GREEN SKY THINKING 2018 EVALUATION AND IMPACT REPORT Sky Thinking 2018
Programme Overview Sky Thinking is a weeklong programme of events that showcases London s most pioneering projects, and offers the inside view from industry leaders on shaping an environmentally and socially sustainable city. Sky Thinking is Open City s largest professional programme taking place over a week in May, and involving 32 events and over 60 companies. Our audience spans the built environment industry, with participants and attendees working within architecture, engineering, local authorises and community led projects. Sky Thinking presented a great opportunity for us to connect with clients and collaborators, reflect on our achievements and apply lessons learned to shape our future direction. Duncan Price, Director for Sustainability, BuroHappold 1 WEEK 25 EVENTS 5 FRINGE EVENTS 7 TOURS 8 WORKSHOPS 62 COMPANIES 20 SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS 1310 ATTENDEES 74,298 TWITTER IMPRESSIONS As the UK s biggest get-together of sustainable city-makers, Sky Thinking offers a unique platform for collaboration and sharing of honest lessons learnt. With a focus on onsite tours, interactive workshops and expert debates, the programme strives to promote a holistic and integrated understanding of sustainable design. Sky Thinking offers a crash course in where sustainable design is headed. Hattie Hartman, Sustainability Editor, The Architects Journal Sponsors & Supporters
Sky Thinking 2018 Sky Thinking took place on 10th-18th May 2018 for the 8th consecutive year, with a new programme, an evening launch, and Open City s first ever Live Magazine. Aims This year we wanted to build on the success of Sky Thinking 2017 but deliver an even better programme. We took the decision to host fewer events and focus on the content and impact of the programme. The aims for Sky Thinking 2018 were threefold: To provide a snapshot of how sustainable design and development is being practically applied across London To explore proven sustainable design techniques with site- and projectspecific workshops To strengthen cross-sector collaboration and foster new relationships and connections We don t design and build a BREEAM outstanding building just to have it certified a BREEAM outstanding building. We do it because we want to improve the quality of living in towns and cities. It may be great that your company supports cycle to work but how about exploring how workplace design and culture is adapting to new commuting patterns inspired by walkable cities and bike infrastructure? By placing people at the heart of what we do, new perspectives on the city are revealed. This years programme underlined the pioneering project happening within London. From health and wellbeing to the digital public realm, Sky Thinking 2018 addressed the pressing topics facing the built environment, however all of the solutions put people at their heart. Our theme - People First This year the theme defining Sky Thinking was People First. We chose this theme in order to showcase projects, processes, methods and systems that genuinely prioritise people. We wanted to go beyond ticking boxes, and explored ideas that really have an impact on our lives. Creating a new place for people Battersea Power Station Luke O Donovan
2018 HIGHLIGHTS
GREEN SKY THINKING LAUNCH PARTY On the evening of the 10th of May we launched the Sky Thinking programme that kicked off the discussion around our People First theme. Hosted at possibly the best example of people first city making in London, it s safe to say the location or perhaps their resident animals stole the show. Feilden Fowles and Oasis Farm Waterloo kindly allowed us access to their hidden oasis for the evening. Michael Colman
Open City s First Live Magazine Open City held our first ever Live Magazine, which featured talks on selected projects that embody a people first approach to city making. Overview The Live Magazine took place on the morning of 11th May, 2018 and was an exclusive opportunity for the Sky Thinking audience to hear from London s pioneering city makers. The audience included senior executives from the private and public sector, from our partner organisations, network and participating companies as well as local boroughs. The morning was kindly supported by VirtA and hosted by UCL at the Bartlett School for Architecture The morning was divided into three sections,, each addressing a broad topic within the people first theme. These included: People First at Open City -How can you use the notion of people first to design and deliver a new part of London? Social networks - Re-using existing infrastructures - road networks, railways and rivers to create new social networks Whose city is it anyway? - How self-build, online civic action tools and co-housing can help citizens shape the streets and buildings of their own towns and cities. Talks included: A day in the life of Brent Cross South (Rosie Cade, Argent & Sven Muendner, Beispiel) 99 Fountains (Graeme Nicholls Architects) VeloCity (Sarah Featherstone & Jennifer Ross) Open Water (Chris Romer-Lee, Studio Octopi & Amy Sharrocks) Peckham Coal Line (Nick Woodford) The rise of the universal use class building (Simon Allford, AHMM Architects and Sven Muendner) Church Grove (Sarah Ernst, Architype) MySociety (Mark Cridge) New Ground Co-Housing (Hilary Vernon-Smith & Patrick Devlin, Pollard Thomas Architects ) The Garden Bridge investigation (Will Hurst, AJ) Impact The morning generated thought provoking discussion and had the biggest impact on social media for the whole of Sky Thinking - creating 17,145 unique impressions on twitter over the course of the morning. Luke O Donovan
