Green Urbanist - Sustainable Placemaking, Planning and Urban Design
By: Ross O'Ceallaigh
Language: en-gb
Categories: Education, Arts, Design, Science, Earth
100+ episodes exploring climate action in cities and neighbourhoods. This show provides actionable advice and case studies on:Sustainable urban design and placemaking principles.How to design cities and neighbourhoods for biodiversity net gain and wildlife.Climate adaptation: How to build resilience to climate change in cities.Net zero carbon masterplanning and architecture.Circular economy: How to minimise waste and emissions in new development.Transport: How to transition cities away to sustainable and active travel.Regenerative Design: Delivering positive benefits for the environment and communities.Who is it for? Urban designers, planners, developers, architects, landscape architects, urban ecologists, engineers, transport professionals a...
Episodes
Why aren't there more 'vertical forest' buildings? (3 reasons)
Oct 27, 2025Everyone seems to love vegetated buildings like 'Bosco Verticale' in Milan (pictured). So, why isn't this a standard building approach for new buildings? Why are there still so few of them?
In this episode I go under the surface and explain three reasons why vertical forest buildings are not commonplace – and why that might not be a bad thing.
Learn more about Urban Wilding Hub: https://urbanwildinghub.com/
Sources:
Stefano Boeri Architects: Bosco Verticale
Dark Matter Labs article: What's guiding our Regenerative Futures?
World Gr...
Duration: 00:32:48Urban Wilding Hub - Mainstreaming rewilding in cities
Oct 15, 2025Urban Wilding Hub is a new not-for-profit with the mission to mainstream rewilding in towns and cities across Europe. In this episode I explain why I'm launching this and how you can get involved.
Website
Wilding Partners
Urban Wilding Projects Map
Contact about volunteering or collaboration
Join Urban Wilding Hub Newsletter
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Urban Wilding Hub
<... Duration: 00:20:37#120: Biomimicry in Architecture and Urbanism, with Michael Pawlyn
Sep 01, 2025Biomimicry has the potential to transform the way we design buildings, public spaces and local economies to reduce environmental harm and improve our health.
Architect and author Michael Pawlyn joins me to discuss the newly released third edition of his book 'Biomimicry in Architecture'. We discuss what biomimicry actually means and lots of examples of how it can be applied in the built environment.
Buy the book: Biomimicry in Architecture (3rd Edition)
Listen to my previous conversation with Michael:
#41: Michael Pawlyn (Flourish) - Regenerative Design, Biomimicry and Systems Change
...
Duration: 01:00:04Nature-led Urban Design - Join our study tour and masterclass in London on 25 September
Aug 12, 2025I'm co-leading a fantastic urban design training on 25 September at the Olympic Park in London, UK. Listen to learn more about the format and what you'll learn.
Learn more and register here: https://course.greenurbanist.org/masterclass-sept-25
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GatherMap - Interactive, crowd-source mapping tool
The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.
Duration: 00:08:25#119: Timber-first Development, with Bywater Properties
May 27, 2025A conversation with Theo Michell (COO) and Joe Jack Williams (Head of sustainability) at Bywater Properties. We talk about:
A timber-first approach to development A case study of 'Paradise', a six-storey timber-led office building in LondonHow timber is becoming more mainstream in UK constructionAdvice for architects and developers getting started with timberBywater Properties: https://bywaterproperties.com/
Case Study: Paradise: https://paradise11.co.uk/
Linkedin profiles:
Joe Jack Williams
Theo Michell
Bywater Properties
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Duration: 01:00:56#118: Sustainable Street Furniture for Joyful Public Spaces, with Furnitubes
May 19, 2025This episode is a conversation with Catherine Barratt, Managing Director of Furnitubes. Furnitubes create modular street furniture that helps to bring communities together. In this episode we discuss how they are innovating with sustainable materials and manufacturing processes to create lower impact furniture at the same price.
Furnitubes Website: https://www.furnitubes.com/
The Green Room podcast: https://www.furnitubes.com/podcasts/
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Urban Wilding Hub Duration: 00:46:38
#117: (WILD) Wilding Campuses
May 12, 2025This episode is a conversation about the 'Wilding Campuses' programme, led by Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK). We talk about the practicalities of applying a 'wilding' approach on highly altered and designed landscapes on educational campuses.
My guests are:
Jo Wilkinson, Senior Project Manager, SOS-UKCeline Clarke-Miller, Project Manager, SOS-UKLiz Morley, Wilding Campuses Project Manager, Nottingham CollegeBen Wright, Biodiversity Officer, Archway Learning TrustLinks
More about Wilding Campuses
Website: Archway Learning Trust
Connect with Ben on Linkedin
This is part of the urban rewilding podcast series. Listen t...
Duration: 00:52:38#116: A Climate of Truth, with Mike Berners-Lee
May 08, 2025Mike Berners-Lee is a consultant and author of the new book A Climate of Truth. In this episode we discuss the polycrisis and how raising standards of honesty is essential to respond to the challenges we are facing.
Learn more about and purchase the book: A Climate of Truth
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GatherMap - Interactive, crowd-source mapping tool
The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.
Duration: 00:53:20#115: (WILD) Urban Rewilding with Communities, with Citizen Zoo
May 05, 2025This is a conversation with Elliot Newton and Ben Stockwell of Citizen Zoo, a Community Interest Company that are rewilding urban areas with communities.
We talk about:
What rewilding in the city meansGrazing animals in urban green spacesReintroducing water voles and beavers to LondonBringing white storks back to LondonThe challenges and opportunities of rewilding citiesLinks
Citizen Zoo website: https://www.citizenzoo.org/
This is part of the urban rewilding podcast series. Listen to all the episodes in the series here: https://greenurbanistpod.com/rewilding
- - - Duration: 00:40:02
#114: Regenerative Design in Practice, with Scott McAulay (Architype)
Apr 28, 2025This is a conversation with Scott McAulay, Regenerative Design and Infrastructures Specialist at pioneering architecture studio Architype. We talk about:
What 'regenerative design' means in practice for an architecture studioWorking with clients in a regenerative processCircular economy principles as a gateway into regenerative designWhy regenerative design is also about social justice and local economiesThe role of natural materialsCo-creating your own jobLinks:
Connect with Scott on Linkedin
Website: Architype
Instagram: Anthropocene Architecture School
Instagram: Anthropocene Architecture School Library
Website: Architecture Fringe
<...
Duration: 01:12:48#113: The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard explained
Apr 22, 2025This episode is a conversation with Salem Qunsol, Principal Sustainability Consultant at Verte, about the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard.
Salem was one of the contributors to the standard. He joined me to discuss:
The best practice approach to Net Zero Carbon building designThe role of natural materials like timber in net zeroThe role and risks of offsetting emissionsCombining circular economy and net zero carbon approachesConcrete and cement in sustainable buildingsAccess the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard pilot version
Connect with Salem in Linkedin
Verte's w...
