HPA Invited to Speak at the First of Lancaster University’s ‘TEA Talks’

Director Zoe Hooton was invited to speak at Lancaster University at the first of their ‘Tea Talks’ held on campus to a live audience.

The ‘Tea Talks’ hosted by the Lancaster School of Architecture are a series of talks on the theme of Technology, the Environment and the role of Architecture now and in the future.

The event had 7  distinguished speakers  with a morning and afternoon session followed by a collective discussion by the panels. The mornings event  included Professor Simon Guy on the Climate Emergency, a presentation of research by Dr Katherine Ellsworth-Krabs and a thought provoking question of 999 Whats Your Emergency with the new head of professional Studies, Mark Slocombe calling for urgent action by Architects to think how they practice.  The morning then concluded with Dr Ana-Rute Costa with a beautifully illustrated presentation focusing on  the importance ‘People’ within design.

Following a tour of the campus and new Architecture school the afternoon proceeded with a presentation by HPA Director Zoe Hooton on the importance of place  then Guardian writer, former head of Design Museum Professor Deyan Sudjic OBE on the question of Ethics and power in Architecture. Finally Professor Ruth Dalton Head of the School concluded the talks on her presentation of radical creativity and the question of how to solve  ‘wicked’ problems in light of the call to address climate change. Following all the presentations there were a series of Question & Answer sessions among the panel and audience of students.

The event set the tone for the new type of Architecture School Lancaster aims to be with focus on ‘radical creativity and being creative with a conscience’.

HPA were delighted to be part of the event and hope to continue to have such an active role in a radical, forward thinking Architecture School.

The Tea Talks are soon to be released on Youtube  for public viewing.