On Site Tours 1. On-site tours and exclusive first-hand experiences have always been at the heart of Sky Thinking, and this year was no different. The programme included seven tours of projects across London, giving invaluable insight into each scheme. We understand that seeing is believing. EVENTS Creating a new place for people Battersea Power Station Mace & Battersea Power Station Development Company As part of Sky Thinking week we were lucky enough to get a detailed understanding of one of the most iconic developments currently under construction in the capital. Hearing from key members of the construction team at Mace, as well as the project manager from Battersea Power Station Development Company. The talks, held in part of the complex that is already open, covered everything from their concerted efforts to integrate the surrounding community, their implementation of apprentirship and education schemes, to the innovative construction method Mace have been developing. Afterwards, at a viewing platform of the whole construction, contractors who have been working on the site gave an overview of the best practice being followed and the care that has been taken to protect the peregrine falcons that live on the complex. An exploration of the White Collar Factory AHMM AHMM welcomed two groups to their White Collar Factory building on the morning of the 17th May. As part of an experimental exploration of the Old Street development, each group was asked to sketch their response to the architecture of the building. One group made up of built environment professionals and the other of locals from the community around Old Street. Both sessions produced wonderful impressions of the paired back interiors and generated discussion around the five sustainability principles that guided the design. Finishing at the roof top café with expansive views across London and a great selection cakes. On hand throughout the tours were Craig Robertson, Head of Sustainability and members of the design team at AHMM to discuss the key elements of the White Collar Factory. Principal Place: Design and constructing with sustainability in mind Multiplex Construction Europe, Foster + Partners, MOLA On Tuesday 15th May Principal Place opened their doors for a breakfast event that showcased how the end-users and the environment have been considered throughout the design and construction phases of the development. Attendees heard from Mutiplex on their work driving supply chain engagement and resource efficiency, and from Foster + Partners demonstrating how the design optimises the residents experience. The Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) were also on hand to provide insight into the artefacts uncovered during excavation. A site tour allowed exclusive assess the building still under construction and highlighted Multiplex s utilisation of BIM. 2. 3. 1. An exploration of the White Collar Factory -AHMM 2. Making space for nature and beauty - The Berkeley Group 3. Creating a new place for people Battersea Power Station Luke O Donovan
Interactive Events One of the key objectives of Sky Thinking is to strengthen cross-sector collaboration and foster new relationships and connections. Interactive events gave our audience the chance to challenge the ideas being explored and join in with debate. EVENTS Experiencing the Digital Public Realm Atkins Atkins hosted the first event of this year s Sky Thinking week, kicking it off with a stunning presentation of their work surrounding the future of digital technologies within the public realm. The audience was invited to take part in a hands-on demonstration of some of the tech they have been developing. First with a Virtual Reality tour of the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street, followed by an exploration of extruded AR plans, which could portray a huge amount of information in just one document. The morning touched on a range of projects, with a particular focused on their awardwinning Key to the City scheme. Health and Housing IBI Group Sky Thinking attendees could also participate in the IBI Group s debate on Health and Housing. During an early morning brainstorm session with built environment professionals and academics, the group explored the opportunity and challenges that exist in developing new housing stock, with the specific aim of improving long-term healthcare outcomes. In three short sessions participants were asked to consider: What are the best examples of housing that demonstrably contribute towards better healthcare outcomes? What are the challenges in each of our professions that prevent us from addressing these issues at a greater scale? What additional information do you think our professions need to help support a greater delivery of more innovative and progressive housing that supports healthcare outcomes? Each session generated intense discussion and debate the summary of which IBI Group have complied into a report. Find the full report here. Images - 1. Putting Students first Mace & LSE Luke O Donovan 2. An exploration of the White Collar Factory -AHMM AHMM 1. 2.
