To be held at venues across Bath including The Edge Thursday 19th October – Saturday 21st October 2017

 

Exciting arts and creativity hub, The Edge will host three days of talks, walks and workshops across the city centre looking at urban development in the 21st Century.  With a focus on the complexities of a place like Bath, a city similar to Venice with UNESCO world heritage status, how should cities reinvigorate their character and economy when looking to the future?

Thanks to the master planning of John Wood Senior and Junior in the 19th Century, Bath could rightly claim to be one of the UK’s first future cities.  But could it really make that claim today? Is there a city in the UK, or in the world that can?

The Utopian City

Thursday 19th October, 3pm-9pm, Various locations Events suggesting how utopian thinking could develop our cities, and what utopian aspects are already in place. Including ‘Walking Utopia’ a walk around Bath with writer and critic Owen Hatherley – author of A Guide To The New Ruins Of Great Britain and an evening of PechaKucha presentations on ‘Liveable Cities’.

 

Whose City Is It?

Friday 20th October, 1pm-6.30pm, Assembly Rooms Bath Taking in the complexities of a place like Bath we look at the local question of future city. What are the best ways to develop an ecosystem for all to contribute economically, and benefit by return? Is public space an answer? Explore the challenges of preserving architectural heritage whilst creating new buildings and welcoming new populations with leading architect Alison Brooks’ (Bath Western Riverside housing scheme), Henrietta Billings, Director of SAVE Britain’s Heritage, Andrew Vines of Historic England, Jim Heverin, Director at Zaha Hadid Architects and more.

 

The Creative City Saturday

21st October, 12.30pm-5.30pm, The Edge What makes a city a great place to live? Explore global radical housing solutions, the city as artistic inspiration and 21st Century design. Speakers during the day include Stuart Woods (Thomas Heatherwick Studio, Garden Bridge project) Anna Minton (Big Capital), Alex Vasudevan (The Autonomous City), The Design Museum’s Justin McGuirk and artist Rut Blees Luxemburg a photographer and installation artist focusing on urban space.

 

Talks will include:

Owen Hatherley – Architecture and Utopia (A Walk in the City of Bath) Thursday 19th October, 3pm-5pm, Bath A unique walk around Bath on the trail of architecture and utopia.

 

Ken Loach Friday 20th October, 7.30pm-8.30pm, Bath Assembly Rooms Ken Loach presents his vision for the city of Bath, his home for many years.