Young Urbanist Present: Post Pandemic, New World?

@wandscycling

Date: Wednesday 4th May 2022
Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: The Gallery, 77 Cowcross Street (via end of the Courtyard) EC1M 6EL

During the Pandemic, we experienced a number of temporary interventions taking place in London's streets and public spaces, mostly reducing car traffic in favour of people walking and cycling, and other daily activities that moved outdoors. From temporary cycle lanes and car-free streets to outdoor dining and more holistic low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) schemes, road space has been repurposed for activities that do not only prioritise movement.

As we're transitioning into the Post Pandemic era, there are conflicting directions on the future of these interventions - as illustrated by the removal of some cycle lanes, LTNs or car-free streets. On the other hand and depending on their success and uptake, some interventions have moved on from temporary to permanent. 

There is no denying the debates around those interventions have been at times passionate and presented as highly polarising amongst members of the public, leading to public campaigns in favour or against.

Join us for a reflection and overview of these trends and a discussion on the future of London's streets and public spaces with guest speakers Julie Plichon and Odysseas Diakakis, the evening will conclude with a Q&A session.

Julie Plichon is a Young Urbanist steering committee member, an urban planner and a designer with 6 years of experience working in the built environment in London. She graduated with an MSc in Urban Design and City Planning from the Bartlett School of Planning, UCL, and has an MA in Public Policy, Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from Sciences Po Bordeaux, France. 

Her interest lies in street design, public spaces, active travel and sustainable urbanism. For over four years she has worked as a public servant for the London Borough of Islington as Inclusive Design Officer, and since June 2021 as Interim Programme Manager for the people-friendly streets programme of low traffic and liveable neighbourhoods and School Streets. She also tutors at the Bartlett School of Planning, UCL.

Odysseas Diakakis is a Senior Urban Designer in Prior+Partners with ten years of working experience in Architecture and Urban Design. He has been working on a wide range of projects from small squares to complex masterplans in the UK and abroad. 

His interest lies in shaping places with a focus on the future users, while he promotes collaboration between different teams and disciplines. 

Along with his work, he has been actively engaged with educational programs (NLA, UCL) and he is currently a guest lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University.