Other Highlights Inclusive urban planning creating a city for everyone White Arkitekter At their breakfast session, White Arkeitekter explored inclusive urban planning and how a city can become more inclusive, and attractive to everyone. Based around the Swedish word Normkretiv, which means to challenge and reshape the accepted norm in a creative way, they discussed their process for making more inclusive designs. Rebecca Rubin, Specialist Architect at White Arkeiteker presented her research into why girls use playgrounds less than boys and discussed the workshops they have running with teenage girls to see the built environment through their eyes. What is the future of last-mile logistics? XCO2 & SEGRO For this year s Sky Thinking design challenge XCO2 in collaboration with Sergo, asked entrants to consider the next generation of city-centre logistics, with a focus on delivering functional spaces that offer employment to the community who there and have an understanding of the socio-economic value of the proposal. XCO2 hosted an awards evening and showcased all the entrees at their beautiful office in Clerkenwell. The judging panel of Holly Lewis (We Made That), Ben Brakes (Segro) and Tom Kordel (XCO2) who picked a top three based on innovation, implementability and the extent to which they addressed this year s Sky Thinking theme People First. What is the future of last mile logistics?, XCO2 & Segro.
25 QUESTIONS LONDON S CITY-MAKERS ARE ASKING NOW ARE WE DESIGNING SCHOOLS WITH CHILDREN IN MIND FROM THE START? WHAT DOES A 'SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC REALM' LOOK LIKE? DOES LINKING PUBLIC REALM DESIGN WITH HEALTH AND FITNESS CREATE PROSPEROUS, COHESIVE COMMUNITIES? WHY DO GIRLS USE PLAYGROUNDS LESS THAN BOYS? CAN COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL AUTHORITY PLANNERS DESIGN NEIGHBOURHOODS TOGETHER? DOES PLANNING POLICY FOR HOUSING NEED DENSITY TARGETS? 1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. ARE COMPLEX URBAN PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION S R&D? DOES THE PUBLIC EXPERIENCE ARCHITECTURE DIFFERENTLY TO YOU? HOW CAN YOU MAKE A 50-STOREY TOWER FEEL HUMAN- SCALED? 5.. 6.. 7.. 8.. 9.. CAN NEW DEVELOPMENT CONNECT THE PUBLIC TO MORE URBAN GREEN SPACE? WHAT SHOULD OUR CITIES SOUND LIKE? WHAT DOES TOTAL DESIGN LOOK LIKE NOW? ARE HI-TECH TOOLS THE KEY TO THE CREATION OF PEOPLE FIRST CITIES? CAN CONSTRUCTION DESIGN TOOLS HELP MAKE PLACES PEOPLE LIKE? BIM: INFORMATION OVERLOAD OR SMART TECH? WHAT KIND OF CITIES IS SMART TECH MAKING? 10.. 11.. 12.. 13.. 14.. 15.. 16.. DOES HOUSING DESIGN AFFECT OUR HEALTH? DOES WELLNESS SPELL THE END OF SICK BUILDING SYNDROME? WHAT DOES HEALTH AND WELLBEING LOOK LIKE IN A HIGH STREET STORE? CAN YOU MEASURE THE IMPACT OF DESIGN ON PRODUCTIVITY AND WELLBEING? HOW CAN THE PROPERTY SECTOR DEVELOP HUMAN AND SOCIAL CAPITAL? 17.. 18.. 19.. 20.. 21.. Each question was inspired by the 25 events that were held this year as part of the Sky Thinking programme. The questions reflect the industry s move towards a more human-centred understanding of sustainability. One that puts people first. HOW CAN YOU BUILD THOUSANDS OF NEW HOMES WITHOUT IMPOSING ON COMMUNITIES THERE ALREADY? ARE MIXED-USE MANSION BLOCKS THE FUTURE OF BROWNFIELD GAP SITES? HOW CAN WE DESIGN FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA? WHAT DOES ZERO CARBON EVEN MEAN? 22.. 23.. 24.. 25..
