are leading the way in reducing their carbon impacts, and look at the challenge of installing low-carbon heating and what we can learn from past experiences.

Episode 10: Carbon

In episode eleven of infra[un]structured (recorded in early March), host Charlotte Mitchell of the National Infrastructure Commission's Young Professionals Panel talks all things railways and railway stations, and how these buildings, both large and small, shape places.

She is joined by two guests: Anthony Dewar, Professional Head of Building and Architecture at Network Rail, who is also a member of the Commission's Design Group; and Mihir Benison, a Senior Planner at Arup, who sits on the Mayor of London's Young Professionals Panel. 

Together they discuss among other things why stations are sited where they are, how they contribute to shaping a 'place' (and vice versa), what determines the design of new railway buildings … and terrazzo floor tiles!

Episode 11: Railway Stations

Whether it’s the water that runs from your taps, travelling from A to B, or the digital connectivity you’re relying on right now, we wouldn’t get very far without infrastructure.

In this series, we explore how infrastructure relates to everyday life, and how changing technology is affecting what infrastructure should and could do for us.

This podcast is made by members of the UK National Infrastructure Commission's Young Professionals Panel. If you have feedback on the podcast, ideas for future episodes, or simply want to get in touch, please email us at infraunstructured@gmail.com.

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