AoU Journal - Here & Now - January 2023

Welcome to the January 2023 edition of Here & Now, the Journal of The Academy of Urbanism.

In this issue we are sad to announce the passing of John Thompson, founder and Honorary President of the Academy. We will be preparing a special edition of Here and Now with memories of John, so please let us know if you would like to contribute.

Also in this edition we explore how Lima is tackling its congestion with Julie Plichon, and Giovanni Zayas of the World Bank. We also hear from Kelcey Wilson-Lee about a change of emphasis at the Architectural Heritage Fund. There is a report on this year’s awards with a sonnet from Ignacio Jáuregui Real in Málaga inspired by Ian MacMillan. Francis Newton reviews the Great Place Category and in future editions we will review the other shortlisted places. We have a multiple book reviews from Nicholas Falk exploring how we bring about change, plus Andreas Markides on what philosophy can tell us about garden cities.

All this plus four new ARTplaces and eight MyPlaces curated by John Mullin.   

ARTICLES

In memory of John Thompson, 1944 – 2022
We are hugely saddened to learn of the passing of John Thompson, after a long illness.

Lima Superblocks
The coastal Peruvian capital is renowned for both its gastronomy and its congestion. Following a recent trip to Lima, Julie Plichon and Giovanni Zayas reflect on the power of active travel in urbanism.

Communities and Historic Buildings
The Architectural Heritage Fund is changing. Kelcey Wilson-Lee describes its change of focus from aesthetics and the celebration of ‘great men’, to the role historic buildings can play in supporting communities.   

AWARDS

The Urbanism Awards
A review of this year’s awards including all the winners and shortlisted places plus a sonnet by Ignacio Jáuregui Real from Málaga

Great Places
Francis Newton reviews the three places assessed for the great places award all of which have been regenerated since our awards were initiated.

ARTPLACE

ROGANO
Fiona Gibson - Author

When the East of the Day Meets the West of the Night
Yuge Zhou - Artist

After Paul Dmoch
Fernando Silva - Architect

Kinderdijk
Marcia Whitney-Schenck -Author

MYPLACE

Washington Arts Centre
Kim McDermottroe - Artist

Woodberry Wetlands, Hackney, London
Leo Hammond - Urban Design Associate Director, Project Centre.

Riva di Solto, Italy
Victoria Thornton OBE HonFRIBA - Founder, Inspire Future Generations/Thornton Education Trust.

Dalston Hall Holiday Park & Golf Club, Cumbria
Kelly Holder MA RCA - Car Designer

The Crescent WMC, York
Professor John Schofield - Archaeologist, Lecturer and Part-time DJ

Caravan, Harrogate
Jake Thompson - Architect

Spitalfield, London
Chris Dyson - Architect

Annandale Distillery, Scotland
Andrew Nicolson - Cask Custodian

NEWS & REVIEW

Changing Course
With so many problems that we face, the question is not what to do, but how to make it happen. Nicholas Falk reviews a series of books that show how, and just as importantly how not to change course.

OPINION

Cornucopia
Our resident philosopher Andreas Markides explores the myth of the Horn of Plenty and the lessons it holds for garden cities.

The AoU Journal is sponsored by Space Syntax