Duration: 01:03:38#112: How to make sustainability irresistible
Apr 13, 2025My guest is Virginia Cinquemani, a coach, trainer and Director at Green Gorilla. In this episode we discuss strategies from her book The Good Communicator on how to communicate sustainability with clients, communities and colleagues.
This episode is for anyone who wants practical advice on how to promote sustainability by understanding why people are resistant to change and the importance of co-creation in any project.
Connect with Virginia on Linkedin
Green Gorilla website
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Duration: 00:57:44#111: Engaging Communities with the Future of Place and Nature, with the Place Bureau
Apr 07, 2025My guests today are Rosanna Vitiello, Chief at the Place Bureau, and Domenica Landin, Associate Design Researcher at Place Bureau.
Place Bureau is a research, strategy and design studio that defines new frontiers for places around the world.
We talk about:
How to meaningfully engage communities with the future of their places and climate adaptation.The Collaborative Place Futures Toolkit, a practical tool for engaging communities in the future.How coastal communities can create positive plans for the future in response to rising sea levels.Their book Natural Futures, which explores the future of h... Duration: 01:02:39Nature-led Masterplanning and Placemaking + Webinar Announcement
Apr 03, 2025Register for the webinar on 25 April: Nature-led Masterplanning with EcoResponsive Environments
This podcast is a re-upload of my conversation with Prachi Rampuria and Soham De of EcoResponsive Environments from October 2024. We talk about their approach to designing sustainable and resilient new places based on natural systems.
I'll be hosting a free webinar with Prachi and Soham on 25 April on this topic.
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Duration: 01:00:50#110: Wild Cities - Lessons from cities where biodiversity thrives
Mar 31, 2025My guest today is Chris Fitch, author of the upcoming book Wild Cities: Discovering New Ways of Living in the Modern Urban Jungle. In this episode we discuss case studies of cities around the world that embrace wilder nature.
We go beyond the usual case studies like Singapore to explore lesser known examples like:
Tallinn, Estonia - the city with pollinator corridors Tokyo, Japan - mini forests in a hyper-dense cityFlagstaff, USA - the Dark Skies cityWellington, New Zealand - a hotspot for native birds+ many othersPre-order the book Wild Cities here - out o...
Duration: 00:57:12#109: (WILD) Rewilding and Reconnecting Towns with the Landscape
Mar 24, 2025This episode is a conversation with Stephen Mason, Community Parks Officer at Cheltenham Borough Council. We discuss:
Urban rewilding projects in Cheltenham - including meadows and orchardsReconnecting urban areas with their surrounding landscapeHow the 'rewilding' concept engages communities in biodiversity projectsMeasuring the success of rewilding projectsDon't miss the other episodes in this WILD series: https://greenurbanistpod.com/rewilding
Connect with Stephen on Linkedin
More about projects in Cheltenham: https://www.cheltenham.gov.uk/info/88/urban_greening/1495/improving_our_urban_green_spaces
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Duration: 00:52:22Free Tool: Your City's Climate in 2050
Mar 21, 2025Get free tool: https://free.greenurbanist.org/2050climatetool
In this episode I share a free tool you can use to understand what the local climate of 520 major world cities will be like in the year 2050.
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GatherMap - Interactive, crowd-source mapping tool
The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.
Duration: 00:09:33Announcement: Urban Sustainability Career Kickstart Course
Mar 20, 2025Learn more about the course: https://greenurbanist.teachable.com/p/course-kickstart
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Consulting and training: https://greenurbanist.org/
Podcast website: https://greenurbanistpod.com/
The Green Urbanist podcast is hosted by Ross O'Ceallaigh.
Duration: 00:10:07#108: (WILD) Rewilding for Urban Flood Resilience
Mar 11, 2025My guests on this episode are Ian Russell and Jamie Kukadia from the watercourses team at London Borough of Enfield. We discuss:
'Rewilding Enfield' - rewilding urban streets, parks and rivers.Nature-based flood resilience and sustainable drainage versus traditional engineering.Reintroducing beavers to London.The benefits of conservation livestock grazing in parks and green belt.Advice for others who want to take an urban rewilding approach.Learn more about the Enfield beavers
Learn more about the conservation grazing project
This is part 3 of the Urban Rewilding series.
Listen...
Duration: 00:57:04#107: Strategies for Communicating Sustainability with Clients and Communities
Mar 06, 2025In this episode I share 4 tips for effectively communicating about sustainability and climate change with a variety of audiences like clients, collaborators and the public. The four strategies I share are:
Start with empathy and tailor your message to the audience.Lead with a positive narrative.Make it tangible and relevant.Don't preach. Co-create and facilitate.Research paper I mention: Bastin et al (2019) Understanding climate change from a global analysis of city analogues
En-Roads Climate Simulator
Need help crafting the vision and narrative for your project? Get i...
Duration: 00:22:15#106: Sustainable Placemaking - creating places where people and nature thrive
Feb 28, 2025In this episode I explore Sustainable Placemaking: an 8-step process for creating places that people love and maximise sustainability opportunities.
So many masterplans create soulless and unsustainable places. In this episode I explain how getting the planning and design process right can unlock opportunities for placemaking, biodiversity, circular economy and decarbonisation.
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GatherMap - Interactive, crowd-source mapping tool
The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh. Duration: 00:40:55
#105: (WILD) Wilding the City, with Sophie Thompson (LDA Design)
Feb 17, 2025This is episode 2 of 6 in the podcast series on urban rewilding.
My guest is Sophie Thompson, a landscape architect and Director at LDA Design.
In this episode we discuss:
How wild nature can be brought into city streets and public spacesThe importance of working closely with local communitiesExamples of LDA’s transformations of highly urban spaces into places for people and nature.How to manage the complexities and constraints of working in cities.More about LDA Design and the projects we discuss:
LDA Website
Greening London's West End
Al...
#104: Local Energy Solutions: Case Studies + Interactive Map
Feb 10, 2025My guest is Duygu Kutluay, a campaigner at Beyond Fossil Fuels.
We discuss:
More about Beyond Fossil Fuels: https://beyondfossilfuels.org/
Local Energy Solutions Map: https://beyondfossilfuels.org/local-energy-solutions-map/
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Duration: 00:37:47#103: The 5 Types of Sustainable Change-Maker and Your Role in Systems Change
Feb 03, 2025In this episode I explore the different roles that built environment professionals can play in leveraging systems change for sustainability. This is based on interviewing 122 guests on this podcast and exploring systems change research.
The 5 types of change-makers are:
Champion and CoordinatorResearcher and StorytellerTopic ExpertInnovatorSystems Influencer- - -
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GatherMap - Interactive, crowd-source mapping tool
The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.
