A variety of events and meet-ups in Cambridge and London:
- Saturday 29th June: The Great Exhibition Road Festival – Designing Happy Cities @ The V&A
- Tuesday 2nd July: Cambridge Conversations
- Wednesday 3rd July: The Cambridge Commons @ The Alex
- Thursday 4th July: Kettle’s Yard Open House – Karen Thomas
This week started with a stimulating talk on designing happy cities. Speakers included Tarsha Finney from the RCA, Dr Audrey de Nazelle from Imperial College London and Rory Hydge from the V&A. Each gave a short presentation before the event was opened up for questions and discussion. Topics ranged from housing typologies to public realm interventions to the need for maximising casual social interactions.
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings consisted of meeting The Cambridge Commons and their Cambridge Conversations research group. These monthly meet-ups see like-minded and passionate individuals coming together to plan research projects, get together socially and invite guest speakers. This month Dr Riikka Hofmann from the University of Cambridge spoke about tools for teachers in disadvantaged areas.
I met with Karen Thomas, the community officer for Kettle’s Yard. Karen spoke about the increasing amount of out-reach work they have been doing in Arbury, King’s Hedges and East Chesterton. An initial photography project with artist Katherine Green expanded into an annual artist residency seeing a variety of artists working with local residents. The hope is that Kettle’s Yard will become a place for everyone in Cambridge: ‘from King’s College to King’s Hedges’. Overriding aims are to nurture community cohesion and engagement whilst building confidence and skills.
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