Impact 89% of attendees and participants were very satified with the overall experience of Sky Thinking 2018 Sky Thinking perfectly blends theory and practice and is attended by a diverse range of built environment professionals. Overview Sky Thinking 2018 encompassed 32 events and collaborated with over 60 companies in the built environment profession. The audience spanned the industry with representative from local authorities, engineers, architects and community groups. All the feedback from attendees and participants has been extremely positive and praised the impact of Sky Thinking. We surveyed all participants and attendees to analyse and evaluate the programme. Over three-quarters of our audience were very impressed with the quality of speakers at this years events 95% of attendees enjoyed the format of the events More than 40% of attendees went to more than one Sky Thinking event, with some attendees going to over 5 events throughout the week Three quarters of people who attend Sky Thinking said it had an impact on their expertise 60% of attendees agreed that Sky Thinking week inspired them to be more proactive and implement new approaches in their work or organisation Over half of attendees built upon their professional network by taking part in the programme Fantastic topics, projects, speakers, locations. Thank you! Keep pushing beyond comfortable topics to address the key issues. Sky Thinking is important in providing a platform for open discussion about sustainable and environmental thinking and projects in London, it successfully helps create professional networks, share thought and drive ideas forwards.
Programme Content Sky Thinking provides a fantastic opportunity to see the work of industry leaders who are shaping our city. It s a very open and honest platform for sharing ideas, experiences and lessons learnt. Sky Thinking offers a snapshot into the forefront of thinking and ideas in the built environment industry. Due to the breadth of our audience and collaborating partners there was a huge range in the topics covered in the 2018 programme. From technical discussions on lifetime optimisation to re-establishing our relationship with our urban waterways, the talks touched on all aspects of creating a sustainable city for the future. The topic areas discussed in Sky Thinking 2018 included: Planning Neighbourhoods Buildings Character Tools Shaping us how? Jargon-Busting Topic was the most important aspect for our audience when choosing which events to attend. Event format as well as company hosting the event were also highlighted as factors when selecting which events to attend. Each event focused on a unique area, with expert insight given from the people working directly on the projects being explored. This gave the audience an uniqueunderstanding and perspective. The ideas that captured the interest our audience included: The importance of managing light and shade levels for people living with dementia Level of progress that many organisations are experiencing with wellbeing, and their approaches Understanding the build methodology at Battersea Gender and public space work at White Arkitektur. Girls are not using outdoor play spaces as much as boys The effects of air pollution on productivity Small changes can make a big difference How to engage with fringe elements of society Image - Cycle the City with PTE, Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects
An Unique Platform 89% of our audience think we provide a unique platform for cross-sector collaboration and networking Sky Thinking 2018 offered an exclusive and unique experience for our audience. This is due to the fact that we invited the leading experts in the industry to present their ideas on the most pressing issues facing London. We were also able to gain access to the most influencial projects currently under construction in London. Out of attendees surveyed, the sharing of honest lessons learnt was ranked as the most valuable aspect of Sky Thinking 2018. Right is a full breakdown of ranked factors. Onsite visit Seeing soultions that work Sharing of honest lessons-learnt Hearing from collaborative teams Talking to experts Learning about new projects Top - Tools for human-centred design, Foster + Partners Foster + Partners. Left - What is the future of last mile logistics?, XCO2 & Segro. Above - Tools for human-centred design, Foster + Partners Foster + Partners. Expanding your network Fun, interactive events Other... Fig. Most important aspect of GST