Duration: 00:26:28#102: (WILD) Rewilding Urban Parks with Lost Species - Sean McCormack, Ealing Beaver Project
Jan 27, 2025This episode is part of a 6-part series on Urban Rewilding.
My guest is Sean McCormack, Chair of Ealing Wildlife Group. Sean led the reintroduction of harvest mice and beavers into urban parks in London, UK. In this episode we discuss:
Previous episodes with Sean:
#72: Sean McCormack - Rewilding Urban London (Part 1)
#73: Sean McCormack - Rewilding Urban London (Part 2)
More ab...
#101: Sacrifice Zones - Rebuild after disaster or return to nature?
Jan 20, 2025This episode is a conversation with Jonathan Rosenbloom, Associate Dean at Albany Law School who has researched and written about sacrifice zones. He is also the Executive Director for the Sustainable Development Code.
We discuss:
Note: This episode was recorded before the LA wildfires in January 2025.
Links:
Contact Jonathan: jrose@albanylaw...
#100: Create Sustainable Change through your Work - Advice from 3 Experts
Jan 13, 2025This is a recording of a live streamed podcast episode to celebrate episode 100 of the podcast. I was joined by three guests, who you might recognise from past episodes:
Laura Baron, Head of Sustainability, PurcelScott McAulay, Regenerative Design and Infrastructures Specialist, ArchitypeConrad Richardson, Sustainable Mobility ExpertWe discussed how we as built environment professionals can drive sustainable change through the work that we do. We also touch on some of the amazing work that all the guests are doing.
You can watch the episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUS9ukxvtmI&t=2142s...
Duration: 01:16:37#99: Sustainability Career Advice + 3 Circular Economy Case Studies, with Valentina Petrone
Dec 09, 2024My guest on this episode is Valentina Petrone, a circular economy expert based in New South Wales, Australia.
In this episode, Valentina gives career advice for those who want to transition from traditional built environment careers into sustainability. We also discuss three of her projects:
Connect with Valentina on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-petrone/
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Duration: 00:54:09#98: Circular Economy: Making Material Reuse Happen at Scale, with Material Index
Nov 25, 2024This episode is a conversation with Morgan Lewis, Co-Founder and CEO at Material Index.
In the UK, 60% of all waste comes from the construction industry and only 2% of building components in the UK are reused. In this episode, Morgan explains how Material Index are trying to tackle this by working with building owners, contractors and project teams to make material reuse happen at scale.
Learn more about Material Index: https://www.material-index.co.uk/
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<... Duration: 00:49:55Course launch: Sustainability Essentials for Built Environment Professionals
Nov 18, 2024Learn more and enrol now: Sustainability Essentials for Built Environment Professionals
My new course is now live and available for purchase. It's an introduction to urban sustainability with practical advice for getting started with delivering more sustainable projects.
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Consulting and training: https://greenurbanist.org/
Podcast website: https://greenurbanistpod.com/
The Green Urbanist podcast is hosted by Ross O'Ceallaigh.
Duration: 00:11:36Intro to Regenerative Design (Mini-Course part 3/3)
Nov 15, 2024Watch this training as a video for the best experience: Link to Video Training
This is part 3 of a 3-part mini-course about how to start bringing sustainability into your work as a built environment professional. In this session, I provide a free training session about Regenerative Design, which is an excerpt from my upcoming full-length course: Sustainability Essentials for Built Environment Professionals
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Consulting and training: https://greenurbanist.org/
Podcast website: https://greenurbanistpod.com/
<... Duration: 00:22:47Net Zero Carbon Made Simple (Mini-Course part 2/3)
Nov 13, 2024Watch this training as a video for the best experience: Link to Video Training
This is part 2 of a 3-part mini-course about how to start bringing sustainability into your work as a built environment professional. In this session, I provide a free training session about Net Zero Carbon, which is an excerpt from my upcoming full-length course: Sustainability Essentials for Built Environment Professionals
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Duration: 00:15:50Kickstart your Sustainability-focused Career (Mini-Course part 1/3)
Nov 11, 2024This is part 1 of a 3-part mini-course coming out this week about how to start bringing sustainability into your work as a built environment professional. In this episode, I give advice for how to approach learning about sustainability and what roles you can play in your career and community.
To get parts 2 and 3 of this mini-course as video lessons delivered to your inbox, sign up to my newsletter: Green Urbanist Newsletter
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Consulting and training: https://greenurbanist.org/
Podcast...
Duration: 00:10:05#97: Climate Adaptation Strategies for Urban Trees and Woodlands
Oct 28, 2024In this episode I share some learnings from my recent research project about how climate change is likely to affect an urban nature reserve in London and climate adaptation recommendations for the reserve's management.
I discuss:
References:
#96: Mainstreaming Passive Building Design in the USA, with Phius
Oct 21, 2024My guest on this episode is Katrin Klingenberg, the Executive Director of Phius. Phius is a non-profit organization committed to decarbonizing the built environment by making high-performance passive building the mainstream market standard. They are mainly active in USA with some international projects.
In this episode we discuss:
#95: EcoResponsive Environments: Designing with Natural Systems
Oct 07, 2024This episode is a conversation with Prachi Rampuria and Soham De, co-founders of an urban design practice called EcoResponsive Environments and are co-authors of a book by the same name. They joined me on this episode to discuss the concept of designing settlements with an understanding of natural systems as the starting point. They bring together the knowledge of multiple disciplines like sustainability, landscape ecology and water management and present it in a useful way for designers.
More about their work: https://www.ecoresponsiveenvironments.com/
EcoResponsive Environments book
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Duration: 01:01:42#94: Stories of the Internet of Nature from 'The Nature of Our Cities' book, with Nadina Galle
Sep 30, 2024Nadina Galle is an ecological engineer, National Geographic Explorer, science and nature writer, podcaster, and keynote speaker. She helps green professionals use emerging technologies to improve urban ecosystems for future generations.
She is the author of the book, The Nature of Our Cities, which is the topic of our conversation. Through rich stories from the book, in this episode we explore:
#93: An AI Tool to Streamline Biodiversity Net Gain, with Shashin Mishra (BNGAI)
Sep 23, 2024This episode is all about technology to help us deliver Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). My guest is Shashin Mishra, VP of EMEA for AiDash.
We explore how a new digital tool called BNGAI has been created to help developers, ecologists and local authorities deliver Biodiversity Net Gain on development sites. We talk through how can the tool be used to help designers and ecologists work together in a collaborative way to get better results.
I ask the key question: Is this going to replace real ecologists? Spoiler: no, it won’t.
If you wan...
Duration: 00:44:12#92: Chicago's Wild Mile and Other Urban Nature Innovations, with Doug Voigt (SOM)
Sep 16, 2024Doug Voigt, a partner at SOM, discusses the Wild Mile project in Chicago and the importance of rewilding and restoring ecological systems in cities. The project aims to reclaim part of the Chicago River as an ecological and community asset. We also discuss how the Wild Mile inspired an innovative approach to flood resilience in the Pearl River Delta. These projects are part of a larger effort to reimagine and retrofit urban infrastructure for the challenges of the 21st century.
