Advocacy
London
is now growing and changing faster than ever before.
The need for both decision-makers and the wider community to understand
what good design is, and why it is crucial to the capital’s future, is
pressing. Design advocacy is a core element of Open-City’s work and ethos.
As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, we aim to give everyone
who is involved in shaping the built environment a deeper understanding
of the value of, and how they can contribute to, a better-designed city.
Our training programmes, masterclasses for councillors, debates and seminars, and Young Londoners’ campaign for better spaces and places provide exemplars of both buildings and processes that allow decision-makers of all kinds to explore current issues of concern at a local and regional level; develop collaborative networks of interest; and disseminate research findings, knowledge and best practice via resources, toolkits and guidance to inform high-quality architecture and public space.
Through our design advocacy work we help navigate through the complexities and principles underlying projects of all types and their relationship to the wider neighbourhood and city.
The impacts of our advocacy work:
More than 170 Planning Councillors are better equipped to assess the
quality of design
proposals thanks to Open-City’s Exemplar programme of 25 in-depth masterclasses
since 2005.
In 2009, the specialist expertise of Open-City’s Art in the Open programme was recognised through invitation to partner on the Mayor’s Great Spaces scheme.
Open-City created the first design awareness training programme for
a London borough
residents’ design panel in autumn 2009.
Over the last year, My City Too’s programme of research has gathered the views of 1500 young people on what they want for better spaces and places in London.
Art in the Open’s relationship with the Olympic Delivery Authority Arts and Culture Team has influenced quality and good practice for the new commissions for the Olympic Park, making a major contribution to its legacy.
In the past year, My City Too, supported by the Department for Education and City Bridge Trust, has trained focus groups of young people in 5 London boroughs to help inform long-term decision-making about future public spaces in the capital.
The Open-City Education Fund business and skills development initiative has, since spring 2009, brought together senior practitioners in architecture, engineering and construction to debate issues including sustainable design and effective stakeholder engagement.
"Open-City's role in architecture education, environmental design
research and collaboration with the built environment profession makes
it a powerful connecting force. Its focus on integrated partnerships
is one of the key reasons that Atkins supports its work ..."
Keith Clarke, Chief Executive, Atkins
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