News
Venice Press Release
ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS PRESS RELEASE: 4 August 2008
RIBA Press Office: Mina Vadon - 020 7307 3761; mina.vadon@inst.riba.org
Envisioning Neighbourhood Change at the Venice Biennale!
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is to host its first international Building Futures Game play event, in collaboration with the The Lighthouse- Scotland's Centre for Architecture, Design and the City- in Venice as part of the 11th Architecture Biennale on 14 September 2008.
The Building Futures Game is a participation tool for visioning and exploring different possible futures for a local area. It is a form of scenario planning, helping groups ‘play out’ a range of possible futures with participants – a mix of policy-makers, service-providers and ‘community members’ – drawing out a set of concerns and aspirations and considering the impacts and implications of their choices.
The event is part of a programme of diverse activities at the A Gathering Space, Scotland’s landmark pavilion designed by Gareth Hoskins Architects, that will highlight and promote discussion around trends in place making and the contribution architecture makes to our lives. Building Futures the RIBA's think tank, is running the workshop with an international set of players using the Game to speculate on the future of the Scottish town of Neilston, near Glasgow.
Neilston is a small town of some 5000 residents which has, like many such towns, undergone a substantial change in character in recent years. The workshop offers an alternative and complementary way to discuss the town and will feed into a wider programme of consultation with Glasgow’s Urban Lab team at the MacIntosh School and The Lighthouse, which after the 14th of September will give Neilston residents and others the chance to take an active role in transforming their town. It brings the toolkit to an international audience and asks them to ‘Think big’ on what the future of the town might be.
The event will be one of two opportunities for those at the Biennale to find out more about the game. As well as the workshop the toolkit is also the focus of architectural practice AOC’s ‘Experimental Architecture’ exhibit at the Arsenale.
Tamsie Thomson, Head of Building Futures at RIBA said:
'We are delighted to be part of the Lighthouse's exciting programme in Venice. This will be the first time we have played the game outside of the UK and I'm really excited to be able to facilitate such an exalted group of game players to discuss the future of Neilston. I hope the outcomes of the workshop will help the Neilston Development Trust and its partners develop a bold strategic vision for the future of the town.'
Nick Bailey at The Lighthouse said:
“‘Architecture has the power to transform communities and make a tangible difference to our lives. The RIBA Building Futures Game is a remarkable tool enabling people to explore possible futures. We are delighted to that this innovative be project will be workshoped at A Gathering Space with the Neilston Development Trust which is setting a blue print for community involvement in the development of the built environment.”
Notes to editors
1. Press are invited to attend the session on 14 September 2008. To book a press place or for further press information, contact Mina Vadon in the RIBA Press Office on 020 7307 3761 or mina.vadon@inst.riba.org
2. The event takes place at A Gathering Space, Un Luogo di Ritrovo, Piazzale della Stazione Santa Lucia, Venice from 2pm until 4pm.
3. The Neilston Development Trust is an independent charitable company established by the Neilston community to champion, facilitate, support and drive the regeneration of the town. For more information visit www.neilstontrust.co.uk
4. The Lighthouse champions and promotes Scotland’s architecture and design nationally and internationally while profiling best practice from across the country and the world, bringing world-class thinking and projects to the UK. The Gathering Space, designed by architect Gareth Hoskins, will be the focus of activity for Scotland at Venice. It will host a series of debates, talks and events. For more information visit www.thelighthouse.co.uk
5. Building Futures is the RIBA’s think tank on issues affecting the future of the built environment. It was established to create space for discussion about the needs of society from our built environment and, consequently, the built environment professions in 20 years and beyond. The group aims to highlight and promote those working with new technologies and developing new ideas, which will contribute to the future of our towns and cities and address society’s changing demands over the coming years. How and where will we be living in 50 or 100 years’ time? What technologies will architects be using to design new buildings and what materials will be specified? How will the inevitable new technologies affect the buildings and places we use every day? The Building Futures programme is ongoing and includes exhibitions, debates, events and research activities. For more information visit www.buildingfutures.org.uk
RIBA Press Office: Mina Vadon - 020 7307 3761; mina.vadon@inst.riba.org
Envisioning Neighbourhood Change at the Venice Biennale!