More about the Wild Mile: https://www.som.com/projects/wild-mile/
More about Doug: https: https...
Join the Green Urbanist Online Meet Up on 3 October!
Sep 09, 2024Register for the online meet up: https://forms.gle/qEHEGgfaKFa68CBp9
Join the first Green Urbanist Online Meet Up on 3 October, 7:00 - 7:30pm Central European Time / 6:00 - 6:30pm UK Time / 2:00 - 2:30pm New York Time
It will be a chance to meet me and other like minded people around the world, ask questions and share your thoughts on green urbanism! I look forward to meeting you.
Register for Green Urbanist Online Meet Up (3 October): https://forms.gle/bqXLTxaajru9WSEv8
Thanks for listening!
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#91: A West African Perspective on Sustainable Architecture, with James Inedu-George (HTL Africa)
Sep 02, 2024James is founding partner of HTL Africa, a research-driven architectural firm dedicated to addressing the specific challenges of West African environments. He joined me to discuss what we can learn from traditional west African architecture and urbanism to apply to current challenges of climate change and housing shortages.
Learn more about James and his projects: https://www.htlafrica.com/
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<... Duration: 00:51:32#90: Nature-Sensitive Urban Design, with Dr Thami Croeser
Aug 12, 2024Dr Thami Croeser is an urban planner with a focus on bringing nature back into cities in practical ways, at large scale. He is a Research Fellow at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.
In this episode we discuss practical ways of bringing more nature into cities and helping it thrive through urban planning and design.
Learn more about Thami and his publications: https://cur.org.au/people/mr-thami-croeser/
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Duration: 00:53:27#89: A Planning System to Address the Climate and Housing Crises, with Shaun Spiers
Jul 31, 2024Shaun Spiers is the Executive Director of the environmental think-tank, Green Alliance. In this episode we discuss how a stronger planning system in the UK can address the housing crisis and deliver more sustainable outcomes.
Read their report, Build Up: https://green-alliance.org.uk/publication/build-up/
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The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.
Duration: 00:48:55#88: Restoring Landscapes and Reconnecting to Nature, with Alexandra Steed
Jun 03, 2024Alexandra Steed is a passionate landscape architect with a deep commitment to art, sustainability, and the transformative power of landscapes.
We talk about:
Learn more:
Alexandra Steed URBAN: https://alexandrasteedurban.com/
Book: Portrait to Landscape: https://alexandrasteedurban.com/project/portrait-to-landscape-a-landscape-strategy-to-reframe-our-future/
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Duration: 00:57:03#87: Biophilic Architecture and Design, with Louisa Whitmore (@louisatalksbuildings)
May 21, 2024Louisa Whitmore is an architecture enthusiast, TikToker and host of the Nature of Design documentary series. In this episode we discuss her experience making the documentary, the mental health benefits of biophilic environments and case studies of great biophilic projects.
Learn more about the Nature of Design documentary:
The Green Channel: Link
Instagram: Link
TikTok: Link
Louisa's TikTok: Link
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Duration: 00:23:09#86: Regenerative Architecture Index - Accelerating towards a regenerative built environment
Apr 22, 2024In conversation with Alisdair Ben Dixon (Collective Works), Anna Lisa McSweeney (White Arkitekter) and Isabel Allen (Architecture Today) about the new Regenerative Architecture Index (RAI).
Launched by Architecture Today and UK Architects Declare, the Regenerative Architecture Index (RAI) sets out to benchmark practices progress in the move towards regenerative practice and projects. It recognises the need for a built environment that isn’t merely reducing its negative impacts, but has positive impacts for today and the long term.
We discuss why they created the index, how they define 'regenerative design' and shifting towards regenerative practice in th...
#85: Using 3D Modelling, Digital Twins and Generative Design for Sustainability, with VU.CITY
Apr 15, 2024I sit down with Andrew Bullmore of VU.CITY to discuss how 3D models, digital twins and artificial intelligence tools can be used to do better, evidence-based planning and design and get more sustainable outcomes.
VU.CITY website: https://www.vu.city/
SiteSolve generative AI: https://www.site-solve.co.uk/
This is a sponsored episode. Thanks to VU.CITY for the support.
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Duration: 00:40:32#84: Net Zero Carbon Neighbourhoods, with Sam Luker (AESG)
Mar 18, 2024Sam Luker is an Associate Sustainability Director at AESG and led on their new report titled 'Net Zero Neighbourhoods'.
In this episode we discuss:
Read the report on Net Zero Neighbourhoods from AESG/LDN Collective: https://westlondon.com/net-zero-neighbourhoods-report-launched-to-further-the-uptake-for-a-low-carbon-future/
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Duration: 00:48:57#83: Decolonise Architecture, with Mohit Buch and Sue Yen Chong
Mar 08, 2024Mohit and Sue Yen are architects and members of Decolonise Architecture, a solution-based group driven to tackle institutional racism and bias within architectural education and practice. In this episode we discuss:
How architectural education and practice can be 'colonial' in its approach, and the problems with this.Expanding architectural education and practice to embrace other cultures and worldviews.How the architecture profession can be made more accessible to all.Learn more about Decolonise Architecture: https://www.decolonisearchitecture.com/
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Duration: 00:45:42#82: Decarbonising Concrete and Steel, with Jeff Rissman
Feb 18, 2024Jeffrey Rissman is Senior Director at Energy Innovation, where he leads the company’s work on technologies and policies to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from the industry sector. He is the author of Zero-Carbon Industry: Transformative Technologies and Policies to Achieve Sustainable Prosperity (2024) and coauthor of Designing Climate Solutions: A Policy Guide for Low-Carbon Energy (2018).
We discuss decarbonisation pathways for concrete and steel and what urbanists can do to drive down industrial emissions.
Check out Jeff's book: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/zero-carbon-industry/9780231204200
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Duration: 00:50:37#81: Reimagining Roads as Public Space, with LDA (Landscape Mini-Series Part 4)
Feb 04, 2024 Welcome to part 4, the final episode in the landscape mini-series. In this episode I sit down with Cannon Ivers CMLI of LDA to discuss their inspiring project The Strand, Aldwych. The Strand was for centuries a busy traffic thoroughfare in central London that has been transformed into a totally pedestrianised and multi-functional public space. Cannon tells me the story of how this came to be, what it means for the people who use this space and how it connects to a larger initiative to transform busy roads in central London into public spaces.
More about the S...
#80: Transforming an Urban Park, with LUC (Landscape Mini-Series Part 3)
Jan 28, 2024 Welcome to part 3 in this mini-series on landscape and urban nature. In this episode I spoke with James Virgo CMLI of LUC. He tells me about LUC’s work on Shoreditch Park. This is a nice case study of taking an existing park and working with the local community to improve it for biodiversity while tackling anti-social behaviour and creating a more welcoming and multi-function space for local people.
