Hotel Co 51’s Post

I've started watching Steward Brand's wonderful series "How Buildings Learn", broadcast by the BBC in 1997. The first episode, 'flow', looks at how buildings need to be adaptable, durable and user-focused. Brand contrasts this with starchitecture focused on 'wow' facades and minimalist-influenced internal spaces that are dysfunctional from day one, and very hard to adapt to our changing needs over time. Watching this, and reading Halima Sacranie's recent post on a 'decent neighbourhoods' standard, made me think about a parallel issue with neighbourhoods. So much attention in the development industry is focused on the design, planning and construction phases. But what happens in the decades, or centuries, that follow practical completion? Homeowners will gradually modify and rebuild their homes over the years (and lower income owners, especially pensioners, will suffer rising disrepair). Tenants are dependent on their landlord, private or social, they have no real agency in adaptations. At the neighbourhood scale, we all largely depend upon our council - an important and much-needed representative function. But where is the community level participation? It's in the myriad of groups like residents' associations, transition towns, neighbourhood forums, street parties, etc. One of my favourite #communityledhousing stories is the Lancaster Cohousing community immediately working on further adaptations and plans for flooding after moving in - they had the social infrastructure in place from day one. Can we build this social infrastructure in from the start, and design stewardship and management arrangements for user-led adaptability and flow? Create participatory community-led organisations that own assets, capable of adapting and reshaping the neighbourhood? I think that's a very interesting space for Community Land Trusts, cohousing, etc... cc Owen Jarvis, Laura Parker-Tong, Alice Haugh, Mellis Haward, Nicholas Boys Smith, Paul Kelly, Claude Hendrickson MBE, Beth Boorman, Brendan Conway, Nick Plumb, Sam Goss, Matthew Payne MCIAT, Afzal Hussain DL https://lnkd.in/eTzjQFDW

📰 A new article from The Property Chronicle - THE URBAN CANVAS: THE SOCIAL VALUE OF STREET ART 👇 Do give it a read! This article came from a fascinating conversation I had with Moritz Tonn and Helen Höstlund from No Unicorn (Yet) - a communications agency in Berlin that integrates marketing, community building, and art. The discussion opened my eyes in terms of what's possible in integrating social value across real assets. In working with clients, I have tended to focus on topics such as job creation, local spend, engagement with supply chains etc, but this creative element had been missing. No longer! What's fascinating, and something so obvious once I'd had this conversation with them, is the power of street art, done well, to help build communities as well as local economies. It is something we could well do more on embedding across projects. And yes, I'm one of those people who for many years has been taking photos of street art. There is something fascinating about how it can differentiate ctites and communites, and bring a sense of cohesion to place. So, for those working in real assets, do consider how you could embed these community and creative elements in your projects. #esg #esginrealestate #realassets #streetart #socialvalue Tilly Crowhurst Paula Byrne Jana Bour The Good Economy Keyah Consulting Gary Powell Hannah Durden https://lnkd.in/eJeSDe35?

How much a corner of a city can change by rethinking it and putting nature and thus man at the center. . Quanto può cambiare un angolo di città ripensandola e mettendo al centro la natura e quindi l'uomo.

Sometimes the link between a place’s identity and sustainability can surprise you. As we cut through Waterloo’s Leake Street or “Banksy Tunnel” over the Easter weekend, it was curious to observe the juxtaposition of informal street art and organised cycle tours. The tunnel has been one of London’s alternative landmarks since Banksy organised a “Cans Festival” in summer 2008. Its owners, National Rail, made the tunnel traffic-free in the autumn of that year. It is now the only spot in London where graffiti artists are tolerated to paint without a permit. Somehow street art and cycle (or walking) tours work in harmony by promoting Waterloo’s alternative identity, creating jobs and offering an environmentally friendly way to explore this 300m landmark that would otherwise have remained undiscovered and buried beneath Waterloo Station. The Place Brand Observer is looking for more examples of where sustainability and place come together in imaginative ways as part of its Place Brand Impact Story Competition (see link in comment below). Be it such a local level, across a city or a country, it’s important to capture and share stories where a place’s brand and identity are inter-twined with sustainability and regenerative development. The Impact Story Competition is seeking-out stories showing originality, effectiveness and transferability in making sustainability part of a place’s DNA or brand. Think laterally and you may come-up with examples from where you live, work or have visited. #sustainability #placebranding #citycentres #towncentres #placemaking #stakeholderengagement

Want to learn more about the design of the Robbins Financial office building, Ledger??