What is Sky Thinking to you? Future Buzzy Resourceful Relevant Sharing Innovative Ground-breaking Unconventional Collaborative Helpful Promising Encouraging Communication Unique Illuminating Honest Interesting Visionary Dynamic Understanding Professional Inspiring Challenging Stimulating Open Leading Contemporary Environmental Brilliant Vital Diverse Expansive Empowering Essential Necessary Intense Forfront mindenlarging Progressive Informative Engaging Different Enlightening Reality Therapeutic Sociable Cool Sustainable Invigorating Proactive Educational Refreshing
Marketing and Social Media 74,289 impressions generated by @OpenCityorg during the Sky Thinking on twitter Our marketing and social media strategy was developed in order to allow us to document the experience, content and impact of Sky Thinking 2018, both before and after the week. Marketing PDF programme: This was circulated amongst more than 400 leading built environment companies 85% of the hosting companies profiled the programme via company website and social media. Printed programme booklet: 1,000 copies printed and distributed to target audience. Bespoke resource website with full programme listings and booking system. Articles documenting the week posted on the journal section of the brand new Open City website. Bespoke Newletters to targeted Open-City subscriber networks: 9,000 Built environment professionals 1,100 Director level property sector 3,850 Sustainability professionals 2,850 Local authority / public sector 81,000 Public Social Media Twitter Throughout the week professionals and companies from all across London and the UK tweeted about our events and their experience. All the companies participating in Sky Thinking tweeted about the events they hosted, reaching over 10,000 twitter accounts everyday of GST week. Instagram Sky Thinking is now on instagram! This year we want to diversify our social media presence by creating a new campaign on instagram. Check us out @greenskythinking LinkedIn As a professional programme we connect to our audience through LinkedIn. This year we launched our Voices From the Industry column on the platform. The column gave our participants the chance to voices their thoughts on people first city making. Top - Marketing poster made by PTE architects. Above - Annocement of our Voices From The Industry column
Sky Sky Thinking: Thinking: 25 25 Questions Questions 27 27 46 46 Jennifer Petra Sky Thinking: Sky Thinking: 25 Questions 25 Questions 50 50 SOLUTION Insulation p3 p4 p5 p6 p9 p28 p57 p58 p64 SECTOR Buildings and Cities TOTAL ATMOSPHERIC CO2-EQ REDUCTION (GT) by 2050 8.27 NET COST (BILLIONS US $) $3,655.92 Transport 7.87 $915.93 $424.38 Buildings and Cities 7.81 $323.52 $1,729.54 34 Biomass Bamboo Electricity Generation Land Use 7.50 7.22 $402.31 $23.79 www.drawdown.org SAVINGS (BILLIONS US $) $2,513.33 Ships LED Lighting (Household) $519.35 $264.80 36 Alternative Cement Materials 6.69 $-273.90 Data too variable to be determined 37 Mass Transit Transport 6.57 Data too variable to be determined $2,379.73 38 Forest Protection Land Use 6.20 Global cost and saving data too variable to be determined 39 Indigenous Peoples Land Management Land Use 6.19 40 Trucks Transport 6.18 $543.54 $2,781.63 2323 Sponsor Event partners Health and housing Sponsor Open City trustees Alison Brooks RIBA Richard Ehrman Stephen Howlett CBE Crispin Kelly (Chair) Alan Leibowitz Helen Newman Nick Raynsford Alan Stanton OBE RIBA Contacts SkyThinking.org.uk SkyThinking.org.uk/linkedin info@ Editor Rory Olcayto Design Scott Muirhead Thank you Thank you to Katerina and Ellie for pulling together this year s programme and live magazine. A special thank you to Katerina for making GST 2016, 2017 and 2018 Open City founder Victoria Thornton OBE Hon FRIBA 51 51 64 Supporters The challenge is then to ensure that the great spaces that are created are able to evolve, develop and reinvent themselves in response to changing social, political, economic and cultural demands. About Open City Making cities better for everyone by experiencing and learning from great buildings and places Great place-making therefore also needs to be addressed from a socio-economic perspective. The focus needs to be not only on placing people at the centre of policy making but in creating more flexibility in the planning system so that it can respond to the needs of the wider community. Relationships of trust also need to be fostered between communities and local authorities, policy makers, planners, and public and private developers to build, or