Urban Forecast

In a fascinating discussion, Damien Sharkey, Managing Director of HUB, shares his journey from architecture to urban development. He reflects on his early passion for design from his family's joinery business. The conversation dives into innovative solutions for affordable housing in London, addressing challenges like the housing crisis and environmental issues. Damien highlights the importance of repurposing existing buildings and the role of collaboration among professionals in creating vibrant co-living spaces that meet diverse community needs.

In the final part of our series on Urban Co-Living, we welcome Jenna Harris, Head of Co-Living and Co-Founder of Harris Studios at Harris Associates. Jenna shares her expert insights and innovative ideas on the evolving world of co-living.Join us as we discuss the journey of Harris Associates, a leading firm in real estate known for its groundbreaking strategies and creative marketing solutions. Jenna talks about her background, from her start in digital marketing to her role in shaping modern co-living spaces.We explore how marketing, content, and property come together to create vibrant living environments, and discuss the challenges and opportunities in the co-living sector, including changes in investor interests and the importance of community-driven spaces.Harris Associates leads the way in innovation, creating tailored, content-driven campaigns that achieve outstanding results in real estate. Whether you’re an investor, a real estate professional, or curious about the future of urban living, this episode offers valuable insights into the trends and changes shaping our cities.Discover how Harris Associates is setting new standards in co-living. Don’t miss this insightful conversation with one of the industry's leading thinkers. Listen now to be inspired by the future of co-living!Please note, this episode was recorded on 6th December 2023, and some topics discussed may have evolved since then.

Welcome to our special three-part series on the emerging co-living sector. In this series, we explore how co-living is transforming urban living and addressing critical societal issues.In our first episode, we sit down with Brent Stojanovic, a seasoned expert in creative communications, brand development, and the property sector. Brent is the Director of Verv Life specialists in management of BTR, Co-Living and PBSA properties. Brent discusses the significant role co-living plays in combating loneliness and building community in today's society. With insights from a Savills study identifying a substantial market for co-living, we delve into how this innovative housing model creates supportive environments and meaningful connections for individuals living alone.Join us as we uncover the potential of co-living to reshape urban living and enhance the well-being of residents.

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Carolyn Steel, the visionary author behind Sitopia: How Food Can Save the World and Hungry City: How Food Shapes Our Lives. With over 1 million views on her TED Talk, "How Food Shapes Our Cities," Carolyn delves into the intricate relationship between urban environments and the natural infrastructure needed to sustain them.Join us as we explore how cities can integrate natural systems to create more resilient and sustainable urban spaces. We also discuss our exciting collaboration with the urban farm ‘Growing Communities’ in Dagenham, where we're developing a new visitors’ centre aimed at educating the public about the essential role of natural systems in food production. Discover how food can transform our cities for the better!Tune in for a conversation that promises to redefine how we think about the spaces we live in and the food that sustains us.

In this insightful discussion, Chris Williamson, Chairman of Weston Williamson + Partners, shares how a single book transformed his life and career, launching him from a rural village to a prominent London architect. He dives into the importance of adapting to industry challenges, the evolving role of architects in project management, and how diversity can spark creativity in design. Chris also contemplates the implications of AI on architecture and stresses the need for empathy and community in addressing urban sustainability.

If you missed us at UKREiiF - catch all the insights here! In this episode of the Urban Forecast Podcast, live-streamed from the ‘Industry in Focus’ Pavilion at UKREiiF 2024, our panel of experts: Nicholas Boys Smith, Tim Heatley, Dan Swords and Ghislaine Halpenny, discuss the future of housing and placemaking.In this engaging and informal session, our panelists explore ‘Shaping Our Places in the Next 5 Years, tackling key topics such as regeneration, community engagement, and the pivotal role of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in urban development.The conversation is rich with practical insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping our urban environments, making it a must-listen for those interested in the latest trends in sustainable development.Grab a drink, sit back, and tune in to this stimulating episode that brings the lively UKREiiF discussion directly to you.

Karolina Grebowiec-Hall is Planning Decisions Manager at Enfield Council and started the 'Pinch yourself You're a Planner Podcast' in response to her feeling that the planning profession hasn’t been getting the admiration it deserves. In her words "Planners are a passionate bunch.  We need opportunities to take back the conversation, define by ourselves who we are and reclaim the joy of what we do.Pinch Yourself, You’re a Planner is a spirited place containing a mine of stories from planners all over the UK about what they take pride in and how they stay optimistic and engaged"In this episode we discuss Karolina's reflections on the UK and London Planning system, its challenges and nuances, and where it succeeds and fails. She gives us a Planners' view on the application process, and we discuss the potential opportunities and downsides of planning reform.

Mete Coban’s passion for giving young people a voice stems from his own experiences growing up in Hackney. Listen to this episode to hear about his inspiring journey; born in an estate in Hackney, and now Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm. He was the youngest ever elected Councillor in the London borough of Hackney, he has been implementing the Climate Emergency Plan in the London Borough of Hackney, introducing the most radical transport plan in London, as well as green grants and a pioneering Community Energy Fund.As Chief Executive of My Life My Say, Mete is best known for contributing to the increase of turnout for young people at the 2017 and 2019 UK General Elections.In the New Years 2020 honours list, Mete received an MBE for services to young people recognising his efforts to make politics more accessible for the younger generation.In this fascinating episode, Mete talks us through how the challenges of his childhood have empowered him as a young leader to seek out a voice for young people.

Recent architecture graduates share their frustrations with job hunting during the pandemic, leading to the creation of a podcast. The episode explores diverse career paths post-architecture education and the impact on underrepresented voices. It discusses strategies for architects to establish their own practices, the benefits of apprenticeships, and the evolution from startup mentality to a structured company. The conversation also delves into the increasing importance of entrepreneurship in architecture and the balance between architect and entrepreneur roles.

Join us in this episode where Nicholas Boys Smith, the Chair of the Government’s Office for Place and Founder of Create Streets, sets out his vision for how we tackle the two fundamental challenges that have changed the direction of planning policy, as well as his career:It matters that we don’t have enough homesIt matters what people like when it comes to the places that we createA drive through South London 12 years ago led Nicholas on a voyage of discovery to try to understand why the places that the current planning and development system creates appear (in his words) to “replicate many, but not all, of the errors of what it is replacing”Nicholas founded Create Streets to try to understand what people actually want, and advocate for design solutions that will lead to better outcomes in terms of resident satisfaction, and allow developers to build places that ‘make people fall in love with the future’.His work on the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission led to a role Chairing the Governments’ new Office for Place, which has been influential in the creation of planning policy over the last five years.In this episode, Nicholas describes his background, what drives his passion for places, and how he goes about working with private and public sector partners to define the future of our urban and sub-urban realm.