The Architecture Centre

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• Kent Architecture Centre
• Barry Shaw MBE, Chief Executive
• South East England Regional Assembly Select
  Committee on Urban Renaissance
• London 14 September 2004

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• the architecture centre
• is a company limited by guarantee, independent,
  neutral, not-for-profit, and works between the
  private and public sector
• is based in Chatham, in the Historic Dockyard
• was founded in 1996
• Core funding from SEEDA, CABE, ACE, KCC and
  Medway.

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• the architecture centre
• aims to bring about qualitative improvement in
  the built environment of the South East Region
  through working with built environment
  practitioners, decision-makers and the community.

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• Good design- its not just about aesthetic
  improvement of our environment
• Its also about
• Improved quality of life
• Equality of opportunity
• Economic growth
• Long term sustainability

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Public attitudes to Architecture and the Built
Environment- CABE survey Sept 2002
81 people are interested in how the built
environment looks and feels
the architecture centre
85 people agree that better quality buildings
and public open spaces improve the quality of
life
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Public attitudes to Architecture and the Built
Environment- CABE survey Sept 2002
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• Public attitudes to Architecture and the Built
  Environment- CABE survey Sept 2002
• Good urban design
• Adds value to property
• Attracts investment
• Improves social cohesion
• Makes for safer places
• Creates places that people want to be in
• Encourages cycle and pedestrian use
• Makes better use of land

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• Where SEEDA adds value
• Improving the competitiveness of the south east
  by supporting design excellence
• Strong partnerships and expertise
• Leadership and promotion of design quality
• Developing a regional network
• Regional Design Champions Club
• Education Training
• South East Regional Design Panel
• South East Excellence
• Development exemplars

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Developing a regional network

• the architecture centre (KAC)
• solent centre for architecture design (scad)
• South East Centre for the Built Environment
  (SECBE)
• An architecture centre for the north of the
  region?

SECBE
KAC
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scad
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the architecture centre
Working with officer and member champions across
the region
The SE Design Champions Club
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Delivery of good design via the planning system..
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Training for councillors and decision-makers
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Assessment and development of significant schemes
through informed critique..
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SE Regional Design Panel
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• Developing a regional network
• South East Excellence- new regional centre of
  excellence
• Built environment- cross-disciplinary- skills
  development
• Partners
• SEEDA, SEERA, GOSE
• KAC, scad, SECBE
• RIBA, RTPI, RICS, CIOB, CIC
• Arts Council England, South East
• Housing Corporation
• SE Public Health Group
• English Partnerships
• cabe, ODPM..

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• SEEDA What could be improved?
• Leadership on design quality throughout the
  system
• Design Focus within SEEDA
• Greater availability of expertise
• Delivery resources
• Concerns
• Lack of joined up thinking between all the
  agencies
• Funding complexity

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www.architecturecentre.org
the architecture centre