Welcome to the Recap - a short weekly update blog from Architecture and Design Scotland. This is based on our internal blog that is shared with staff and board members on Fridays. This blog is for the week commencing 1 July.
Outdoor Learning Hub
This week it was great the see the Outdoor Learning Hub at Queen Margaret University being used for a special ceremony to award Juliet Robertson, one of Scotland’s leading educators specialising in outdoor learning and play, with an honorary degree.
Juliet, who is known throughout the education profession as a trailblazer for outdoor learning and play for children and young people, was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Education in recognition of her significant contribution to learning.
The oration was pre-recorded and delivered at one of QMU’s graduation ceremonies held in the Usher Hall on 2nd July. Juliet recorded a wonderful oration response which was played at the graduation ceremony and heard by hundreds of new graduates, including future teachers and educators.
Further information on Juliet and her life’s work can be found in the attached article, which also includes a link to her inspiring oration response which I would encourage you all to watch:
https://www.qmu.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2024/20240702-outdoor-learning-trailblazer-juliet-robertson-awarded-honorary-degree-by-queen-margaret-university/
Key Agencies Group and Highland Council
Our work with the Key Agencies Group assisting local authorities to create their new, more place-focused, Local Development Plans (LDPs) continues. This week Danny McKendry and Heather Claridge caught up with Highland Council as part the planning for the Caithness Area Mapping and Analysis workshops scheduled for Thurso for later in August.
Highlighting the Value of Design
27 June saw the launch of our Value of Design campaign to highlight the vital role that design plays in creating successful places across Scotland and the value of good design.
The campaign has already received good engagement with our social media channels and click throughs to our website. We are already planning further interviews and case studies and would encourage everyone to share our social media posts to help increase the campaign’s reach.
A lorra, lorra architecture
As school holiday season is now upon us, Danny McKendry took an early busman’s holiday to lovely Liverpool. Here's what he found:
"We took in the magnificent sights of the Albert Docks, the twin Cathedrals in the Georgian quarter, as well as enjoying a ‘magical mystery tour’ around the former haunts of Cilla and the Fab Four!
What was really evident was that identity and strong place branding were being championed in the city and is having a huge impact in attracting people and inward investment. This is manifesting itself in the confident juxtaposition of bold new buildings alongside the many historic landmarks.
When down in Liverpool we gleaned a few medals on the fiddle at the All-Britain competition, so are now heading to the World Championships in Ireland in August.”
Thank you Danny and well done all McKendrys!
Until next time
Coming up...
This month we look forward to a meeting about the Our Place website, planning for our upcoming Place Forum event in September, our latest sponsor catch-up and hopefully some long overdue summer sun.