rebuild, a strong sense of community so that those communities feel intimately connected to the places where they live again, engaged in their own space as a collective, thereby placing them in a position to be influential in the planning process. Jason Tann of law firm and real estate specialist Pemberton ish on the perils of modern placemaking. Open City director Rory Olcayto FRSA Sky Sky Thinking: Thinking: 25 25 Questions Questions *an excerpt from Joanna Lumley s letter to Boris Johnson in 2012, congratulating him on his recent Mayoral victory and asking for his support for her Garden Bridge idea. The letter was revealed by Will Hurst following a Freedom of Information request by Will Hurst for the Architects Journal. Illustration: VeloCity Opposite VeloCity's all-female design team led by TIbbald's Jennifer Ross from Tibbalds and including Sarah Featherstone of Featherstone Young, Kay Hughes from Khaa, Petra Marko of Marko and Placemakers, Annalie Riches of Mikhail Riches, and Judith Sykes from Expedition Engineering Welcome People First Project Drawdown Launch party GST Live magazine 25 questions List of participants Diary of events Small Print Shaping Us How? 8.30am - 10.00am IBI Group, Black Bull Yard, 18-22 Hatton Wall, EC1N 8JH RANK 31 32 33 Sky Sky Thinking: Thinking: Live Live Magazine Magazine *SMALL PRINT DOES HOUSING DESIGN AFFECT OUR HEALTH? ECD Architects, Space Syntax, Capita & Westminster City Council 47 47 2222 The crux of the issue however is that making a place is not the same as the design and construction of the assets comprising that place. True place making requires the reimagining and re-invention of both private and public spaces at the heart of every community by the local community itself. The rigidity of the planning process brings Wed 7.00pm - 9.00pm ECD Architects, Studio 3 Blue Lion Place, 237 Long Lane, SE1 4PU Living Buildings Marine Permaculture Microbial Farming Ocean Farming Pasture Cropping Perennial Crops Repopulating The Mammoth Steppe Smart Grid Smart Highways Solid-State Wave Energy 13 13 The Framework is a key part of the Government s reforms to make the planning system less complex and more accessible, however the problem is not as simple as a failing of the planning system. Placemaking requires communities to engage in the regeneration process, but to do so they have to exist in the first place. Community is at the heart of a vibrant, successful place, however rapidly growing and highly mobile urban populations have led to people leading increasingly disconnected lives, and local community spirit is in decline. IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER Artificial Leaf Autonomous Vehicles Building with Wood Seaweed as Farm Animal Food Direct Air Capture Enhanced Weathering Of Minerals Hydrogen-Boron Fusion Hyperloop Industrial Hemp Intensive Silvopasture The role of BIM in smart cities Supporter Tue 8.00am 10.00am Hurley Palmer Flatt, 240 Blackfriars, SE18 NW 100 WAYS TO REVERSE GLOBAL WARMING 81-100 These technologies and solutions that work towards reversing global warming do not yet have enough scientific and financial information to model, but could emerge within the next several years as game-changers in the effort to reverse global warming. Lifetime optimisation putting people first at every stage of the building lifecycle Elementa Consulting SkySky Thinking: Thinking: LiveLive Magazine Magazine Ethics AJ managing editor Will Hurst s award-winning Garden Bridge reportage shone a light on the murky commissioning processes favoured by Boris Johnson during his mayoralty, but also highlighted the role journalism can play in shaping the construction industry for the better. with it a limitation as to the extent to which the voice of community stakeholders are heard. This is clearly a failing of the system, and if there was a mechanism by which policy-makers, planners and designers were able to engage at the grassroot level, the likelihood is that common problems such as badly lit or traffic-dominated streets and under-utilised parks could be addressed. Tools 12 12 www.drawdown.org BIM: INFORMATION OVERLOAD OR SMART TECH? VeloCity is a strategic approach to growth and placemaking along the Oxford to Cambridge corridor, which the Government predicts will need to accommodate in excess of one million more homes by 2050 centred on a re-imagining of the village for the 21st century. 