Introduction
The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment & Robert Gordon University, in
association with Aberdeen City Council, have arranged for the "Centre to Edge,
an Urban Design Summer School", which held in Aberdeen from 25—27 August,
2009.This unique event took place over the course of three stimulating days,
demonstrate tools for effective place-making to help equip participants to play
a leadership role in meeting some of the key urban challenges of the coming
decade.The enduringly successful principles of traditional town-building have
been considered in relation to current issues of climate change, traffic and
transport, integrated land uses and new building typologies.
Teaching through Practice
In addition to a strong academic component, the Summer School employed a model
of 'teaching through practice' to address two different contexts within the City
of Aberdeen boundary using a condensed version of The Prince's Foundation's
widely recognised Enquiry by Design process.
One site covers the city centre and will address issues of restructuring and
reclamation of the public realm, whilst a second site will consider the planning
and integration of new sustainable neighbourhoods at the urban edge, in
readiness for anticipated growth beyond the current downturn.
Speakers/Tutors
Speakers includedDr William Brogden, an architect and author and an authority on
the architectural history of Aberdeen. The Summer School has closed with an
evening Civic Reception at the Town House of Aberdeen.The design projects has
been led by Ray Gindroz, Principal Emeritus of Urban Design Associates, and Ben
Bolgar, Director of Design Theory and Networks at The Prince's Foundation.
Participants
The Summer School has attracted students, architects and landscape architects,
planners and urban designers from the public and private sectors, planning and
property consultants, private developers and house builders and community groups.
Academic and Cultural Exchange Program,
Prince’s Foundation for Built
Environment PFBE has managed to secure three funding opportunities for number of
Egyptian students in 2009 to join the Aberdeen Urban Design Summer School
between 24th- 28th of August 2009. The
training event was organized by The Prince’s Foundation for the Built
Environment & Robert Gordon University (School of Architecture & Built
Environment), in association with Aberdeen City Council. Admission fees, train
round-tickets between London and Aberdeen are both sponsored by the
International Programs of PFBE; directed by Mr Hooper Brooks. PFBE has also
covered the expenses of the students’ accommodation during the summer school
days. Three weeks before the summer school, students have visited the Prince’s
Foundation headquarters in London and had a tour around the organisation and its
different schools/departments.