St Davids Hotel Cardiff Bay, where the 2009 RSAW conference will take place
Copyright: St Davids Hotel Cardiff Bay
The Royal Society of Architects in Wales/ Cymdeithas Frenhinol Penseiri yng Nghymru (RSAW) is constituted as the regional organisation of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in Wales.
Our mission is to promote architecture and the work of architects to potential clients, policy makers and the general public. The RSAW is governed by a council drawn from the whole membership working within a wider framework set by the RIBA.
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Making the most of space: one size doesn't fit all
RSAW conference: Friday 27 November 2009 at St David's Hotel, Cardiff Bay
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.
Against the backdrop of the current market, the RSAW aims to share and compare best practice, expertise and experience of those working in the field at its Annual Conference.
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:
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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
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Simon Henley (Buschow Henley Architects) will talk about Grover Close, Hemel Hempstead, which seeks to balance high density with a sound building footprint, parking and amenities
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Jane Davidson AM, Welsh Assembly Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing will deliver the keynote speech about how design ingenuity must meet Wales's exacting new environmental standards.
There will be four simultaneous workshop sessions in the afternoon which will cover:
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Affordable Housing on a small scale by Ben Elsdon (Paper Project architecture + design) and Jamie Dobson (Octavia Housing)
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Space Considerations for sustainability and social inclusion, looking at a case study of Angelina Street, Cardiff by Colin King (BRE Wales)
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Art in the Community: making the space work by Wiard Sterk (Safle)
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Innovation in the housing market in Wales: social housing in West Wales by Elfed Roberts (Gwalia)
One size certainly doesn't fit all, and George Clarke, presenter of Channel 4's The Home Show, is certainly no 'off the shelf' architect. He will give the Inspiration Hour talk at the end of the conference to send delegates away inspired and positive.
Join us at the RSAW annual conference at St David's Hotel, Cardiff Bay on 27 November to hear more about good spatial design, vibrant communities and creative thinking.
Contact Sophie Gibbs|, RSAW, to book, tel 029 2022 8987, or download the conference flyer:
Autumn Penseiri - RSAW newsletter
Download the autumn issue of Penseiri, the RSAW newsletter:
RSAW News and events ebulletin
If you'd like to receive the RSAW fortnightly ebulletin of news and events, please contact the RSAW office|.
RSAW, 4 Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF11 9LJ
T 029 2022 8987, F 029 2023 0030, E rsaw@inst.riba.org|