TET DIALOGUES

Sharing expertise and knowledge through our ‘community of practice’

Hosted by Hawkins Brown on the evening of the 12th May, this inspiring evening explored child-friendly cities and place strategies. Participants heard from brilliant speakers (also internationals) who are passionate about making cities better for our youngest generations.

TET is hosting an online webinar for academics, tutors, outreach officers & built environment professionals to share ideas, challenges and creative approaches to youth engagement in education settings. The webinar will focus on our last publication, Learning Connections Report, which focuses on children and young people engagement in Architecture and Built Environment UK schools.

Today there are many concerns about the loss of creativity in the school curriculum. STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths – and other methods are advocating a more holistic and transdisciplinary approach to learning.
What can architects learn from their engineer and science peers – and vice versa – about innovative and engaging ways of creative learning for young people? How might such methods be better built into both school education and professional built environment practice?
Speakers: Kat Dewell, People & Culture Manager, Civic Engineers, Heba Tabidi, Founder, Creative Director and Structural Engineer at Space Black, Chris Wise, Senior Director, Expedition Engineering, and Researcher, University of Bath.
When: 3rd April 2023, 5pm
Summary: Webinar Video view here and download summary here.

Well-designed and maintained public spaces – whether parks and gardens, playgrounds, streets and squares – are vital for children and young people to develop social skills, build confidence and learn to become independent. Yet there are many concerns about such factors as poor design, safety and security of the spaces they use every day. What do young people need in design of the public realm to explore their city with confidence, and how can we bring their views into decision-making on public spaces?
Speakers: Maria Vassilakou, Urban strategist and advisor on urban transformation (former Vice-Mayor of Vienna); Susannah Walker, Co-founder, Make Space for Girls; Shankari Raj, Head of Education, Design West, Saira Ali, Bradford Metropolitan Council, Joanne Harrop, Director, PLACED (Chair)
When: 6th March 2023, 5pm
Summary: Webinar Video YouTube
(written summary to follow)

The home is our first and most formative experience of the built environment. At a time when the UK - and many other countries - face many urgent housing problems, how can we ensure that young people’s voices are best taken into account when designing and building new homes? And how can we harness their innovative and creative ideas to make better homes for all?
Speakers: Abigail Batchelor, Associate Director, Karakusevic Carson Architects, Toni Marie Dyer-Miller, communications executive, Dr Bonnie Kwok, Principal Urban Designer/Greater Cambridge Design Review Panel Manager, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning, Mark .Southgate, Chief Executive, MOBIE, Helena Thompson, Artistic Director, SPID Theatre.
When: 6th February 2023, 5pm
Summary: Webinar Video YouTubeand download summary here.

Social value is delivered in many ways - stakeholder engagement, mentoring, partnerships - but all create a more equitable society.
Chaired by Hilary Satchwell - Director, Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design
Speakers: Claire Pollock, Partnerships Lead, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Anna Davies, Director, David Miller Architects, Mellis Haward, Director, Archio, and Shawn Adams, Founding Partner, POoR Collective
When: February 2022
Summary: Watch the full discussion and download summary here

Young people today are spearheading action to try to halt the destructive effects of the climate crisis. The need to make buildings and spaces greener is universally accepted, but what are the examples of meaningful engagement with young people on this issue?
Chaired by Hattie Hartman, Sustainability Editor, The Architects’ Journal
Speakers: Neil Onions - Beyond the Box, Simeon Shtebunaev, Birmingham City University, Sumita Singha, Ecologic Architects
When: November 2021
Summary: Full discussion - video of event and download summary here

What are the best ways to work with children and young people specifically around environmentally sustainable buildings and spaces?
Watch the full discussion, download summa ry and email sug gestions for future events.
The discussion was shared with individuals and organisations including Aquinas CoE Educa tion Trust, Architecture Edge, Dorset Council, Matt+Fiona, Fundación Aldea, Giant Doll s House Project, HomeGrownPlus, House of Imagination, Irish Architecture Foundation, Placed, Queen University Belfast, RIBA, The Bartlett, The Glasshouse, RIBA, Urban Learners and facilitated by Victoria Thornton.
When: April 2021