Four CABE Space design skills scholars announced for 2010

Four CABE Space scholars will travel abroad this summer to study car-free housing developments; outdoor learning spaces which appeal to children; industrial urban infrastructure and how trees can survive in hard urban landscapes.

The scholarships, which are part of CABE Space’s annual design skills programme, are designed for professionals who have not received any formal design training. They 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, Scandinavia, America and Canada.

Neil Murphy, a 2009 CABE Space scholar learnt about green space in social housing schemes. He has already applied his learning to the design of green space in a 2,500 development in Milton Keynes and a 20,000 strong community in Harlow.

Sarah Gaventa, Director of CABE Space said:

‘The design skills scholarship programme aims to address the lack of formal design training and experience available to people working to shape our public spaces. 

‘This year’s scholars have chosen some really exciting areas to investigate. They will share their knowledge and learning on their return, to make a real difference to the quality of our public realm.’

Rachel Morris, a regeneration officer in Greenwich, will visit industrial infrastructure projects such as railways in France and the USA and explore how high quality design can deliver economic, social and environmental benefits.

Sinead Gilhooly, head of regeneration projects at Stadium Housing Association in London, will visit car-free and car capped housing developments in Europe, Scandinavia and the USA to explore how they can improve the appearance and amenity value of urban streets.

Eleanor Johnson, a parks development officer for the London Borough of Hackney, will travel to the USA and Canada to explore best practice in the design of outdoor learning spaces to encourage children to spend more time outdoors.

Martin Gammie, an arboriculturist with South Oxfordshire District Council, will research the best ways of designing in street trees so they last. He will visit Sweden, USA and Canada.

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 Mike Loveday, Chief Executive, Heritage Economic & Regeneration Trust (HEART) and Chair of Living Streets; Steve Smith, Parks Manager, Oldham Borough Council, Patricia Brown, Former Chief Executive, Central London Partnership and Richard Cass, CABE commissioner and founder of Cass Associates.
• 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.