More about Shoreditch Park: https://www.landuse.co.uk/news/luc-completes-the-shoreditch-park-improvement-works/
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Duration: 00:12:19#79: Biourbanism and Landscape Design Code, with McGregor Coxall (Landscape Mini-Series Part 2)
Jan 21, 2024 Welcome to part 2 of this mini-series on landscape and urban nature. This episode features an interview with Michael Cowdy FLI of McGregor Coxall. We discuss two of their Landscape Award-nominated projects, a research project on BioUrbanism and the second a design code for green infrastructure for a new community Cherry Hinton North, Cambridge.
More about Biourbanism: https://mcgregorcoxall.com/biourbanism
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... Duration: 00:15:07#78: Landscape-led Response to Climate Change, with the Landscape Institute (Landscape Mini-Series Part 1)
Jan 14, 2024Welcome to this 4-part series on the role of landscape and urban nature in creating resilient, sustainable and healthy places. Over the next 4 weeks I’ll be releasing short weekly episodes featuring interviews with landscape practitioners that highlight great case studies in landscape design and discuss the wider role of these interventions in green urbanism.
The interviews were recorded at the Landscape Institute Awards 2023. Thanks to the Landscape Institute for inviting me along and organising these conversations.
This first episode features a conversation with Landscape Institute President-elect Carolin Göhler FLI. The focus of this cha...
Duration: 00:19:06#77: Tackling Overheating in Buildings with Antonietta Canta (Arup)
Dec 30, 2023Antonietta Canta is a Principal Environmental and Sustainability Engineer at Arup. In this episode we discuss their recent research report: ‘Addressing overheating risk in existing UK homes’. As dry as that title sounds, the conversation was actually very illuminating and useful. It's also useful for listeners outside the UK!
We discuss:
How many homes in UK are at risk of overheating now and in future climate scenarios.Why new apartments overheat more than houses and older buildings.The best strategies for reducing overheating in new and existing buildings and advice for architects, planners and policy makers.Re...
Duration: 00:45:03#76: Community-led, Circular, Green Architecture with Jan Kattein @ The Paper Garden
Dec 16, 2023Jan Kattein is Director of Jan Kattein Architects, a studio that focuses on collaborative, sustainable and community-focused projects. Back in September of 2023 I joined Jan at their project in south London called the Paper Garden, which is a educational building and garden space for the charity Global Generation. Some of they key points we discuss:
Radically circular building with 60% reused materialsBuilt by 3000 volunteers - teaching skills and inspiring sustainabilityFlexible design approach to suit available materials rather than specific designSourcing timber from Epping Forest, LondonIs this the future of architecture?Giulia Mori joined me as co-host
...
Duration: 00:32:33#75: From Net Zero Carbon to Regenerative Design at SOM - Kent Jackson and James Woodall
Oct 08, 2023Kent Jackson is Design Partner at Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM) and leads the designs of a wide range of scales and typologies across the globe. Passionate about improving the future of planetary health, Kent is also a leader of SOM’s Climate Action Group, advancing the firm’s commitment for all active work to be net zero whole-life carbon by 2040.
James Woodall is Sustainability Lead at SOM and was a co-editor of the LETI Climate Emergency Design Guide – a groundbreaking publication shaped by over 100 leading design professionals. The guide continues to be referred to as best practi...
#74: Property development as if people and planet mattered - Steve Sanham (Common Projects)
Sep 17, 2023Steve Sanham established Common Projects in 2021: a development company led by a purpose to put people and planet at the heart of its decision-making. Steve has an extensive and proven track record in the built environment, specialising in urban regeneration and in using development’s power to deliver better outcomes. Common Projects finances and delivers complex and game-changing development projects in London and the South East with a strong focus on sustainability and social outcomes.
Common is currently delivering two large, complex London sites: the redevelopment of a 1960s ‘utopian’ complex into a community-facing housing scheme for Croydo...
Duration: 00:57:18#73: Sean McCormack - Rewilding Urban London (Part 2)
Sep 05, 2023Sean McCormack is a consultant Vet, the Chairperson of Ealing Wildlife Group, and an incredibly knowledgeable nature conservationist and educator based in west London. This episode is part 2 of our conversation where we get into more detail on:
The practicalities of reintroducing beavers to an urban parkManagement of urban natureRewilding vs nature restorationThe importance of partnerships and collaborationI also got the chance to speak with Elliot Newton and Ben Stockwell of Citizen Zoo, who are also involved in the beaver reintroduction at Paradise Fields. Listen out for their voices towards the end of this episode.
#72: Sean McCormack - Rewilding Urban London (Part 1)
Aug 21, 2023Sean McCormack is a consultant Vet, the Chairperson of Ealing Wildlife Group, and an incredibly knowledgeable nature conservationist and educator based in west London. In this episode we discuss his work to rewild urban London by reintroducing harvest mice, beavers and (eventually maybe) water voles while supporting native predators like falcons and owls in the city. It’s a really positive and inspiring story of how a community and a local government are working together for the good of nature. We also discuss how reintroducing beavers will mitigate flooding in the local area and advice for others interested in ur...
Duration: 01:09:11#71: Nate Hagens - Planning for 'The Great Simplification' of Cities
Aug 08, 2023Nate Hagens is a systems thinker and educator focused on a concept he calls The Great Simplification. He has spent the last 20 years studying the systems we live in like energy, ecology and economics. He teaches at the University of Minnesota and speaks widely on these topics, including on his youtube channel called Nate Hagens and his podcast called The Great Simplification.
We discuss:
The Great Simplification and what that means for citiesWhat the end of fossil fuels means for the worldThe importance of scenario planning for the future of citiesWhy electric vehicles and renewables are... Duration: 00:56:53#70: Climate Adaptation Explained - Resilience, Transition, Transformation
Jul 03, 2023Climate change is here and now cities and communities must adapt for safety, health and quality of life. In this episode I discuss a useful model for thinking about climate adaptation in three levels: resilience, transition and transformation.
I also provide some examples and ideas for bringing adaptation thinking into the work of urbanists.
Relevant episodes:
#68: Urban Rewilding
#59: Why cities need Transformational Adaptation and what it could mean for urban ecosystems
#38: Dr Morgan Phillips - Climate Adaptation
Bibliography
The ideas in th...
#69: Tara Gbolade and Lanre Gbolade - Sustainable Design and City-Shaping with Gbolade Design Studio
Jun 19, 2023This episode is a conversation with Tara and Lanre of Gbolade Design Studio, sustainable architects and urban designers based in London. Reflecting on their 5 years in practice, we discuss a range of topics and projects including:
City-shaping with masterplans and design codesRetrofitting existing buildingsZero carbon and regenerative designCommunity-building and co-creating with communitiesInnovation in design, including the use of AITheir recent exhibition, ‘Breaking Ground’, and contribution to the Venice Biennale 2023See the companion blog post for images of the projects we discuss.
