The RSAW runs two conference every year: Spring School in Portmeirion, and the autumn conference in Cardiff.

Making the most of space: one size doesn't fit all

As the ratchet tightens on public and private finances alike, the pressure is on all of us to make do with less, and make the resources we have go further. Designers of the built environment are certainly not immune from this. Recessions force us to fight harder for every square inch of the space we provide, and to resist even more the temptations of cookie-cutter solutions.

 How can good architecture capture our imagination, and change the way we relate to our neighbours? How can architects revitalize neglected areas and improve our health and well-being? Good spatial design can provide a more attractive environment, stronger communities with a sense of pride and ownership as well as attracting financial investment. To sustain a vibrant community, well-designed buildings and public space are vital. In many ways the qualities needed for well-designed buildings and landscapes can mirror those needed to maintain a cohesive society: innovation, forward-thinking and creativity.

The RSAW annual conference brings together speakers from across the UK:

• Alison Brooks (Alison Brooks Architects), designer of the RIBA Stirling Prize award-winning Accordia scheme in Cambridgeshire, will talk about how high density can deliver high quality