Yasmin Ali

Last month planning professionals and stakeholders from across Scotland met for a one-day intensive conference, to discuss the effects and potential effects,of the Planning Reform Act in Scotland (2006).

The day was split into four sessions, as chaired by journalist and broadcaster Keith Aitken, and opened with an address from Aileen Campbell MSP.

The morning sessions comprised of talks centering on a brief retrospective of the effects of the reform to date, followed by -an interactive panel debate questioning 'Is the new system working?'.The first session, entitled 'So Far So Good ', reflected on the successes - and shortcomings- of the new planning reform system in Scotland.

Session 1: 'So Far So Good?'

Glasgow City Council's Head of Planning Alastair MacDonald began with an informative, illustrated talk which summarised the effects of the 2006 Act, from a local government perspective, as observed by Glasgow. Generally, the new system is seen in a positive light, and appreciated as having cut down on red tape considerably, increased efficiency and reduced the number of complaints from Neighbour Notifications.

Read on for more on the sessions.

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Main Plenary Session  - Friday 13th May 2011

This year, RIAS met in Glasgow to discuss an architect's education at the fore of its agenda. This was debated, framed as a enquiry into 'Practice and Pedagogy'.

The main session was held on 13th May at Glasgow's iMAX theatre, and comprised a series of talks from academics from across Scotland in the morning speeches. These were complemented by perspectives from practioners from home and abroad. Highlights included eminent urbanist Jan Gehl's lively presentation on the value of people-led urban design and French academic and architect, Professor Nathalie Kagan, also a RIAS 2011 Award Winner.

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The Urbanism Awards 2012 Shortlist announced

Voting for the nominees closed earlier this month. At the Annual Congress Dinner, held at The Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow last Thursday, the following contenders for The Academy of Urbanism Annual Awards were announced as having made the shortlist for Great Places 2012:

The European City of The Year:

Gothenburg, Sweden

Lisbon, Portugal

Oslo, Norway

The Great Town Award:

Burt St Edmunds, England

Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Totnes, England

The Great Neighbourhood Award:

Accordia, Cambridge

Borough/Bankside, London

Old Town/Harbour, Margate

The Great Street Award:

Byres Rd, Glasgow

Cockburn St, Edinburgh

Steep Hill, Lincoln

The Great Place Award:

Gillett Square, London

Queen Square, Bristol

Victoria Quarter, Leeds

Read on for more details on judging and nominations.

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Reviews / Mapping / Travel

Italian designer Emanuele Pizzolorusso for Palomar has come up with an innovative new map product that displays fresh 'out-of-the-box' thinking.  Trademarked as 'Crumpled City Maps' - the range  refreshingly does, well, exactly-what-it-says-on-the-tin, so to speak.

The maps are printed on a special textile which is weatherproof, smudgeproof and light. As a designer,  I'm also a fan of the clear, simple iconography and clean graphic design employed in the overall look of the product. Too often maps become overcrowded and muddled with over-designed typography and complicating coding - this map is the antidote to unneccessary complexity. It won't replace an OS map for a field expedition, but it serves its purpose well as an informative, accessible and durable travel map that rips up the rulebook on conventional -tearable- street maps.

Read on for product specifications, and cities available in the range.

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Last Thursday formed the main day of talks for the sixth Annual Congress of The Academy of Urbanism, held at the Lighthouse in Glasgow.

The initial morning session focused on Glasgow's City Narrative - tracing its Strategic Vision given by GCC's Executive Director Gerry Gormal, to the national perspective from The Scottish Government's Chief Planner Jim McKinnon, and rounding off with a community perspective given by social entrepreneur Lord Andrew Mawson.

The morning session resumed after a short recess to focus on the sub-theme of Neighbourhood Stories, chaired by Professor Brian Evans of the Mackintosh School of Architecture, who introduced the four speakers, each with a unique and informed perspective on urban regeneration, as enacted at the neighbourhood scale. With the overarching theme of Congress as 'Liveable Neighbourhoods', talks centred on different aspects of improved quality of life. Liz Davidson, Project Director of the Merchant City Townscape Heritage Initiative, gave a lively illustrated talk on the regeneration efforts of the Merchant City area, including public realm improvements, community engagement and action, dealing with crime and attracting creatives to the area, all of which have vastly improved the area for residents and visitors. Carol Tannahill, Director of The Glasgow Centre of Population and Health (GCPH), gave an informed lecture on the findings of the GoWell Study, linking health and mortality indicators to a need for social reform led by urban regeneration.

Chief Executive of  Clyde Gateway explaned the role of the Urban Regeneration Corporation in leading development for The Commonwealth Games 2014, and its positive effects - both planned and in motion - for Glasgow East neighbourhoods within the catchment. Arie Voorburg of Arcadi gave a Dutch perspective on particular aspects of financing social renewal, speaking earnestly of the dangers of 'social apartheid' sometimes self-imposed on neighbourhoods, caused by development stagnation and poor living conditions calling for innovative mechanisms for reform.

Read on for the afternoon events...

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