Heavyweight
partners on board for Yorkshire's 2003 urban regeneration forum
Regional development agency Yorkshire Forward
and English Heritage are adding their support to a visionary forum of
key players involved in Yorkshire’s regeneration.
Planning is underway for the third series,
4x4 Making Places
2003 that
entails a series of four presentations taking place over a four-week
period in March at the Leeds Metropolitan University School of Architecture
starting at 6pm.
The series, which is free of charge and open to everyone, has grown
from strength to strength since being initiated by Ian Tod of Allen
Tod Architecture in 2001.It is supported by local and national organisations
including the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Yorkshire.
Participants for the 2003 forum hail from a wide range of professions,
with even more members of the public set to join the stimulating debate
that focuses on creating quality places in which people in Yorkshire
live, work and play.
Commented David Fraser, Yorkshire Regional Director of English Heritage
who are taking part for the first time: "In the 21st century, the
re-making of the historic cities and towns of Yorkshire is an exciting
challenge. It is very important that professional ideas and expertise
are shared amongst the whole audience provided by
4x4."
The popular event will kick off on March 6 with the theme ‘Except
the English’ which looks at housing in towns and cities and will
be chaired by the Director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Lord Richard
Best (OBE).
The session on March 13 called ‘Attraction’ examines the ability
of places to attract visitors and population, and will include presentations
on the city of York and on The Deep attraction in Hull. A regional perspective
will be presented by Heather Hancock Head of Property at Yorkshire Forward.
The third presentation on March 20, chaired by Robert Powell, Executive
Director of Public Arts, is ‘Public Domain’ and concentrates
on the quality of public spaces with contributions from artists, designers,
engineers and policy makers.
The fourth and final session on March 27 will be based around the ‘Renaissance
Towns’ initiative of Yorkshire Forward Chaired by Terry Hodgkinson,
Managing Director of Magna Holdings Ltd. Speakers will include Kelvin
Cambell of Urban Initiatives, Councillor Steve Houghton, Leader of Barnsley
Council and a member of one of the ‘Town Teams’, who will
deliver a presentation on Yorkshire Forward’s Renaissance Towns
project.
Series founder Ian Tod is optimistic that the 2003 series looks set
to further raise the level of debate while stimulating and challenging
both participants and audience.
"Creating quality towns and cities requires openness and co-operation
from all involved. The 4x4
series provides a unique and dynamic partnership for people to hear
the views of those who are actively engaged in delivering change and
improvements. We expect the 2003 event to be the best yet and are looking
forward to the lively discussions and thought-provoking debate."
Regional Director of the RIBA, Emma England, said: "The success
of 4x4
highlights the level of commitment from the wide-ranging disciplines
that come together and debate issues related to architecture, urban
design and regeneration. The RIBA regards 4x4
as an extremely important platform for spearheading productive regional
debate."
Note
to editors
In January 2001, Ian Tod of Allen Tod Architecture, aware that much
of the quality work being done in Yorkshire was largely invisible and
unknown, set out to widen the debate on creating quality places in which
people live, work and play. He invited 16 regional architectural practices
to share a common platform in the first 4x4
Making Our Cities initiative at the
Leeds Metropolitan University School of Architecture.
The popularity of the venture, and the stimulating debate it provoked
from contributors and members of the public substantially widened the
focus for the 2002 event. Participants extended to developers, engineers,
council representatives and the media. The series brought a substantial
increase in the number of members of the public who turned up to contribute
to the debate that seeks to bring about a step change in the quality
of Yorkshire’s towns and cities.