How anarchist architecture could help us build back better after Covid
Think anarchism. What comes to mind? Most likely not urban allotments. These places are still revolutionary, but they offer a blueprint for building more inclusive, fairer and greener communities. So says the author of a book. It may not seem like an obvious pairing, but architecture and anarchy are often inextricably linked. Anarchism was a […]
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Passion for compassion: the group working to make the Commons kinder
Forward-thinking countries use legislation to make politics more compassionate. What would happen if the UK did this? “OR-DER!” Close your eyes and you can still hear John Bercow’s infamous bellow echo out across parliament. He was the former Speaker of The House of Commons and presided over the debates in Westminster during the Brexit years. […]
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The artists bringing live music to people’s front doors
The project, which was launched in London locked down, continues to bring live music to the doorsteps for vulnerable and isolated residents. Saxophonist and singer Chloe Edwards-Wood is used to performing to large audiences, but that didn’t stop her nerves jangling the first time she played on a stranger’s doorstep. She did this near her […]
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While politicians dither, indigenous groups are taking bold climate action
Indigenous attendees at COP26 may have come away disappointed, but they’re not sitting around waiting for help One bright spot stood out among the many grey suits and government stands at the Blue Zone of COP26. Literally. The Indigenous Peoples’ Pavilion was a relative riot of colour, largely thanks to the folk who stood and […]
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What went right this week: world’s best building, plus more positive news
The world’s best new building was revealed A hospital in rural Bangladesh has been named the world’s best new building. The Friendship Hospital in Satkhira was named the winner of the 2021 RIBA International PrizeTuesday. Judges praised the structure for putting “care and humanity at the heart of its design”. Located in a waterlogged area […]
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Lego to remove gender bias from its toys after enlightening child survey
Research has shown that Lego stereotypes can be detrimental to girls, boys, and their parents. So, the Danish firm promised to do something about it Lego’s brightly coloured bricks have been literal building blocks of creativity for generations of children. After a global poll of parents and children, the Danish toymaker has pledged to eliminate […]
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Coming to a high street near you: factories that repair your electronics
The UK is the largest producer of e-waste worldwide. Can ‘fixing factories’ help turn the tide? Campaigners think so – and want to open one on every UK high street The UK’s factories were the engine rooms of the Industrial Revolution, introducing the world to new ways of working, making and consuming. Can two ‘fixing […]
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Five life-affirming words we should bring back into use – FFA
Sara Pons-Sanz writes that breathing new life into hope-giving words can help cultivate happiness and boost well-being. Susie Dent is a Lexicographer, TV personality and TV personality. She recently embarked upon a curious, self-appointed mission. She is determined to bring the word “respair”, last used around 1525, back into common usage. “Respair”, Dent explains, means […]
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The £300 homes empowering people on the frontline of climate change
Marina Tabassum, a Bangladeshi architect who designed the bamboo stilt houses, is the first person from South Asia to win the Soane Medal of Architecture. Marina Tabassum might have built her reputation on grand designs for museums and residences. The pandemic gave Tabassum an opportunity to help Bangladeshi communities adapt to the climate crisis. Now […]
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What went right this week: the UK four-day week, and more positive news
The UK was offered a four-day trial. Long-time supporters of a shorter work week argue that it will increase life satisfaction without affecting productivity. This week, the UK was the latest country that has been influenced by the idea. It will begin a six-month-long experiment in which it will offer a four-day work week to […]
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