City happiness

Monday 15th September
The built environment: Can the state design happiness?

Liberal Democrat Conference 2008 - Bournemouth

13:00 - 14:00
Clifton Suite, Hermitage Hotel

Over the last fifty years the percentage of people in the developed world who say that they are happy with life has stayed constant whereas their financial wealth has increased enormously. What influence do the places in which we live and work have on our well-being? This panel event sought to question if we can really ‘build happiness’. Could an increased design focus in planning and housing policies for instance, ensure that millions of new houses increase people’s fundamental happiness?

Panellists included contributors to the RIBA’s think tank Building Futures latest publication “Happiness in the Built Environment” which features writing by prominent architects, politicians and design experts well as psychologists, broadcasters and engineers.

Speakers and panel: Speakers to include: Lembit Opik (Shadow Housing Minister), Richard Younger Ross MP (Shadow Minister for DCMS), Sunand Prasad (President, RIBA), Catherine Fieschi (Senior Associate, DEMOS), Angela Greatley, (Chief Executive, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health)

Chair: details to follow

For more information about this event, please contact:
David Plaisant at The Royal Institute of British Architects
Tel: 020 7307 3740

Monday 22nd September
The built environment: Can the state design happiness?

Labour Party Conference 2008 - Manchester

17:45-18:45
Manchester Suite, IoD Hub

Over the last fifty years the percentage of people in the developed world who say that they are happy with life has stayed constant whereas their financial wealth has increased enormously. What influence do the places in which we live and work have on our well-being? This panel event sought to question if we can really ‘build happiness’. Could an increased design focus in planning and housing policies for instance, ensure that millions of new houses increase people’s fundamental happiness?

Panellists included contributors to the RIBA’s think tank Building Futures latest publication “Happiness in the Built Environment” which features writing by prominent architects, politicians and design experts well as psychologists, broadcasters and engineers.

Speakers and panel: Iain Wright MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DCLG), Tom Bloxham MBE (Urban Splash), Phil Redmond (Deputy Chair, Liverpool Capital of Culture 08), Sunand Prasad (President, RIBA)

Chair: Jeremy Vine (Editor, Times Public Agenda)

For more information about this event, please contact:
David Plaisant at The Royal Institute of British Architects
Tel: 020 7307 3740

Monday 29th September
The built environment: Can the state design happiness?

Conservative Conference 2008 - Birmingham

17:45-18:45
Meeting Room 2&3, Birmingham City Inn

Over the last fifty years the percentage of people in the developed world who say that they are happy with life has stayed constant whereas their financial wealth has increased enormously. What influence do the places in which we live and work have on our well-being? This panel event sought to question if we can really ‘build happiness’. Could an increased design focus in planning and housing policies for instance, ensure that millions of new houses increase people’s fundamental happiness?

Panellists included contributors to the RIBA’s think tank Building Futures latest publication “Happiness in the Built Environment” which features writing by prominent architects, politicians and design experts well as psychologists, broadcasters and engineers.

Speakers and panel: Ed Vaizey MP (Shadow Culture Secretary), Ben Page (IPSOS Mori), Nic Marks (Associate, new economics foundation)

Chair: Sunand Prasad (RIBA President)

For more information about this event, please contact:
David Plaisant at The Royal Institute of British Architects
Tel: 020 7307 3740