100 WAYS TO REVERSE GLOBAL WARMING 31-40 35 Infrastructure However, urban design objectives and policy frameworks are, by themselves, abstract. They only have an impact when translated into development, and it is the skill of the designers and the vision and commitment of those who employ them in implementing those objectives and policies that create successful places. Using the planning system effectively requires meaningful collaboration between policy-makers and the teams ultimately responsible for implementing the policy framework. Tue 8.00am 9.30am Elementa Consulting, 80 Cheapside, EC2V 6EE 9 9 Many thanks for the tulips and fourth plinth photographs. * VeloCity: a polycentric cluster of new and expanded villages There is no doubt that the planning legislative framework has a key role to play, not only in solving the housing crisis but also in fostering well-designed and safe built environments that reflect both current and future needs. The problem historically however has been that the reams of legislation, policy and guidance have focused heavily on the process of planning, leaving considerable uncertainty as to the spatial vision. Learning from LETI to create places for people A day-by-day programme with full event details starts on page 58. SkySky Thinking: Thinking: LiveLive Magazine Magazine Join the Man who Broke the Garden Bridge himself, Will Hurst, in conversation with Open City director Rory Olcayto as he recounts the key moments in the Garden Bridge story Open City supporters Insitutional partner @SkyThinkingWeek @SkyThinking @OpenCityorg #SkyThinking2018 Open City produced 1,000 copies of the Sky Thinking 2018 printed guide and distributed them to `venues and participants. It highlighted the key events taking place throughout the week, plus a number of thought provoking articles as well as an overview of project Drawndown 100 ways to reverse global 10-18 MAY The questions reflect the industry s move towards a more humancentred understanding of sustainability. One that puts people first. 8 8 12.30pm Architect Sarah Featherstone and TIbbalds director Jenifer Ross on VeloCity s creative approach to linking new infrastructure with contemporary sustainable placemaking Whilst, as expected, the focus of the National Planning Policy Framework review is on improving the delivery of housing stock, the fact that the presumption in favour of sustainable development remains at the heart of the draft Framework and a new separate chapter on achieving welldesigned places has been incorporated places an emphasis on the Government s commitment, not only in meeting its ambitious housing delivery targets, but also in creating great places and a sustainable development legacy. Each question is inspired by the Sky Thinking programme and the 25 events being held this year. 3 Tools This is only a glimpse of an extensive and ambitious plan; get more detail from the experts at: www.drawdown.org We imagined a day in the life of future residents living and working in the Argent Related development. Four interdisciplinary teams from across the industry designed what their character (which they also designed) experienced as they moved through the landscape and townscape of the future development. The results were impressive enough for Argent to commission Open City and Beispiel to rework the idea for the Argent BXS delivery team, an outline of which forms this presentation. 9.55am WHAT DOES PEOPLE FIRST MEAN ANYWAY? Self-professed as the most comprehensive plan ever to reverse global warming, It s aim is simple to create an inventory, a checklist, if you will, of what we need to do and in what order to arrest and reserve global CAN CONSTRUCTION DESIGN TOOLS HELP MAKE PLACES PEOPLE LIKE? 10-18 MAY 25 QUESTIONS LONDON S CITY-MAKERS ARE ASKING NOW 26 26 warming plus the price tag. We ve dotted them throughout this guide, highlighting their overall rank and the reduction in CO2 (GT) of each solution by 2050. Sky Thinking Over the following 31 pages, we publish the questions London s city-making professionals are asking this year. We wanted to include something a little extra in our guide, something that might get you thinking or give you a new perspective. Project Drawdown will do exactly that. Image: Luke O Donovan for Open City Drawdown is that point in time when the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere begins to decline on a year-to-year basis. Sky Thinking 2018 2 Last year, Buro Happold and Argent partnered with Open City and Beispiel on the Brent Cross South Hackathon, a day-long design challenge centered upon the huge urban extension in the London Borough of Barnet. Annalie