Interesting read.

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/twentieth-century-society-backs-calls-to-list-banksy-graffiti/5023443.article

http://my2050.decc.gov.uk/

Thought-provoking website created by the Department Energy and Climate Change. Create your My2050 world for the UK.

Writer and cultural critic Owen Hatherley attacks the architectural results of recent "urban regeneration". He regrets the loss of confidence in a vision of how cities of the future should be. Defending the buildings of the 1960s, he says, "even the most reviled of blocks contain spacious apartments", whereas, "The new blocks you can see everywhere are designed from the outside in - irregular windows and brightly coloured cladding hides the tiny mean proportions and a total lack of planning…

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The annual Civic Trust Awards are looking for nominations for exemplar design and inviting architects or their clients to submit schemes completed between Sept 2009 and Sept 2011 - see: http://www.civictrustawards.org.uk/ . Submissions need to be in by 14 Sept and schemes will be assessed by CTA local panels during Oct/Nov.  This could be a great chance to highlight and celebrate high quality design in Bristol.  If you can think of a deserving… Continue

Christchurch, New Zealand has published its draft redevlopment plan as a result of the earthquake in February this year.  It is proposing a 'garden city' approach with the city set within a network of parks and green spaces; low rise buildings and creation of a memorial to the 181 people who died in the quake.

 

The plan has been formed out of over 100,000 ideas submitted by the public and is now open for consultaion comments until the 16th September.

 

See the…

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For those of you with an interest in the recent news of Bristol's Local Enterprise Zone, and LEZs in general, here is a link to a programme broadcast on Radio 4 yesterday that takes a look at the policy and practice of this recent initiative.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01322dt#synopsis

 

 

Worth a watch if you have 5mins...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-13979860

 

Bristol residents are being urged to sign up for a campaign aimed at restoring and bringing back into use an historic Bristol building.

The Bristol Buildings Preservation Trust, in partnership with Ashton Park School, is seeking up to £1 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the Lower Lodge, the original town gatehouse to the Ashton Court Estate.

The Grade II*-listed Georgian building, which is located in the grounds of the school on Ashton Road, is…

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http://c20.datawareonline.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=62&EventId=94

 

Interesting event nearby..

The planning system is going through a radical overhaul. In parallel to the Localism Bill there are two major consultations out.

 

On 25 June 2011 the Government started a consultation on how change of use is handled in the planning system by publishing an issues paper. The deadline for comments is 1 Sept 2011).  The paper is the first stage of that review and is intended to promote discussion and serve as an invitation to interested parties to submit evidence of any issues…

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Episode 1 of the Secret Life of Buildings can be seen on 4oD (Channel 4's watch again) for the next four weeks.

Worth watching for healthy planning, architecture and urban…

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We would like to find out what you think about two key pedestrian routes that link The Centre and Broadmead/Cabot Circus shopping areas: Nelson Street and Corn Street.

How would you describe each of these streets in three words or phrases?

Let us know your views in this short survey to help inform design of the city centre and make Bristol a more enjoyable city to travel around. 

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The first episode of the programme The Secret Life of Buildings (see Events section for details) explored the impact the design of buildings and their surroundings can have on us - on our identity and self-esteem, and on relationships, our chances at school, and even our weight and immune system.  The first programme focused on our homes - why the UK has some the smallest modern houses, smallest room sizes and very little natural daylight.  I've attached some photos of some of the examples…

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