2009 design skills scholarships
Five CABE Space design skills scholarships were awarded in 2009.
Noel Murphy
Landscape manager, Places for People
Noel travelled to Holland, Sweden, Denmark, France and Germany, as well as a number of sites in the UK, to explore how the design and use of green places contributes to a better sense of place and cohesion.
‘I saw some great ideas that could easily be adopted in England where shared green spaces brought communities together. From public art to fruit and vegetable growing and sustainable solutions for collecting and recycling rain water, each project generated a tremendous sense of place and belonging. I’m looking forward to drawing on the good practice examples I’ve seen in my work at home.’
Neil Hansen
Network strategy manager, Highways Agency
Neil travelled to the Netherlands and North America to explore how other countries make use of wasted space under elevated roads.
“The countries I visited on my trip have some great ideas for transforming the wasted spaces under elevated sections of motorways into functional, well designed places which can benefit the local community. I visited a space underneath a freeway in Seattle which has been converted into a mountain bike track, cities that have used the space to house public art and others that have created skate parks. I learnt so much from people I met and am truly inspired by the level of engagement and the positive impact these initiatives have had on the surrounding environment and its residents. I am looking forward to applying the lessons learnt and ideas I have developed to appropriate spaces underneath motorways in England”.
Pamela Smith
Historic and botanic garden advisor, English Heritage and Lantra
Pamela travelled to sites in the UK, USA, Canada and France to study plant heritage and food culture in communities.
“Food culture and plant heritage can harness a common interest which can act as a catalyst to engage communities and to inspire design. As a horticulturalist I believe that there are significant and immediate opportunities to be gained from the communication of food cultivation and plant heritage. Having the opportunity to see projects that are combining plant heritage and culture into their communities and to see the positive effects on the people themselves was remarkable. I have returned to the UK with the aim of sharing and implementing some of the lessons and knowledge I have developed as a result of the trip”
Nancy O’Brien
Teacher and cultural education curator
Nancy travelled to Amsterdam and Germany to investigate the use of public space to deliver and influence cultural and creative learning for children and young people.
“Visiting these places has given me an appreciation of how public spaces can be designed and used so that young people can learn from and engage with their surroundings. The scholarship has been an inspiring experience, providing me with invaluable skills that I can use for my work in the UK.”
Penny Wilson
Play worker, Play Association Tower Hamlets London
Penny visited adventure playground spaces in the UK and Amsterdam to consider how their design is informed by the surrounding environment, and the needs of children that use them.
“I travelled to a variety of different play spaces throughout the UK and the space in Amsterdam designed by Aldo Van Eyck. The whole experience was a fantastic opportunity to see usable and architecturally interesting play spaces as well as less well designed parks. As a result I will be able to share best practice not only with the play work sector but also with those working in park and urban space design”.