Talking place-based approaches with Ryder Architecture

How can a holistic, people-centric vision achieve more with less across publicly funded projects?

Ryder Architecture says a place-based approach is a way of working and thinking that addresses the needs of our communities in a collaborative way, to achieve better outcomes. It means engaging with partners at national, regional, and local levels to collectively meet the specific needs of a particular location, achieving more and maximising the benefits from the project to the local community through better integration of service delivery.

The practice, working to the mantra of ‘Everything architecture’, has honed its objectives and approaches over the last decade and has given much thought to how the place principle can create more with less, particularly in the context of public works schemes. Doing ‘more with less’ felt like a strong message in the current economic climate – and in particular the current strain on the public purse – and Satellite MPR considered the best avenues to articulate some of Ryder Architecture’s key messages to the target audience.

It was therefore great to see Chris Malcolm, partner at Ryder Architecture, discussing the topic in two key titles this week:

In The Place Principle, published in LocalGov, Chris says that the ambition to deliver a more place focused, locally responsive approach to public service delivery is fundamental to the creation of resilient communities. However, implementation of the ‘place principle’ requires an integrated, collaborative, and participative approach to decision making, services, land and buildings. However, he argues, there is a perceived, if not real, disconnect in some of the government-sponsored capital programmes. 

You can read the full story in LocalGov HERE

In More With Less, published in Scottish Construction Now, Chris considers how a place-based approach would work in the context of Scotland. Given the current strain on the public purse, how do we improve opportunities and wellbeing for everyone in our communities, making best use of natural capital, growing local skills, creating resilient, empowered, economically viable communities with a sustainable future?

Scotland, at a population of 5.46 million, is perceived as able to operate as one nation at a strategic level and having a recognisable accountable face. This can only ever be a framework that is then broken down further, to recognise the different agendas facing the rural and remote communities, when compared, for example, to the central belt. Ryder’s view is that we require a place-based approach to maximise the opportunity, improve the asset base, and in doing so improve services, achieve climate objects and create a satisfied, content, enfranchised and healthy society.

You can read the full story in Scottish Construction Now HERE

Barra and Vatersay Community Campus, a place-based approach to island service delivery © Ryder Architecture