Several weeks ago I came across the event featured below and thought it might be interesting to drop in. However, when I sent in my on-line application for a ticket I received a message saying I would have to wait to find out if my application had been accepted. The site run by the London Festival of Architecture also said there was no point in replying to the message as they were not organising the event and I should contact the event organisers directly. But the site failed to say who the organisers were!

Anyway I waited a while before concluding that I was apparently not considered to be a desirable member of the audience, which was fine by me. I have already had several unenlightening encounters with Mr Prior so that I should probably count their silence a blessing in disguise.

Shortly after coming to this realisation I found I was unable to attend anyway as I was booked to meet with the LDA that evening.

Exhibitions and Installations Talks and Debates

London – a Water City
26 June, 6pm - 8pm
Clifford Chance auditorium
10 Upper Bank Street, E14 5JJ

Water City is a debate involving experts in urban regeneration and sustainability to explore and explain the opportunities for London’s waterways to strengthen the city’s identity and influence development.

With Paul Finch as moderator, six participants will present their visions for London and its waterways. Presentations will be followed by an open question and answer session.

Panellists include river users, urbanists and environmentalists. Confirmed speakers include:
• Jason Prior - landscape architect, environmental planner and president of EDAW, Jason is team leader of the EDAW Consortium for the 2012 Olympic Park design and masterplans
• Sir Terry Farrell - architect/creator of the Thames National Park vision and founder of Terry Farrell and Partners
• Dave Wardle - Thames Estuary Programme Executive at the Environment Agency, Dave’s work encompasses projects including the Thames Gateway development, the Olympic Park site and Thames Water’s super sewer called the Tideway Scheme
• Lord Mawson - leading social entrepreneur, expert in community regeneration and key player in the Water City initiative. Author of The Social Entrepreneur: Making Communities Work
• Prof Ir Kees Christiaanse - founder of KCAP Architects & Planners and ASTOC Architects & Planners, former professor of Architecture and Urban Design at the Berlin University of Technology, currently connected to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and a visiting Professor at the London School of Economics Cities Programme
• Julian Kingston - a boatbuilder and wood craftsman, Julian lives on a boat at Deptford Creek and is a member of the Marine Consortium, an organisation linking all key river businesses along the Thames.

The debate will highlight London’s waterways as an invaluable resource, and that through understanding their history and respecting their changing nature we will enjoy their future as part of our community and city.