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is to host its first international Building Futures Game play event, in collaboration with the The Lighthouse- Scotland's Centre for Architecture, Design and the City- in Venice as part of the 11th Architecture Biennale on 14 September 2008.
The Building Futures Game is a participation tool for visioning and exploring different possible futures for a local area. It is a form of scenario planning, helping groups ‘play out’ a range of possible futures with participants – a mix of policy-makers, service-providers and ‘community members’ – drawing out a set of concerns and aspirations and considering the impacts and implications of their choices.
The event is part of a programme of diverse activities at the A Gathering Space, Scotland’s landmark pavilion designed by Gareth Hoskins Architects, that will highlight and promote discussion around trends in place making and the contribution architecture makes to our lives. Building Futures the RIBA's think tank, is running the workshop with an international set of players using the Game to speculate on the future of the Scottish town of Neilston, near Glasgow.
Neilston is a small town of some 5000 residents which has, like many such towns, undergone a substantial change in character in recent years. The workshop offers an alternative and complementary way to discuss the town and will feed into a wider programme of consultation with Glasgow’s Urban Lab team at the MacIntosh School and The Lighthouse, which after the 14th of September will give Neilston residents and others the chance to take an active role in transforming their town. It brings the toolkit to an international audience and asks them to ‘Think big’ on what the future of the town might be.
The event will be one of two opportunities for those at the Biennale to find out more about the game. As well as the workshop the toolkit is also the focus of architectural practice AOC’s ‘Experimental Architecture’ exhibit at the Arsenale.
Tamsie Thomson, Head of Building Futures at RIBA said:
'We are delighted to be part of the Lighthouse's exciting programme in Venice. This will be the first time we have played the game outside of the UK and I'm really excited to be able to facilitate such an exalted group of game players to discuss the future of Neilston. I hope the outcomes of the workshop will help the Neilston Development Trust and its partners develop a bold strategic vision for the future of the town.'
Nick Bailey at The Lighthouse said:
“‘Architecture has the power to transform communities and make a tangible difference to our lives. The RIBA Building Futures Game is a remarkable tool enabling people to explore possible futures. We are delighted to that this innovative be project will be workshoped at A Gathering Space with the Neilston Development Trust which is setting a blue print for community involvement in the development of the built environment.”
Notes to editors
1. Press are invited to attend the session on 14 September 2008. To book a press place or for further press information, contact Mina Vadon in the RIBA Press Office on 020 7307 3761 or mina.vadon@inst.riba.org
2. The event takes place at A Gathering Space, Un Luogo di Ritrovo, Piazzale della Stazione Santa Lucia, Venice from 2pm until 4pm.
3. The Neilston Development Trust is an independent charitable company established by the Neilston community to champion, facilitate, support and drive the regeneration of the town. For more information visit www.neilstontrust.co.uk
4. The Lighthouse champions and promotes Scotland’s architecture and design nationally and internationally while profiling best practice from across the country and the world, bringing world-class thinking and projects to the UK. The Gathering Space, designed by architect Gareth Hoskins, will be the focus of activity for Scotland at Venice. It will host a series of debates, talks and events. For more information visit www.thelighthouse.co.uk
5. Building Futures is the RIBA’s think tank on issues affecting the future of the built environment. It was established to create space for discussion about the needs of society from our built environment and, consequently, the built environment professions in 20 years and beyond. The group aims to highlight and promote those working with new technologies and developing new ideas, which will contribute to the future of our towns and cities and address society’s changing demands over the coming years. How and where will we be living in 50 or 100 years’ time? What technologies will architects be using to design new buildings and what materials will be specified? How will the inevitable new technologies affect the buildings and places we use every day? The Building Futures programme is ongoing and includes exhibitions, debates, events and research activities. For more information visit www.buildingfutures.org.uk