Green Urbanist - Sustainable Placemaking, Planning and Urban Design

Scott McAulay, a Regenerative Design and Infrastructures Specialist at Architype, discusses innovative approaches in architecture that prioritize both environmental sustainability and social justice. He emphasizes the importance of community engagement and participatory design methods. The conversation highlights the role of natural materials and the circular economy as pathways to transform urban environments. McAulay also shares insights on relocalization and the need for holistic resource management to foster resilient local economies.

This episode is a conversation with Salem Qunsol, Principal Sustainability Consultant at Verte, about the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard. Salem was one of the contributors to the standard. He joined me to discuss:The best practice approach to Net Zero Carbon building designThe role of natural materials like timber in net zeroThe role and risks of offsetting emissionsCombining circular economy and net zero carbon approachesConcrete and cement in sustainable buildingsAccess the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard pilot versionConnect with Salem in LinkedinVerte's website- - - Subscribe to the Green Urbanist Newsletter Work Together Get in touch Urban Wilding Hub GatherMap - Interactive crowdsource mapping tool The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.

Virginia Cinquemani, a coach and Director at Green Gorilla, shares insights from her book 'The Good Communicator' on how to effectively promote sustainability. She discusses overcoming resistance to sustainable practices by understanding human motivations and the importance of co-creation. Virginia emphasizes using pilot projects as a confidence-building tool and highlights the need for tailored communication strategies that resonate with diverse stakeholders. With a focus on engaging communities, she advocates for empathy and collaboration in sustainability efforts.

Join Rosanna Vitiello, Chief at the Place Bureau, and Domenica Landin, Associate Design Researcher, as they dive into engaging communities in shaping their futures. They discuss the Collaborative Place Futures Toolkit, a game-changer for climate adaptation. Expect insights on revitalizing coastal communities facing rising sea levels and an exploration of their book, Natural Futures, on human-nature interactions. With a focus on collaboration, the duo emphasizes inclusive design, cultural influences, and innovative resilience strategies for thriving urban spaces.

Register for the webinar on 25 April: Nature-led Masterplanning with EcoResponsive EnvironmentsThis podcast is a re-upload of my conversation with Prachi Rampuria and Soham De of EcoResponsive Environments from October 2024. We talk about their approach to designing sustainable and resilient new places based on natural systems.I'll be hosting a free webinar with Prachi and Soham on 25 April on this topic.- - - Subscribe to the Green Urbanist Newsletter Work Together Get in touch Urban Wilding Hub GatherMap - Interactive crowdsource mapping tool The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.

Chris Fitch, a writer and geographer, discusses his upcoming book, Wild Cities, shedding light on urban environments that embrace nature. He shares fascinating case studies from around the world, including Tallinn's pollinator corridors, Tokyo's mini forests, and Flagstaff's efforts to preserve its night sky for astronomy. Fitch emphasizes the importance of urban biodiversity, community collaborations, and the health benefits that nature brings to city life, advocating for a harmonious coexistence between urban areas and their wild counterparts.

Stephen Mason, Community Parks Officer at Cheltenham Borough Council, discusses exciting urban rewilding projects that transform cityscapes into vibrant green spaces. He highlights the importance of community engagement, illustrating how initiatives like wildflower meadows and orchards not only enhance biodiversity but also foster a connection with nature. Stephen emphasizes collaboration among local authorities and residents, showcasing practical strategies for improving urban landscapes and inspiring a shared commitment to conservation and sustainability.

Discover a free tool that predicts the climate for 520 major cities in 2050, empowering urban designers to plan for the future. Learn about important research on climate scenarios and the necessity of preparing urban areas for upcoming challenges. The conversation highlights the significance of adaptation strategies to combat the effects of climate change. Get insights on how cities can become more sustainable and resilient in a warming world.

My guests on this episode are Ian Russell and Jamie Kukadia from the watercourses team at London Borough of Enfield. We discuss:'Rewilding Enfield' - rewilding urban streets, parks and rivers.Nature-based flood resilience and sustainable drainage versus traditional engineering.Reintroducing beavers to London.The benefits of conservation livestock grazing in parks and green belt.Advice for others who want to take an urban rewilding approach.Learn more about the Enfield beaversLearn more about the conservation grazing projectThis is part 3 of the Urban Rewilding series.Listen to part 1 here: #102: (WILD) Rewilding Urban Parks with Lost Species - Sean McCormack, Ealing Beaver ProjectListen to part 2 here: #105: (WILD) Wilding the City, with Sophie Thompson (LDA Design)- - - Subscribe to the Green Urbanist Newsletter Work Together Get in touch Urban Wilding Hub GatherMap - Interactive crowdsource mapping tool The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.

In this episode I share 4 tips for effectively communicating about sustainability and climate change with a variety of audiences like clients, collaborators and the public. The four strategies I share are:Start with empathy and tailor your message to the audience.Lead with a positive narrative.Make it tangible and relevant.Don't preach. Co-create and facilitate.Research paper I mention: Bastin et al (2019) Understanding climate change from a global analysis of city analogues En-Roads Climate SimulatorNeed help crafting the vision and narrative for your project? Get in touch to see how I can help: Book a Discovery Call - - - Subscribe to the Green Urbanist Newsletter Work Together Get in touch Urban Wilding Hub GatherMap - Interactive crowdsource mapping tool The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.