Learn more about Gbolade Design Studio here: https://www.gboladedesignstudio.com/
...
Duration: 00:57:02#68: Urban Rewilding
Jun 04, 2023What is urban rewilding? Can it be done in cities? Is anyone doing it?
In this episode, we explore:
Companion Blog Post - See visuals of the stuff we talk about plus sources and bibliography.
Corrections:
We made a few small errors in this podcast. Around 24:00, Giulia says Sequoia tree seeds come in 'pine nuts' when she meant to say 'cones' (you can s...
ANNOUNCEMENT! Towards a Regenerative Podcast: support the podcast and fund climate action in cities
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#67: Co-designing for Spatial Justice with Jane Wong, Lydia Toohey and Tom Greenall (DSDHA)
May 14, 2023This episode is a conversation with Jane, Lydia and Tom of architecture and urban design studio DSDHA. We discuss their research project 'Towards Spatial Justice: A guide for achieving meaningful participation in co-design processes'.
We explore what co-design really means, why it’s important and how they have applied co-design processes at their projects: White Horse Square in Wembley Park, London and the extension of the British Library.
Learn more about DSDHA here: Link
Download the Towards Spatial Justice research report here: Link
See images of the projects we discuss on th...
#66: Designing a Sustainable Neighbourhood at The Phoenix with Xavier Smales and Andy Tugby (Human Nature)
Apr 24, 2023Xavier Smales is an Architect and Andy Tugby is Head of Sustainable Construction at Human Nature, a developer based in the south of England. They join me to discuss their approach to designing sustainable neighbourhoods and how they're putting this into action with a development called The Phoenix.
We discuss urban design principles for sustainable lifestyles, low carbon architecture, circular economy and more.
Click here to see the companion blog post on Substack for visuals of the project!
Find out more about Human Nature and The Phoenix here:
https://www.humannature-places.com...
#65: Joe Morris - Morris+Company Office Tour, Architecture, Circularity and Food
Apr 10, 2023Joe Morris is Founding Director of Morris+Company architects, based in London and Copenhagen. In this episode, he gives me a tour of their newly refurbished London office while we discuss their philosophy and approach to architecture, sustainability, circularity and connection between food and urbanism.
I have collated images of all the projects we talk about in this episode in a companion blog post on my Substack. Check it out while you listen!
https://morrisand.company/
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Duration: 01:06:36#64: Civic Square - Reimagining the Neighbourhood for the 21st Century (with Immy Kaur, Kavita Purohit and Charlie Edmonds)
Mar 27, 2023Civic Square is a Public Square, a Neighbourhood Economics Lab and a Creative + Participatory Ecosystem. They have been doing amazing work around systems change at the neighbourhood level in Ladywood, Birmingham, where they are based. Their main projects to date include creating a Neighbourhood Doughnut based on Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics concept and exploring the invisible infrastructure needed to transition their neighbourhood towards a sustainable future.
In this episode, we also have a long chat about how they are funded and the difficult reality of engaging in meaningful systems change work that doesn’t come with a bl...
Duration: 01:16:51#63: Israa Mahmoud - Co-designing Nature-based Solutions in Cities
Mar 13, 2023Read the companion blog post to his episode on Substack.
Israa Mahmoud is Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at Politecnico di Milano, Italy. Her research interests include nature-based solutions, co-design and urban governance. Her recent publications include The book Placemaking for Green Urban Regeneration, published by Springer. She is the research team leader together with Prof. Eugenio Morello on CLEVER Cities Project as an expert of Co-creation guidance for cities to implement Nature-based solutions in socially inclusive urban regeneration processes.
We talk about:
#62: Helen Pineo - Healthy Urbanism from Planetary to Building Scales
Feb 27, 2023Read the companion blog post to this episode on Substack.
Dr Helen Pineo MRTPI is an urban planner and Associate Professor in Healthy and Sustainable Cities in the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment at University College London. Her research focuses on how property development, regeneration and urban policy can support health and sustainability. She contributes to the evidence base about why and how to do healthy urbanism by using transdisciplinary approaches and amplifying the needs of underrepresented communities and the planet. Her book, Healthy Urbanism: Designing and Planning Equitable, Sustainable and Inclusive Places, re-defines the meaning...
#61: Fact Checking the Norman Foster Dezeen Interview
Jan 30, 2023In this episode I fact check the article "There are a lot of dangerous myths" about sustainability says Norman Foster, which appeared on dezeen.com on 17th January 2023.
The architect made some controversial statements about sustainability and defended Foster & Partner's decision to keep designing airports and leave Architects Declare.
This episode is in no way an attack on the fine people who work at Foster & Partners or the work they do to design sustainable buildings. It is just a fact check of some of the controversial statements made by Foster himself, to help people understand the cl...
#60: Rob Hopkins - Why Climate Action Needs Imagination
Jan 23, 2023See links and images on the companion blog post.
Rob Hopkins is the co-founder of Transition Network and of Transition Town Totnes, and author of several books including ‘The Transition Handbook‘ and most recently, ‘From What Is to What If: unleashing the power of imagination to create the future we want’. He is an Ashoka Fellow, has spoken at TED Global and at several TEDx events, and appeared in the French film phenomenon ‘Demain‘. He holds a PhD from the University of Plymouth, and is a Director of Totnes Community De...
#59: Why cities need Transformational Adaptation and what it could mean for urban ecosystems
Dec 12, 2022Climate change is causing local weather patterns and ecosystems to shift and transform. In order to thrive in this new climate era, we will need to transform our cities and urban ecosystems. This is called 'Transformational Adaptation'.
My co-host today is Giulia Mori and in this episode we discuss:
Key Reference:
Colloff, M.J...
#58: Creating a Culture of Sustainable Design with Glenn Howells Architects
Nov 30, 2022Companion blog post on Substack
I speak to Will Poole (Partner) Jack Pritchard (Associate Urban Designer) and Sophia Ceneda (Architect and Sustainability Lead) at Glenn Howells Architects. Glenn Howells Architects are based in London and Birmingham. They’ve designed award winning housing, tall buildings and masterplans across the UK. Our conversation focuses on how over the last few years they have shifted their approach towards sustainable design, and developed their own studio culture and processes internally for delivering sustainable projects.
If you are interested in how to embed sustainability within a des...
Duration: 00:36:55#57: Laura Baron (Purcell) - Sustainability in Historic Buildings
Nov 14, 2022Companion blog post on Substack
Laura is Head of Sustainability at Purcell, a practice of architects, heritage consultants and masterplanners working on historic structures. In this episode, we discuss Purcell's work to improve the sustainability of iconic cathedrals and advice for improving the sustainability of historic buildings of all types by taking the right approach.
