“Good urbanism makes for social cohesion and cultural vitality, inspiring us to greater things”

We have made a mess of town planning over the past 50 years or so and have failed to learn from good observation. This is inexcusable and a major contributor to many of society’s ills. It is all the more inexcusable because the answers are in our own hands and well researched data exists as to the way we react to places and to the relationship between compact development, communication and community. Good architecture does not in itself make for good urbanism, which requires an innate or educated understanding of the quality of place and human behaviour and the humility and intelligence to work closely with local people, politicians and diverse professional disciplines. This is why I put urbanism at the heart of my agenda at the RIBA and why I so welcome the formation of the Academy and all that it stands for in cooperation, education and inspiration, with an emphasis on making great places in which to live, work and play.

George Ferguson, Chairman Acanthus Ferguson Mann Architects

http://www.afm-architects.co.uk  Chairman Acanthus Ferguson Mann Architects
http://www.architecture.com  Past President RIBA
http://www.tobaccofactory.com  Owner of the Tobacco Factory, Bristol
http://www.beyondarchitecture.com Inventor of the X-Listing of bad buildings