RIBA Trust presents autumn lectures on architecture and climate change

Date:

18 September 2009

Press office contact:

Beatrice Cooke
T: +44 (0)207 307 3813
E: beatrice.cooke@riba.org

This autumn the Royal Institute of British Architects' (RIBA) continuing international programme brings outstanding thinkers and practitioners together to address key issues for the future of the built and natural environment. This season's speakers include William McDonough and Michael Braungart, Jonathon Porritt, Jaime Lerner and Daivd Nelson, Peter Clegg and Pooran Desai.

The International Dialogues: Architecture and Climate Change series began in February 2006 with a talk by Wangari Maathai and has continued to give a platform to leading visionary thinkers, practitioners and policy-makers from disciplines such as environmentalism, architecture, urbanism and art. The series invites contributors to consider and debate the issues of globalisation and the socio-economic, cultural and environmental role that cities and our urban landscape must embrace to enable the transformation towards a low carbon world.

Through this programme of talks and debates the RIBA aims to encourage a wider understanding of the role of architecture and sustainable design solutions in both adapting and mitigating the effects of climate change through expert presentations and talks.

In partnership with BioRegional One Planet Communities® and Futerra

Details of the full lecture series follow:

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things

LKE Ozolins Lecture 2009

William McDonough and Michael Braungart

Tuesday 6 October, 18.30

Talk, Jarvis Hall

American architect, William McDonough and chemical scientist, Dr. Michael Braungart speak about their design philosophy Cradle to Cradle. This is a vision of an environmentally and economically intelligent future where design draws inspiration from the natural world by emulating living systems.

Jonathon Porritt with Solar Century, Architype and Geothermal

Tuesday 13 October, 18.00

Debate, Jarvis Hall

The UK has one of the world's most ambitious targets for delivering zero-carbon homes by 2016 and zero-carbon non-domestic buildings by 2019. With time pressing, just how are we going rise to the challenges that these targets present?

Join the debate with three leading Ashden Award winners as they respond to the proposition: 'If I were the Government Minister responsible for zero carbon new buildings the key things that I would do to ensure that we are able to meet our targets would be…'

Following the presentations, a question and answer session and then a final vote for the best solution will take place. In partnership with the Ashden Awards.

The Sustainable City

Jaime Lerner

Tuesday 3 November, 18.30

Talk, Jarvis Hall

Acclaimed architect, planner and former Mayor of Curitiba, Jaime Lerner, discusses his visionary ideas concerning cities and their future. Lerner's talk focuses on the role they play in contemporary society and the importance of design, both in structuring urban growth and in the development of a city, state or country. He also addresses the key issue of mobility – stressing the importance of public transportation.

Masdar City to One Brighton

Wednesday 25 November, 18.30

Talk, Jarvis Hall

What are the lessons to be learned from zero carbon communities being built across the world? Senior architects from two RIBA Stirling Prize winning practices, David Nelson (Head of Design, Foster and Partners) and Peter Clegg (Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios) join Pooran Desai, International Director of BioRegional's One Planet Communities programme to consider how world class design can make property development more sustainable.

Ends

Notes to editors

1. For further press information contact Beatrice Cooke in the RIBA Press Office: 0207 7307 3813; beatrice.cooke@inst.riba.org|

2. Unless otherwise stated, tickets cost £8 (£5 RIBA members, students, concessions). To book, download a ticket booking form from www.architecture.com/programmes or call the RIBA Trust booking line 020 7307 3699. Tickets can also be purchased from the RIBA Bookshop, 66 Portland Place.

3. The RIBA Trust talks take place at the RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London W1B 1AD. Nearest tubes are Oxford Circus and Great Portland Street. The RIBA Trust exhibition spaces are open Monday to Saturday 10am – 5pm except Tuesday 10am – 9pm Tel: 020 7580 5533; www.architecture.com/programmes

4. The programme was initiated and curated by Tamara Horbacka, Curator - Talks, RIBA Trust. The RIBA Trust manages the cultural assets of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), including the internationally recognised collections of the British Architectural Library. It is the UK's national architecture centre, delivering the RIBA Awards and RIBA Stirling Prize (live on Channel 4); the Royal Gold Medal; International and Honorary Fellowships; a full programme of lectures, exhibitions, tours and other events; and an education programme.

5. 'International Dialogues: Architecture and Climate Change' is in partnership with One Planet Living^® and sponsored by Gleeds. Gleeds is a world class cost and project management consultancy with over 120 years experience in the fields of construction, property and related industries. Gleeds have a strong and established reputation in the field of sustainability and offer consultancy and advice on this and many other aspects of the built environment through a network of 48 offices and 1200 dedicated staff. They have a presence in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East and the USA. Gleeds is a truly global business that is structured to act and think locally.

6. Videocasts of previous talks in this series can be viewed at www.gleeds.tv and at www.architecture.com/international-dialogues|

7. The vision of One Planet Living^® is a world in which people everywhere can lead happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the Earth's resources. To find out more visit www.oneplanetliving.org|

8. Futerra is a specialist communications consultancy which advises NGOs, public and private sector clients on issues of sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. For more information please contact David Willans - 0207 378 4003 or visit www.futerra.co.uk|.

9. As part of the RIBA's response to the challenge of climate change, the institute has adopted a four-part climate change policy proposal. The policy framework sets out the RIBA's commitment to develop guidance for members, industry and clients on how to best use design to counter climate change; deliver corporate behaviour guidance for the institute and its members to guide emissions reductions; and continue to campaign for greater public awareness of the climate change threat and lobby influential organisations and government. Contraction and Convergence (C&C), an internationally supported philosophy for countering climate change with comprehensive targets that go beyond those set out by the government and The Stern Report, has been formally adopted by the RIBA as the basis for its policy.

10. 2009 marks the 175th anniversary of the founding of the RIBA. To celebrate this milestone the Institute is holding a programme of special events throughout the year that aim to show the breadth of our activities throughout the world of architecture, engage an even wider public and celebrate the benefits to society of good design. For further information visit www.architecture.com |