Links
Ted Talk: How to find joy in climate action
Purcell website
Laura's Linkedin
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Duration: 00:45:12#56: Joao Cortesao - Climate-Responsive Urban Design, Adaptation and Research Through Design
Oct 24, 2022Joao is a Portuguese architect and researcher, and an Assistant Professor at Wageningen University, Netherlands. His research focuses on climate-responsive urban design and climate adaptation using a research-through-design approach. His motivation is to create and transfer design knowledge to practitioners and decision-makers, in order to prompt the adaptation of urban areas to climate change.
We talk about his research on designing cooling urban environments with water and vegetation, running design workshops with architects in Egypt to spark locally-specific climate adaptation measures and bridging the gap between research and practice.
This episode is full of practical...
#55: Tim Stonor and Anna Rose (Space Syntax) - Science-based Human-centric Urbanism
Oct 10, 2022Tim Stonor is an architect and urban planner who has devoted his career to the analysis and design of human behaviour patterns – the ways in which people move, interact and transact in buildings and urban places. He is Managing Director of Space Syntax and a visiting professor at several top universities like University College London.
Anna Rose is an architect and urban planner, and Director of Space Syntax, where she leads their consulting activities in the UK, USA and continental Europe. She is also Honorary Senior Research Fellow at The Bartlett, University College London.
Space Sy...
Duration: 00:48:55#54: Dr Dorina Pojani - Eco-Feminist Urbanism
Sep 26, 2022Dr Dorina Pojani is a Senior Lecturer at University of Queensland, Australia. An urban planner and urban designer by training, she has experience in both practice and academics. We discuss her new book Trophy Cities, a feminist perspective on new capitals and explore how patriarchal ideology is expressed in urban design, and what a matriarchal or 'eco-feminist' approach may be.
Find our more about Dorina: https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/11894
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#53: Vanessa Champion - Biophilic Design for Climate Action
Sep 12, 2022Originally an academic at UCL, Ness has a PhD in Greek and Latin, and also worked in the British Museum, honing her interest in research in how societies flourish and how the visual environment informs our behaviours. Way before her academic career she had started selling her landscape and seascape photography, relishing the quiet, healing moments that nature gave to her during her teenage years. It was during her 20s that she started living very “naturally”, eating whole foods, reducing her grid energy consumption, choosing natural materials to wear, etc. When she left academia Ness worked in various industries, incl...
Duration: 00:44:10#52: Divya Hariramani - Community Orchards, Urban Fruit Trees and Social Sustainability
Aug 29, 2022My guest and tour guide today in Divya Hariramani Herrero. She is a sustainability consultant and Associate Director at Longevity Partners, a London National Park City Ranger and runs an instagram page called Fruity Walks, where she is chronicling the amazing and surprising fruit tree of London and beyond. She is fascinated by all aspects of sustainability from low energy engineering to growing fruit trees in her South London neighbourhood.
I joined her for a walk around Bermondsey where she told me the stories behind two urban orchards and how the community has come together to grow f...
Duration: 00:45:22#51: Regenerative Highrise with Tomas Stokke (Haptic Architects) and Shonn Mills (Ramboll)
Aug 13, 2022In today’s episode we’re talking about the contentious issue of tall buildings. Some people love them, some people hate them. My guests today have come up with a concept for high rise that could be much more sustainable and adaptable than conventional skyscrapers.
My guests today are Tomas Stokke and Shonn Mills. Tomas is a co-founder of Haptic Architects based in London and Oslo. He overseas Haptic’s international work and has taught, lectured, exhibited and been published internationally.
Shonn Mills is Global Head of High Rise Buildings at Ramboll, with more than 20 years ex...
Duration: 00:46:20#50: The Critical Decade of Climate Action, with Giulia Mori
Aug 01, 2022To celebrate the 50th episode and second birthday of the Green Urbanist Podcast, I sit down with Giulia Mori to discuss the question: What has to happen in this critical decade to ensure successful climate action?
We talk about:
Find out more about Circular Score: https://www.ukgbc.org/inside_innovation/the-circular-score/
C...
#49: "We're not doing doom and gloom!" - Live from Footprint+ Sustainability Conference
Jul 18, 2022Reporting live from Footprint+ 2022, a new sustainability conference in Brighton, UK. Featuring interviews with:
Joe Jack Williams, Feilden Clegg Bradley StudiosBarny Evans, TurleyAmin Taha, Groupwork Steve Webb, Webb Yates EngineersTim Pyne, Footprint+ (Footprint Plus) U+IQ-BotRaw ChargingWe discuss a range of topics including the net zero energy transition, building with stone and timber, the sustainability of historic places, retrofit robots and more!
Green Urbanist website
Contact Form
Social Media:
https://twitter.com/GreenUrbanPod
http...
Duration: 00:33:54#48: Younha Rhee & Gustavo Brunelli (Atelier Ten) - Environmental Design
Jul 04, 2022Gustavo and Younha are both Technical Directors at Atelier Ten, an environmental design consultancy. Combining expertise in architecture and engineering they shape buildings and masterplans to be sustainable and healthy.
In this episode we discuss:
This episode was recorded at the Footprint+ Conference in Brighton in May 2022. We recorded this with a single microphone sitting outside near to the beach so t...
Duration: 00:28:31#47: Primal City (Part 3) - Biophilia and Urban Ecology
Jun 20, 2022Biophilia is about how we as humans have an innate love and connection to other living things. It is no surprise then that spending time in natural environments such as forests, mountains and parks, is extremely beneficial to our mental and physical health. But how can we recreate our natural biophilic habitat in urban areas? Can we make cities good homes for other living things too?
Sources (articles):
#46: Decolonising Sustainability, with Samantha Suppiah, Christina Mirasol Sayson, Anna Denardin and Nolita Mvunelo (Possible Futures)
Jun 06, 2022This episode is a conversation with Samantha Suppiah, Christina Mirasol Sayson, Anna Denardin and Nolita Mvunelo of Possible Futures.
We talk about colonialism and sustainability, the realities of life in the Global South and the need for communities to be able to define their own vision for a regenerative future.
Note: This episode is pretty heavy and may be challenging for listeners in the Global North, who are not used to considering colonialism. I invite you to stick with it and keep an open mind. This is a really important discussion.
Footnotes:
#45: Farah Naz - Net Zero City: a 10 Year Transformation Plan
May 23, 2022In this episode, we talk about Farah's new book Net Zero City, the role of urban design in achieving a net zero city, and a clear process for cities to decarbonise in 10 years.
Farah Naz, is an award winning Climate Change strategist with over 20 years’ experience in the construction sector gained in the USA, UK, Southeast Asia and most recently the United Arab Emirates (UAE). She is a Chartered Engineer (UK), Fellow of CIBSE, LEED and WELL AP and Verified Research Expert for Dubai Future Foundation. Farah Chairs CIBSE UAE Chapter and is an advocate of STEM ed...
