Cafeteria design can get children to eat healthier
While a growing body of research suggests that small changes to a school environment can help reduce childhood obesity and improve nutrition, 80 percent of school-aged children still fall short of national dietary guidelines for...Read more
Building cities for a changing climate
Our cities are responsible for a large chunk of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, so the way we plan and construct them has to adapt to the future impacts of climate change. Worldwide, buildings are responsible...Read more
Implementing child-friendly policies in Latin American cities
Irene Quintáns is a force to be reckoned with. She is on a crusade helping cities across Latin America implement child-friendly policies. Aside from her passion, a key part of her success is her ability to...Read more
Including children in designing post-conflict environments
The value of a child’s role in designing a post-conflict environment cannot be overstated. So believes architect Nerea AmorĂłs Elorduy, who will be sharing some of her ideas and insights when she presents at the Child...Read more
The city of Athens as learning environment and field of action
Natalia Bazaiou and Anastasia Noukaki live and practice architecture in Athens. Together they run architecture and city workshops for children focusing on their relationship with the urban environment using participatory design methods. In this special...Read more
Architects reactivate space through play
Underused public spaces in Mexico City are to be reimagined by the winners of an innovative ‘Urban Toys’ competition to find the most playful designs. Karina Zatarain reports How can play areas in cities open up new ways to...Read more
Defending the right to play – through research, policy and design
Anticipating our international seminar on children’s play in the urban environment, which starts on Monday 6 November, keynote speaker Dr. Sukanya Krishnamurthy talks about the importance of interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration for spatial planning to become more...Read more
After Grenfell, architects should lead child friendly housing reform
In the wake of the the Grenfell Tower disaster in London, architect Dinah Bornat argues that people-centred designs have been neglected by systemised and profit driven developments. She calls for a return to planning policies...Read more
Adrift in the city without a map
For the child living with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), the urban landscape can be an alienating, frightening environment. Keith McAllister and Neil Galway of Queen’s University, Belfast, argue that planners and architects must rise to...Read more
How do you build the perfect space for children in the city?
Designing the best cities for children involves recognising their right to play as well as learn, says groundbreaking kindergarten architect Takaharu Tezuka. This article by the Guardian’s Libby Brooks looks at his approach. Whether it’s the Radical...Read more