Inclusive Spaces: Queering Public Space

Join our expert panel of speakers as they discuss how – by considering diversity at early stages of design and planning – public spaces can become more accessible to marginalised and disempowered groups.

Despite the emergence of queer enclaves in many cities across the world, there is still an urgent need to rethink the development of safe public spaces. The rise in hate crimes in recent years calls for interventions which increase inclusion and acceptance of marginalised groups, not least LGBTQ+ people, and create more welcoming, hospitable environments for all members of these communities.

In Queering Public Space, a session run in collaboration between Arup and the University of Westminster, our panel will address these issues and question:

• What are the key characteristics that contribute to queering public space?
• How can we protect what remains of queer memory in our cities?
• How can we move beyond the ‘gayborhood’ towards creating public spaces for all?

About the speakers:

Mei-Yee Man Oram is Access and Inclusive Environments Lead at Arup, a Consultant Member of the National Register of Access Consultants (NRAC), an International Access Consultant under the CPABE certification and is also a WELL Community, Homes and Health Equity advisor for the International WELL Buildings Institute, helping to shape healthier spaces for all.

Dr Ammar Azzouz is a London-based Architect at Arup and a short-term Research Associate at the University of Oxford. He is an editor at Arab Urbanism, and a collective member of City Journal. Ammar has written several articles which have been published on platforms including The Independent, New Statesman, and The Architects’ Journal.

Pippa Catterall is Professor of History and Policy at University of Westminster, Chair of the George Lansbury Memorial Trust, a member of the London Historic Environments Forum, and co-editor of the journal National Identities. In addition to her extensive publications on various aspects of British history and contemporary policy, she has written widely about her experiences as a trans woman, queer heritage and (mis)representations of history and identities in public space.

Dr Scott Allan Orr is a Lecturer at UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage within The Bartlett School of Environment, Energy, and Resources (BSEER), primarily researching the intersection of climate change and cultural heritage. Scott is also on the committee of the LGBTQ+ STEM @ UCL Network.

Join The Bartlett’s monthly Inclusive Spaces event series, where we delve into the latest research and ideas from The Bartlett’s world-leading thinkers on race, gender, LGBTQ+, disability – and other dimensions of diversity in the built environment.

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The Inclusive Spaces lecture series will be streamed live on Zoom. Please ensure you download Zoom and create an account prior to the event.

This session will not be recorded.

If you have any accessibility requirements or additional queries, please contact Alma Daskalaki at a.daskalaki@ucl.ac.uk. Please note we require two working days‘ notice for requests.