Green Capital 2015: City ideas studio

To celebrate Bristol European Green Capital 2015, from 1 May 2015 until April 2016, the Architecture Centre is becoming a ‘City Ideas Studio’.

The ‘City Ideas Studio’ is part of a year-long programme for people from all parts of the city to come together and explore solutions for a sustainable future through exhibitions, workshops, talks and events.

The built environment is fundamental to environmental sustainability

One of a small number of projects to be awarded a Strategic Grant as part of Bristol’s year as European Green Capital, the Architecture Centre will be working with a range of organisations across the city (including grassroots, charities, voluntary groups and business) to create the City Ideas Studio as a catalyst for green ideas and action.

Continuing the Architecture Centre’s partnership with the Department of Architecture and the Built Environment at the University of the West of England (UWE), academics and students will also respond to the five Bristol 2015 themes across the year in the City Ideas Studio.

Christine Davis, Centre Manager, says: “The built environment is fundamental to environmental sustainability. Concerns over future quality of life – for people and the planet – have arisen from what we have built and how we conducted our lives in the past.

“The question of how we design, manage and use our buildings is key, and the Architecture Centre is delighted to have been given this opportunity to work with partners across the city and beyond to explore ideas for more sustainable place-making.”
 
Drawn from the Bristol 2015 themes for European Green Capital year, the Architecture Centre will ask five key questions to demonstrate how the ‘architecture’ or ‘shape’ of a sustainable city is about much more than the buildings we build, and relates as much to food, nature, resources, energy and transport.
The City Ideas Studio will ask:

Food: How and where can we grow more food and eat more healthily in the city?

Nature: How can buildings and places support nature and wellbeing?

Resources: How can the design of the city and its buildings support Bristol’s creative re-use of resources?

Energy: How can the design and use of our buildings help Bristol become the UK’s first city for sustainable energy?

Transport: How can the design of the city encourage active travel and be made available to all?

What can visitors expect to find at the Architecture Centre’s City Ideas Studio?

A year-long anchor exhibition and resource provides a permanent introduction to the Bristol 2015 themes and its close relationship to the built environment.

The ‘studio’ itself designed and built for the programme by Amalgam modelmakers.
Anchor residencies:

The first theme to be explored is Food (1 May to 5 July) and the Architecture Centre is working with organisations that are helping to delivery Bristol’s Good Food Plan that aims to improve Bristol’s access to, provision and enjoyment of food, including groups such as Incredible Edible Bristol.

The Architecture Centre will be working with Avon Wildlife Trust to explore the Nature theme (15 July to 13 September), with subsequent themes as follows:

Resources: 23 September to 8 November; Energy: 18 November to 31 January; Transport: 10 February to 10 April.
Pop-up guests:

A platform for local innovators and grassroots organisations to share work in progress.  Deliberately flexible, the City Ideas Studio will accommodate projects and initiatives that arise as 2015 progresses.

Says Programme Manager, Rob Gregory said: “The Architecture Centre is thrilled to be part of Bristol 2015, and the City Ideas Studio will play a vital role in generating debate and interest in how changes to the city could make a real difference to Bristol’s sustainable future.”
Bristol 2015 Learning programme

Throughout the year the Centre will be delivering My Green City – a Learning and Participation programme with a strong sustainability theme.

My Green City comprises schools workshops, a design competition, a youth participation project, events as part of Bristol Family Arts Festival, and ongoing family activities and events. For more information, visit the Learning section of the Architecture Centre website.

The Architecture Centre’s City Ideas Studio is one of 32 Bristol 2015 Strategic Grant Funded projects, supported by Bristol City Council and the UK Department of Energy & Climate Change.

The City Ideas Studio is also supported by sponsors, Alec French Architects and Rise Structural Engineers.

More information on Bristol 2015