Spaces of Democracy: How do we design for debate and participation?
Date: 12 June 2017
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Venue: Future Cities Catapult
Speakers: Susanna Lumsden (Chair), Accommodation Manager,
House of Commons
Prof. Matthew Flinders, University of Sheffield
Dr. Henrik Schoenefeldt, Senior Lecturer, University of Kent
David Mulder van der Vegt, Partner, XML

MoA’s thematic programming on Architecture and Citizenship explores the relationship between politics and the built environment with the aim of helping architects become active agents of social change.

The Palace of Westminster is currently undergoing a significant Restoration and Renewal programme that aims to preserve the building for the future, while also making the Parliament more accessible for all. Can architects and designers contribute to make the Parliament more open? What are the spaces of democracy? How do we design for participation, political and civic engagement? Starting from the current debates around Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal programme, this talk will aim to understand what is the role of preserving traditional spaces of democratic representation, while also structuring a more open and direct engagement with political processes in society.