Bossom Lecture (RSA) - Richard Rogers

Key points from lecture:

> He talks about living in a an urban world, as in 100yrs ago 10% of people lived in cities, now 50% and in 50 yrs time 75% of people will live in cities.

> The compact city sustainable city: we must rebuild the empty quarters of our cities to bring vitality and security by increasing social mix, improving public transport, encouraging walking and the use of neighbouring public facilities, before expanding into the countryside.

> If we build new towns, rogers says its the middle class, the 'skilled people' that moved out of the city into these new towns leaving the poor - 'architecture is about social conclusion'.

> Sustainable Cities:

- Support a diverse range of live/work uses
- Include both the poor and the rich
- Are environmentally responsible
- Encourage walking and are integrated with public transport
- Are well-Designed
- Are adaptable to change
- Are secure and just

> He talks about densifying cities, but not through tall buildings, with rows of buildings instead of one tall building and lots of car parks.

> According to Rogers 'eco-towns are not sustainable' due:

- lack public transport
- expand into countryside
- less choice

> He asks why aren't our eco-towns in our cities??? this links to my big idea of redeveloping the heygate estate into a sustainable development and mini eco-town or neighbourhood!

> There could be 4 eco-towns in croydon even as it exits right now, he stresses the importance of using brownfield land first!

> THE AMOUNT OF ENRGY WASTED TO DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE DENSITY OF YOUR CITY.

> Cities like shanghai for example because there dense they use less energy, therefore there's a direct relation between densification and sustainability. But shouldn't be too dense and should be well-designed.

> 'We should not build anything outside our cities' - Shopping centers drag out the heart of the city into the countryside - destroys the countryside!

> 95% of the people in london go by public transport.

> We need to celebrate the concept of movement - pompidou center, madrid airport.

> Being able to buildings like a book.

> 30% of people in copenhagen use bicycle transport - culture. A multi-use city.

> Bring activities to a space! MULTI-USE!

> The south-bank has been the biggest change of london in last 15yrs! The liveliness, diverseness, the activities, the culture etc.

> Heritage > cities transform..........Venice has the greatest harmony. Has it got a reason to be there, the debate between different periods. The importance of ground lines, the juxtaposition between the parts of buildings that have long and short lives.

> THE EFFECT OF A BUILDING ON AN AREA! How can a building regenerate and area.

> A city needs borders to create density.

> a WATER CITY!