quality streetscapes 2007

Discover the true value of public spaces

The 12th annual Quality Streetscape conference (pdf flyer)

17 May 2007, Thistle Charing Cross, London

Getting the most out of places & spaces

The annual Quality Streetscapes conference brings together those leading the debate about innovation in the public realm, with a focus on widening understanding of the benefits of investing in quality. It will address ways of overcoming institutional barriers to success. It takes place in Central London on 17 May, 2007.

RUDI is co-organising this event for the first time, and we hope that the discussion will help to progress the discussion about the state of the public realm in the UK.

Now in its 12th year, the conference turns its attention to uncovering the true value of creating a quality public. This means examining the impact of public realm projects before they are agreed, and re-visiting their user impact and success after they have been implemented.

It is widely accepted that public spaces play a central role in the daily lives of people, the profitability of businesses and the image of any area. But, despite the attention that the public realm currently receives from professionals and the public alike, many public spaces and places in the UK are unattractive and in a poor state of repair. New public spaces are frequently are badly designed and managed, and those with responsibility for long-term management remain chronically under-resourced. So given the high profile of this issue, why can’t we get it right?

The situation is improving – slowly. There are a growing number of good examples to inspire us, and signs that serious political support is increasing. But we need more frank debate and about how the public realm should be best managed and resourced, and how our resources can be used most cost effectively.

With this in mind, key speakers at this year’s conference will consider options for how the public realm should be funded, managed and designed.
Quality public spaces add value
London's South Bank has been transformed Lighting adds life and vibrancy at night

 

Session one: evaluating and harnessing the benefits of a quality public realm

Professor Mark Kleinmen, Director of Urban, Regional and Economic Policy at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), will be presenting the first paper of the day. Professor Kleinmen will discuss how the development of a quality public realm fits into current government thinking and future policy, and explain plans to support the development of more integration in the policy support for a quality public realm.

As Director, Professor Kleinman leads DCLG work on Cities and Regions policy, urban design, property and urban regeneration and European regional funds. This experience, combined with previous position as the Senior Policy Analyst in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, mean that his presentation is highly anticipated and should provide great insight into current thinking at the top level of urban policy.

Dr Gareth Potts, Director of Research and Policy at the British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA), will discuss issues around valuing and paying for the public realm and consider the opinions of the regeneration profession. Dr Potts draws on his experience from involvement in a report for CABE, Mapping Value in the Built Environment, and his position on the directorate of the leading independent organisation for urban regeneration in the UK. His presentation will provide a balanced view of the values acquired when creating quality public places and spaces.

Matthew Tribe, director of urban and public realm design at Atkins, will raise specific urban design issues relating to the public realm. As one of the leading public space designers operating in the UK and internationally, the team at Atkins has been responsible for detailed design and implementation of award-winning, public realm improvements such as Trafalgar Square and the Vauxhall Cross transport interchange. Illustrated by recent experiences, his presentation will look at the challenges faced by design professionals working to develop public places and spaces today. He will also give a progress report, from an industry point of view, of how the public realm is viewed and is developing in the UK.

New public space needs management
Lighting encourages 24 hour use of public space
People and cars can coexist in the public realm

Session two: better public realm development and delivery

The second session of the conference will concentrate on the evaluation of public places and will consider strategies for achieving better development and delivery. Discussions will include a view from David Ubaka, Design Champion and Head of Urban Environment at Transport for London, who will make a compelling case for investment in public realm improvements and explore who benefits from quality designed and managed public places.

The new Manual for Streets, a joint project by the UK’s Department for Transport and the Department for Communities and Local Government, was published earlier this month. It will be discussed by Andrew Cameron, technical director of WSP Development and Transportation, the consultancy that worked on the document.

Pedestrianisation in Beijing
 ... and a less-people friendly Beijing scene
 Removing clutter encourages use

 

Session three: resources for public realm development

The debate will continue after lunch with a panel discussion looking into the real choices for developing better public spaces with limited financial and human resources. Chairing the discussion will be Helen Hayes, Associate Director of Urban Practitioners, a specialist urban regeneration and planning practice that combines skills in urban design, planning policy, and economic development to create successful places.

A panel of public realm stakeholders, from the real estate industry, urban design profession, business improvement district (BID) background, campaigning organisations and social policy journalists, will join Helen for what an frank debate that will encourage participants to approach the issues from very different viewpoints.

Among those taking part in the debate will be Anna Minton, a freelance journalist and writer who focuses on social policy. A regular contributor to The Guardian, The Sunday Times, Shelter’s magazine ROOF and Estates Gazette, she has recently published a book on the on the privatisation of public space in the UK, What Kind of World Are We Building? The Privatisation of Public Space, published by RICS, available at www.rics.org.

Session four: public realm case studies

In the final session of the day, delegates will learn about three very different projects where the benefits of creating a quality public realm are being harnessed.

Colin Davis, course leader of the new Design & Management of the Public Realm Course (http://www.publicrealm.info), author of numerous books on the public realm, traffic and streetscape and director of urban design company CJDA Ltd, will highlight the key components for developing a local framework for design and delivery. His presentation will be illustrated by his recent work on a public realm improvement strategy for the historic town of Melksham.

Mathew Frith from the Peabody Trust will outline public realm developments in residential areas; specifically focusing on identifying ways to improve spaces between housing and create liveable communities.

Simon Ogden, Head of City Development in Sheffield, will discuss the development of an urban space city vision, with reference to the public space network being developed in the city.

RUDI is co-organising this event for the first time, and we hope that the discussion will help to progress the discussion about the state of the public realm in the UK. The conference will aim to identify the different types of value created by well-designed and managed public places and assist in the dissemination of knowledge to help make the case for investing in improvements.

Members of RUDI can access a discount on delegate places, and further discounts are available for group booking and for smaller practices employing 10 people or less.

For more information and to book online visit Landor Conferences or email conferences@landor.co.uk

The conference is supported by: The Academy of Urbanism - Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM) - Living Streets - UrbanDesignJobs.com - Public Realm Information & Advisory Network (PRIAN)

The conference is sponsored by: Project Centre