#44: Steve O'Reilly (The Rediscovery Centre) - Circular Economy and Social Value
Apr 24, 2022Steve O'Reilly works in a policy & communications role at Ireland's national centre for the Circular Economy, The Rediscovery Centre. Steve spent over 7 years in the Netherlands, Europe's circular economy hotspot, working on many projects related to circularity and becoming inspired by the circular innovation he saw there. Upon returning to Ireland during the pandemic, Steve took up a position in The Rediscovery Centre in Dublin to help drive circularity back in Ireland.
In this episode, Steve shares insights into the social potential of circularity, how it is blossoming in rural communities and what we can learn from...
Duration: 00:46:29#43: Primal City (Part 2) - Housing for Homo Sapiens
Apr 03, 2022It turns out what's good for us is also good for the planet.
How can we design housing for human beings that aligns with our evolution? In this episode I talk about how Co-Housing and Eco-Village concepts could be a proxy for hunter gatherer tribes by creating small, cooperative communities within urban settings. This way of living has huge benefits for our wellbeing and can also be an effective way of minimising energy and resource use. A Win-Win for people and the environment.
Resources and further reading:
Articles/web pages:
<...
#42: Primal City (Part 1): Why Urbanists Should Study Hunter Gatherers
Mar 21, 2022This episode is part 1 of a series about human evolution, our prehistory and Hunter Gatherer ways of life. Why should urbanists be interested in this? In this episode I make the argument that:
We evolved over 2 million years as foragers and it is the only environmentally and socially sustainable way of life we know of.Living this way, embedded within ecosystems, is what what we are optimised for and therefore how human beings thrive.Life in our prehistoric past (and in modern hunter gatherer bands) is not nearly as awful as we think. In fact we can learn a... Duration: 00:27:20#41: Michael Pawlyn (Flourish) - Regenerative Design, Biomimicry and Systems Change
Mar 07, 2022Michael Pawlyn established Exploration Architecture in 2007 and has built a reputation as a thought leader in regenerative design and the circular economy. He has lectured internationally and, in 2011, became one of only a small handful of architects to have a talk posted on TED.com which has since had over 1.8 million views. He is the author of Flourish: Design Paradigms for our Planetary Emergency (with co-author Sarah Ichioka) and Biomimicry in Architecture.
In this episode we talk about:
All of these ideas are captured in the amazing new...
Duration: 01:06:42#40: Disability Mobility with Anna Zivarts, Abby Griffith and Micah Lusignan (Disability Rights Washington)
Feb 14, 2022Today we’re talking about the intersection of of mobility, sustainability, social justice and disability rights.
I am joined by Anna, Micah and Abby from Disability Rights Washington who are part of the Disability Mobility Initiative for Washington State in the US. They are doing amazing work in sharing the stories of how people with disabilities move around and campaigning for systemic change in how our urban environments are designed and built. They want to see people with disabilities in real positions of power and influencing decision making and they talk about the barriers that are currently st...
Duration: 00:48:19#39: Simon Pitkeathley - Camden High Line and Climate Action for Local Businesses
Jan 27, 2022Simon is CEO of the business improvement districts Camden Town Unlimited and Euston Town, as well as being CEO of Camden Collective, & the Camden Highline. He is also Co-Chair of the Cross River Partnership and Chair of Camden Giving. Simon sits on the London Enterprise Action Partnership (LEAP) and is its Champion for Small Business. During the pandemic Simon was seconded to Mayor’s Covid Business Forum and the London Transition Board, where he Chaired the Business Reopening Strategy Group. He now sits on the London Recovery Board. Simon has been leading the Camden Highline project since its inception in 2017...
Duration: 00:44:02#38: Dr Morgan Phillips - Climate Adaptation
Jan 09, 2022Dr Morgan Philips is UK Co-Director of The Glacier Trust, a UK charity that enables remote mountain communities in Nepal to adapt to Climate Change, and Head of Insight at Global Action Plan. He has a PhD in Environmental Education and is the author of Great Adaptations, a new book about climate adaptation.
In this episode we are talking, unsurprisingly, about climate adaptation. What is it, why we need to be talking about it and lots of examples of good and bad adaptations from cities adapting to increased heat to rural communities in Nepal using agroforestry.
<... Duration: 01:01:20#37: The Problem with Net Zero Carbon (an Urban Design Perspective)
Dec 27, 2021"So, here's a big problem we need to talk about.
Net Zero Carbon means different things in different situations. We all get to define what we "mean" by net zero (i.e. what we include in our calculations) to suit our project."
In this episode I delve into the problems associated with the term 'Net Zero Carbon', particularly from an urban design and placemaking perspective.
Today's episode was sparked by a Linkedin post I made criticising McDonald's Net Zero Carbon restaurant: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ross-o-ceallaigh_mcdonalds-opens-uks-first-net-zero-restaurant-activity-6878675708114153472-X3HI
It got...
#36: Chris Churchman - Soil, the Forgotten Carbon Sink
Dec 12, 2021Soils matter! Chris Churchman explains how protecting green areas and improving soil quality is crucial for fighting climate change.
Chris is a landscape architect and strategist, and the founding Director of Churchman Thornhill Finch landscape architects. As well as having decades of experience designing stunning projects like the gardens of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, Chris is interested in the role of soil in tackling climate change. He joined me to talk about the potential for soil to play a much bigger role in sequestering carbon, how new development on greenfield sites releases a lot more c...
#35: Rachel Hoolahan (Orms) - Circular Economy and Material Passports
Nov 28, 2021Rachel Hoolahan is an architect and sustainability co-ordinator at Orms Architects, a leading London practice with extensive experience working with existing buildings. For the past few years, the practice has engaged in a series of deep research assignments and is utilising this data and knowledge to push the boundaries of sustainable development – both in refurbishment and new build projects.
Recently, she led a research piece on material passports as part of a wider Grosvenor Estate Innovation Project into material reuse. The outcome of this work is a methodology for encouraging more meaningful material reuse, by creating a ma...
Duration: 00:56:10#34: George Payiatis - Masterplanning Sustainable, Beautiful Places
Nov 14, 2021George is an urban designer at Create Streets, working to create greener, happier and healthier communities. He believes that designers have a key role to play in safeguarding the long-term well-being of communities and our environment through design that recognizes the value of nature, local context and sustainable connectivity. He has a background in human geography and holds a Masters’ in urban design. George works closely with landowners, developers, councils and neighbourhood groups and has experience of working on masterplans for new settlements, urban extensions and brown field sites, at a range of scales both in the U.K. an...
Duration: 01:02:03#33: Doughnut Economics Explained and What it Means for Cities
Oct 31, 2021This episode explains the concept of Doughnut Economics and explores how Amsterdam is using it in its post-Covid recovery.
References:
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Duration: 00:20:55