People first means that a recently completed social housing scheme highlighting best practice in terms of density and energy usage would be even better if the client and designer involved residents in the pre-build process. People first means going beyond ticking the box: it s great that your company supports cycle to work but how about exploring how workplace design and culture is adapting to new commuting patterns inspired by walkable cities and bike infrastructure? People first is always learning and always sharing information. But always with people in mind. Think about how they use the buildings and places you make, and how they are served by the decisions you take in your day jobs. A day in the life of Brent Cross South Rosie Cade of Argent Related and Sven Muendner of Beispiel on how character-led urban design and a magical mystery tour of Peckham (pictured) helped reshape the masterplan for Brent Cross South Kay In essence, the Sky Thinking programme this year is putting the human experience first. From housing to place-making, prop-tech to AI, health and well-being and net-zero carbon design, people and their experience of the built environment provide the common ground. 9.05am Planning Why? Because we don t design and build a BREEAM outstanding building just to have it certified a BREEAM outstanding building. We do it because we want to improve the quality of our experience of living in towns and cities. By placing people at the heart of what we do, new perspectives on the city are revealed. 100 WAYS TO REVERSE GLOBAL WARMING PROJECT DRAWDOWN Sarah This year, the theme defining Sky Thinking is people first. In other words, all events included in the programme explore sustainable design from a human perspective. www.drawdown.org People First WHAT DOES A SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC REALM LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES PEOPLE FIRST MEAN ANYWAY? PEOPLE FIRST Judith People First Publication PEO FIRS
Improvements Open City strives to improve the programmes we offer, both to our professional and public audience. We greatly value the feedback we receive and aim to incorporate suggestions into the preparation for next year: The key areas we have highlighted for improvement are: Streamlining our booking system and offering highly information descriptions of all events Developing our marketing strategy to allow Sky Thinking to maximise its impact on the industry Quicker and more thorough documentation of events, to give people who are unable to attend the chance to hear the ideas shared. If you attended Sky Thinking 2018 and would like to make a suggestion for next year, please dont hesitate to cantact us, email: green@ An exploration of the White Collar Factory -AHMM AHMM
The Sky Thinking Network List of 2018 Participants Sky Thinking Sponser IBI Group Sky Thinking High Suppoter VitrA Sky Thinking Suppoter Arup BuroHappold Engineering gage Environmental Hurley Palmer Flatt Mace Events hosts Allford Hall Monaghan Morris OPEN CITY SUPPORTER Anderson Acoustics Atelier Ten Atkins BCO The Berkeley Group Better Bankside Battersea Power Station British Land BWB consulting Capita Cundall ECD Architects Elementa Consulting Foster + Partners OPEN HOUSE SPONSOR Hawkins\Brown Hoare Lea Indigo Planning London School of Economics Mae Marks & Spencer MOLA (Museum of Archaeology) Multiplex Construction Nicholas Hare Architects OrganiCity Peabody OPEN CITY SUPPORTER Penoyre & Prasad Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects Proctor & Matthews Architects PRP SEGRO Social Enterprise UK Solidspace Space Syntax The Crown Estate Tranquil City Turkigton Martin White Arkitekter WilkinsonEyre XCO2 Vastint VeloCity Waugh Thisleton Architects Westminster City Council OPEN HOUSE SUPPORTER Live Magazine Speakers Architype The Architects Journal Argent Beispiel OPEN CITY PARTNER Graeme Nicholls Architects OPEN CITY PARTNER MySociety Older Women s Co-Housing Open Water Peckham Coal Line Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects Sky Thinking Event Partners Feilden Fowles Oasis Farm Waterloo University College London
About Open City Making cities better for everyone by experiencing and learning from great buildings and places Open City Director Rory Olcayto FRSA Open City Trustees Alison Brooks RIBA Richard Ehrman Stephen Howlett CBE Crispin Kelly (Chair) Alan Leibowitz Helen Newman Nick Raynsford Alan Stanton OBE RIBA Open City founder Victoria Thornton OBE @SkyThinkingWeek @SkyThinking @OpenCityorg #SkyThinking2018