CABE Space announces 2009 design skills scholars

Five CABE Space scholars will travel abroad this summer to study topics as diverse as social housing scheme green spaces, urban community food projects and wasteland under motorway flyovers.

The five have been awarded travel scholarships in CABE Space’s second annual design skills programme. None has formal design training, but each wants to learn how a well-designed space can benefit the community so they can apply it to their work in the UK.

The scholarships will include visits to successful projects abroad and an exploration of the design and delivery process.  The programme builds on the success of last year’s programme which gave scholars the opportunity to learn from design excellence in Europe, America and Japan.

Sarah Gaventa, Director of CABE Space said:

‘This year’s scholars have chosen some really exciting areas to investigate. I’m confident they will share their knowledge and learning on their return to make a real difference to the quality of our public realm, just like last year’s scholars have done.

‘One of the 2008 scholars has used findings from her trip to New York to shape the delivery of the Lea River Park. It will now include a micro park with a community board, an ‘adopt the river’ scheme and educational opportunities for local schools.’

Highways Agency manager Neil Hansen will learn how wasted space under motorways can be put to community use. He will visit public art projects and skate parks built under elevated freeways in Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington.

Pamela Smith, horticulturist for Lantra and English Heritage, will visit local communities in the USA and Canada to learn how cultivating food can inform the design of urban space and look for new ways to introduce urban food initiatives into public green spaces.  

Noel Murphy, a landscape manager for social housing provider Places for People, will travel to Germany, Sweden, France, Denmark and Holland. He will explore the link between green spaces and community cohesion through visiting social housing schemes.

Penny Wilson, a playworker from London, will study adventure playgrounds in Amsterdam and across the UK, and teacher Nancy O’Brien, will visit the Netherlands and Germany to look at the use of public space to deliver and influence cultural and creative learning for children.

Notes to editors

• To find out more about the CABE Space scholars programme visit www.cabe.org.uk/scholarships
• Scholarships will be made in the form of grants to cover travel and living expenses for the period of study. Trips will last approximately six weeks.  
• The scholars were chosen by a panel of judges and had to propose their own study programme which was developed with help from a CABE mentor.  
• The scholarships judging panel included Sarah Gaventa, Director, CABE Space; Mike Loveday, Chief Executive, Heritage Economic & Regeneration Trust (HEART) and Chair of Living Streets; Steve Smith, Parks Manager, Oldham Borough Council and Patricia Brown , Chief Executive, Central London Partnership. 
• CABE is the government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space. As a public body, we encourage policymakers to create places that work for people. We help local planners apply national design policy and offer expert advice to developers and architects. We show public sector clients how to commission buildings that meet the needs of their users. And we seek to inspire the public to demand more from their buildings and spaces. Advising, influencing and inspiring, we work to create well-designed, welcoming places. www.cabe.org.uk
• CABE Space is a unit within CABE aiming to bring excellence to the design, management and maintenance of parks and public space in our towns and cities.