Humanise.org

Planning for Healthier Communities! Planning reform is a hot topic during these early days of the new UK Government. With ambitious plans to build 1.5m new homes, it’s right to consult on one of the most significant policy areas that can unlock and turbocharge the nation’s need for new homes. The Humanise Campaign has used the consultation as an opportunity to urge the Government to restate the purpose of planning. Britain's planning system was originally set up in 1947 to tackle a public health crisis, and people's health & wellbeing remains at the very heart of what planning is for. It’s not just a numbers game, or an infrastructure challenge. It’s not just about economic growth. It's about responding to human needs and protecting the planet. From a Humanise perspective, it follows that the NPPF should focus on people, as much as place, and we would like to strengthen the social objective of planning, expressed in paragraph 8b in Section 2, which is pretty loosely defined at the moment. We also think there needs to be a much better understanding of the impact of new development on public health. Specifically, we’d like to see explicit reference to two ideas in Section 8: (a) emotion as a function of design: the idea that how a building makes you feel is fundamental to its design. (b) the importance of 'necessary visual complexity': the idea that every new building that is visible to the public, regardless of its style, should offer some degree of visual interest, because of the impact this has on people’s mental health and behaviours. There’s an emerging body of research on this which you can find here: https://lnkd.in/e3G-SFCD. Both of these 'humanise principles' contribute fundamentally to the quality of individual buildings and to people’s health and wellbeing.  With health inequalities ever growing across the country, we need to go back to first principles and make sure this next version of the NPPF plays its role in improving the nation’s health. Later in the autumn, the Humanise Campaign will publish its first policy paper. Make sure you’re signed up ( https://lnkd.in/eqbB_36J ) to receive it in your inbox. Tibbalds Hilary Satchwell Patrick Diamond Jack Shaw Jay Morton Chris Hogwood Jasmine Amber Basran Katja Stille Matilda Agace Nicola Steuer Amy Tarr Joanna Averley Sowmya Parthasarathy Laura Percy Karen Daye Kristy Lansdown Sarah Allan Pete Gladwell Alex Ely Nazeya Hussain Kate Henderson Rhys Moore Leanne Tritton Helen Fadipe MBE, MRTPI David Joyce Michael Meadows Citu #housing #planning #architecture #building #planners #urbanplanning #health

It's the end of a busy old week as we celebrate a year of Humanise.org. To round it off, I thought we'd publish a summary of the campaign's Theory of Change which we've developed with the brilliant support of Sheila McKechnie Foundation. In this article, Sue Tibballs, OBE and I reflect on the campaign journey so far, and the work we've done to design a strategy that we believe has the best chance of success, when it comes to creating a more joyful, engaging and sustainable world. This is version 1.0 and, as we engage with partners and allies over the next year, I am sure this will evolve. Would love to know your thoughts! Thanks to Matt Bell, the wider Heatherwick studio team and all the partners, allies and activists we've been speaking to over the past 6 months who've helped shaped our thinking. Special shout out to Olga Rienda who did the beautiful design! Excited about what's to come next!

We’re thrilled to join the Humanise.org Campaign alongside trailblazers like Citu and Loughborough University, challenging the norms of lifeless, wasteful buildings and championing designs that give back to people and the planet. To create more joyful, engaging buildings, the Humanise Campaign applies its Humanise Principles to every development: 👉 Designing with emotion: Buildings that connect with people and respond to their needs 👉 Visual complexity: Building facades that engage and intrigue passersby 👉 1,000-year thinking: Ensuring structures are built to last 👉 Public conversation: Actively involving communities in how buildings look and feel As Abigail Scott Paul, Global Head of Humanise, puts it: “Bywater is helping to lead the way in creating buildings that truly serve communities.