Bees, Beauty, and Biophilia: Rethinking Workspace Design Nature's secrets for a more inspiring office? Claudia Zanfi has some ideas. From urban train stations to cutting-edge offices, biophilic design is transforming our spaces. But what exactly is it, and why does it matter? Key Takeaways: ·        Local inspiration: Using native plants and color palettes ·        Nature as collaborator: Art pieces co-created with bees ·        Beyond aesthetics: Boosting wellbeing, creativity, and productivity "When you see beauty around you, even if it's a small place... it goes into you, deep inside." - Claudia Zanfi Zanfi's approach challenges us to look closer at our surroundings. That unassuming office plant? It might just be the key to unlocking your team's potential. How are you bringing nature into your workspace? Share your biophilic design experiences or challenges. Let's create environments that truly inspire. #BiophilicDesign #WorkspaceInnovation #EmployeeWellbeing Dive deeper: Watch our full interview with Claudia Zanfi https://lnkd.in/g5r4fZuE

In case you were wondering how the merger is going, here is an example of the parallels between SRG Partnership and CannonDesign - a project that clearly supports CannonDesign's ambitions, designed and delivered by SRG well before the merger. Like minds and strategic alignment make for smooth transitions here at SRG + CannonDesign.

FISHER & PAYKEL partnered with Hendy to design their North American headquarters in Irvine with a focus on openness, collaboration, and brand essence, featuring bright, inviting spaces for teamwork and creativity. #modernofficedesign https://hubs.ly/Q02_8Xhz0

If we are remotely serious about reducing the embodied carbon in buildings, then we must resist demolishing the buildings we already have. Oliver Wainwright’s article in The Guardian👇 addresses sensible and sustainable options for retaining and repurposing the infamous Marks and Spencer store in Oxford Street, London. The opportunities here are very similar in so many other buildings around the UK. Isn’t it time that we just stopped demolishing good buildings? ♻️ 🌍 #sustainabilityleadership SDG 11 & 13

How an Empty Alleyway Taught Me the Secret to Unleashing Team Creativity On a recent trip to Toronto, I wandered down an alleyway completely covered in graffiti. Typically, you might see graffiti as a form of vandalism, something to be discouraged. But this wasn’t just a random splash of paint—this entire block had been transformed into a vibrant display of creativity and culture. ............. Instead of feeling dismay, I was moved. This once dark and overlooked alley had been brought to life, telling a story of Toronto, of the Canadian spirit, and of a community that found a way to express itself in the most unexpected of places. ............. There were no signs that said, "Paint here," yet the artists knew instinctively that this was their canvas, a place to uplift and inspire. ............. A few takeaways for leaders: 1. Create Spaces Where Creativity Can Thrive: Just as the alley became a canvas for artists, we need to create environments where our teams feel free to express their ideas and talents. 🎬 Designate a project or space where your team can freely explore new ideas without fear of judgment—watch how they bring fresh perspectives to the table. 2. Inspiration Comes from Ownership: The graffiti artists didn’t wait for permission; they saw an opportunity and made it their own. 🎬 Give your team the autonomy to take the lead on projects they’re passionate about—see how their commitment drives extraordinary outcomes. 3. Collective Creativity Transforms: Just as the artists collectively turned a dull alley into a vibrant mural, your team’s combined creativity can transform ordinary tasks into extraordinary achievements. 🎬 Encourage collaboration across different roles and perspectives, allowing the synergy of ideas to elevate the entire team’s output. ............. Here's the thing: The true impact of creativity is unlocked when we give our teams the environment and freedom to express it. This is how we go beyond the ordinary. Let's go! #cultureFIRSTleadership