Midtown Big Ideas Exchange

Sustainability and Place: A conversation with Peter Murray, Chair, New London Architecture

Episode Summary

The first podcast of the Midtown Big Ideas Exchange programme looks at the topic of Sustainable Cities and Communities. Peter Murray, Chairman, New London Architecture talks to Michael Wilson about the long term health of cities, with particular reference to London’s Midtown. How quickly can a city adapt to influences, such as a changing community, differing expectations of users, and environmental concerns? What makes a city sustainable, and what makes a building sustainable? How are we using buildings, streets and public spaces differently, and what examples can we take from Midtown to illustrate this change? Listen to find out how our streets are gradually adapting to becoming places for people, and not just conduits for tin boxes.

Episode Notes

PETER MURRAY

• Peter Murray is Chairman of New London Architecture

• Peter trained as an architect but has spent most of his career writing about and commenting on architecture rather than practising it.

• He studied at Bristol University and at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in Bedford Square.

• He edited the weekly newspaper for architects,Building Design, before moving on to the Royal Institute of British Architects Journal.

• Peter curated a number of major exhibitions at the Royal Academy including the 1986 New Architecture: the work of Foster, Rogers, Stirling, and Living Bridges in 1996.

• He founded the design and architecture magazine Blueprint and the global communications company Word Search which specialises in design and branding for architecture and real estate.

• He started the London Festival of Architecture which began life as the Clerkenwell Architecture Biennale in 2004.

NEW LONDON ARCHITECTURE

• The New London Architecture centre was founded in 2005 as a centre for debate and discussion about the changing face of the capital.

• The centre has a large-scale model of London and permanent exhibitions about the future of London. It is also involved in research into the built environment.

• Based in Midtown, the NLA has established itself over the last decade as a broker between all those involved in planning and designing the future of London and an influential promoter of positive physical change.

The MIDTOWN BIG IDEAS EXCHANGE

• BEE Midtown is the Business Improvement District (BID) for Holborn, Clerkenwell, Bloomsbury, Farringdon and St Giles – London’s Midtown
• Its annual Big Ideas Exchange is a dynamic programme of debates, workshops, content and thought leadership about the future of work
• Our programme for 2019/2020 is grounded in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (“SDGs”) – these are a set of targets agreed by the UN in 2015.
• We have identified four where we believe Midtown businesses can have the biggest impact – Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10); Sustainable Cities And Communities (SDG 11); Responsible Consumption And Production (SDG 12); and Partnerships For The Goals (SDG 17).
• More information can be found at www.bee-midtown.com/mbie

EPISODE CONTENT

• Podcast 1 defines what it is to be a sustainable city
• The New London Plan, and the obligation to ‘green’ buildings is discussed
• Areas of Midtown, from Lincoln’s Inn Field to the Bourne Estate are cited
• We look at how we are changing the way we use our streets
• The successful insertion of new buildings into historic locations is examined
• Key buildings, such as MidCity Place, are highlighted
• The economic benefits of designing and building sustainably are also discussed.