Two NEW developers are joining the Humanise Campaign! 💥 On the week of our #OneYearofHumanise anniversary, we’re excited to announce that Bywater Properties and Are You? are the latest developers to support the Humanise Campaign ✨ The new partners join a rapidly growing coalition including Citu, Universidad EAN and Loughborough University to create more joyful and engaging cities! 🤝 Together we’ll work to redefine how buildings are built, and cities are designed to support physical and mental health, and provide everyone with moments of joy and inspiration. Let’s go! 🏠 #humanise #cities #city #street #door #architecture #lovearchitecture #buildings #building #buildinglover #buildingdesign #planner #developer #buildingdevelopers

Celebrating one year of Humanise ❤️ Listen to Thomas Heatherwick’s reflections on the one year milestone of the campaign, find out what’s next and what YOU can do too! ✨ #Humanise #Humaniseoneyear

Celebrating one year of the Humanise Campaign! From city streets to quiet corners, we’ve been on a mission to bring people together and spark meaningful conversations around interesting (and boring) buildings. We’ve witnessed incredible moments of connection and understanding as people celebrate shared experiences and differences. Whether admiring architecture or striking up a conversation on our talk tours! Join us in reflecting on the impact we’ve made together this coming week. Stay tuned to our social media for memories, messages, and more. Thank you for being a part of the Humanise movement… so far! #HumaniseOneYear

Looking forward to talking about Humanise.org in #Leeds today as part of the 25 year anniversary celebrations of Yorkshire and Humber Association of Civic Societies. Very fitting as it’s the campaign’s and book’s first birthday today! 🎂 Thanks to Martin Hamilton of Leeds Civic Trust for the invitation!

I just read Humanise by Thomas Heatherwick - Heatherwick studio in a single day—nearly 500 pages—and couldn’t put it down. I frankly can’t remember the last time a book drew me in like this. After meeting Heatherwick personally recently and being struck by his cordiality and thoughtfulness, I was curious to explore his work and ideas. His reflections on architecture, especially on how it’s taught in academia, articulated ideas I’ve felt but never fully expressed. If you’re interested in design and its impact on people, I highly recommend this book.

Last night, I had the privilege of joining the Heatherwick studio and the Humanise.org team at the Stirling Prize Award Ceremony. A great table of anti-siloed thinkers, positive disruptors and importantly action takers!   Being part of such a prestigious event not only highlighted to me the power and importance of architectural excellence, but it reminded me how crucial the human experience is at the heart of every design.   At Humanise.org the mission is to create spaces and buildings that truly connect people—emotionally and physically, through interest and joy. As the first developer to join the Humanise.org campaign we believe fully that design is not just about aesthetics or function, but about places that elevate well-being and human interaction. The status quo will not solve the climate, housing, boring or social challenges which the future faces. We need to be bold and we need to act, last night gave me a view of what bold, collaboration will achieve! We believe that this generation is the last one that can be the solution and have lots and lots of fun doing it along the way. It shouldn’t and doesn’t need to cost more to create interesting, people focused places it just needs hard work, ‘less but better thinking’ at pace.   Thanks Matt Bell Abigail Scott Paul See you all soon. Eliot Postma Georgia Hutchinson Jasmine Amber Basran Theodore Michell Kwajo Tweneboa Laura Percy Alison Dowsett

Funky flooring caught my attention while I learned something pretty profound. It’s courageous to put a 10-year plan to a personal vision and ask your peers to muck about in the beginning process with you. Yet here we were, beautifully coordinated by Abigail Scott Paul and Matt Bell to play with the Humanise campaign as we saw fit. Sure, there were boundaries and instructions. But the Heatherwick team, and Thomas himself, invited people who will challenge them to speak directly, and clearly, into the mic. Some were on stage, some got to scribble and speak. It’s an honour to watch people putting words into action and to help shape a tiny part of what might happen next Incredible insights from experts and activists Sue Tibballs, OBE - Kwajo Tweneboa - Colin Ellard - Cleo Valentine - Rebecca Madgin, University of Glasgow - Saidul Haque Saeed - Katherine Sladden & Ella Thorns.