Episode 6 – Why do we need Urban Agriculture?

By Natasha Tennant, on 9 September 2021

In today’s episode, host Natasha Tennant is joined by co-host Marco Zunino, who after ten years of banking experience, eventually decided to study a master’s degree in Sustainable Urban Development at UCL, outside of his studies, he is also a regular volunteer at the Stepney City Farm and a passionate urban farmer.

Today we are lucky enough to be joined by two guests, Billy Styles, and Robert Biel. Billy has an MA in Sustainable Cities and is the lead grower of Stepney City Farm, which is a London-based city farm that develops an urban model in order to make land profitable whilst improving it’s biodiversity, promote future education and innovate through experimental garden farming. Robert has 24 years of teaching experience in the Bartlett’s Development Planning Unit, and specialises in international political economy, system theory, sustainable development and urban agriculture. Robert has recently published an open-source book ‘Sustainable Food Systems’. He holds UCL’s chair in political ecology and sustainable food, and is also a hands-on practitioner of Agroecology which brings together a range of collaborators between UCL’s engineering and anthropology departments.

In this episode, we ask; “Why do we need urban agriculture?”, discussing how communal agriculture could coexist in a dense urban context, the issues we are facing within the food production system, it’s main drivers, how to solve them, and how we can innovate on top of the current technology to create a communal template to achieve global sustainability.

Don’t forget to like, save and subscribe so you never miss an episode.

With special thanks to our guests Billy Styles and Robert Biel,  hosts Natasha Tennant and Marco Zunino; music production by Lorenzo Angoli and graphic design by Ziyan Zhao

Episode 5 – What is Imposter Syndrome anyway?

By Natasha Tennant, on 19 June 2021

imposter syndrome

In today’s episode host Natasha Tennant is joined by co-host Nnenna Itanyi, who is currently doing her Part 2 at the Bartlett, UCL after spending two years out between courses, working in her home country in Abuja .  As well as an architect, Nnenna is a freelance fine art photographer and graphics designer.

Today we are lucky to be joined by Nicola Rich, who is a certified Social + Emotional Intelligence Coach and qualified Psychotherapist and pubic speaker. As an expert on wellbeing in the workplace she established Nine to Thrive which helps businesses create a work environment where people will want to be, where they will feel supported, where their confidence will grow and where they will perform to their optimum best.

In this episode, we ask; what is imposter syndrome and whether or not it is a mental health disorder, what does imposter syndrome look like and who can get it, are we taking about our mental health enough and what are some tactics for dealing with imposter syndrome.

Don’t forget to like, save and subscribe so you never miss an episode.

With thanks to our guest Nicole Rich, hosts Natasha Tennant and Nnenna Itanyi; music production by Lorenzo Angoli and graphic design by Ziyan Zhao

Episode 4 – Architecture and Psychology

By Natasha Tennant, on 19 June 2021

In today’s episode host Natasha Tennant is joined by co-host Mahika Gautam, a first-year architectural and interdisciplinary student at the Bartlett, UCL. Passionate about creating truly inclusive public spaces by studying the relationship between neuroscience and the built environment.

Today we are lucky to be joined by Fiona Zisch, who researches the cognition, experience, and reciprocity of architectural space, bodies, and movement. She works between the Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience at UCL and the Bartlett School of Architecture. She also teaches undergraduate Experimental Psychology at UCL. Fiona speaks at and organises international architecture and neuroscience conferences and festivals, has collaborated on a number of multidisciplinary research projects, and acts as a consultant for architecture and technology companies. She has published papers and book chapters in an array of research fields.

In this episode, we explore interdisciplinarity and through examples explore the interrelation of psychology and architecture, and how understanding the former can improve the way we design spaces.  We discuss the role of memory and imagination in our understanding of spaces and ask how social media has impacted the way we represent buildings today? Which led nicely into a discussion on how we cognise different representations of space, how we are able to orientate ourselves in cities which are in constant flux and how we differentiate spaces that look exactly the same.

Don’t forget to like, save and subscribe so you never miss an episode.

With thanks to our guest Fiona Zisch, hosts Natasha Tennant and Mahika Gautam; music production by Lorenzo Angoli and graphic design by Ziyan Zhao

Episode 3 – Building a Better Construction Sector

By Natasha Tennant, on 1 April 2021

New Dimensions Episode 3 – Building a Better Construction Sector

In today’s episode host Natasha Tennant is joined by co-host Jessy Gomez, a third-year PhD student and Occupational Safety and Health professional with over 10 years of experience in the UK Construction industry. She worked for Mace Group for nearly 6 years and joined UCL, last December, as a Technical Safety Manager for the Bartlett Manufacturing + Design exchange, a multidisciplinary centre that invites Bartlett students and academic staff to engage with new and traditional tools, processes and materials.

We are lucky to be joined by two incredible guests this week, Sam Stacey and Professor Jacqui Glass. Sam is the director of the Transforming Construction Challenge at UKI which funds projects which use modern methods of construction to innovate and transform the construction sector. Jacqui, is the Chair in Construction Management, at The Bartlett School of Construction and Project Management, in University College London and Vice Dean Research for the Bartlett Faculty. She is Principal Investigator of the Transforming Construction Network Plus, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), an investment supported by the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF).

In this episode, we delve into the modern world of construction, an industry undergoing rapid and exciting change. We chat about the Transforming Construction Challenge and the work undertaken by the Transforming Construction Network Plus.  Answer ‘What are modern methods of construction?’ Ask ‘How can the industry maintain its young workforce? And ‘Why it’s struggling to diversify?’. Before diving into one of the industry’s biggest problems – health and safety, together we discuss the details behind the stats. 

Don’t forget to like, save and subscribe so you never miss an episode. 

With thanks to our guests Sam Stacey and Professor Jacquiline Glass, hosts Natasha Tennant and Jessy Gomez; music production by Lorenzo Angoli and graphic design by Ziyan Zhao. 

Episode 2 – The Capital in Crisis with Dr Pablo Sendra

By Natasha Tennant, on 26 March 2021

In today’s episode host Natasha Tennant is joined by co-host Harrison Brewer, a first-year postgraduate student studying city planning at the Bartlett School of Planning. His academic background spans classical studies, international development, art history, conflict resolution, and political science. Our guest this week is Dr Pablo Sendra, an associate professor at The Bartlett School of Planning, lecturer in planning and urban design and founding partner of Lugadero, a placemaking practice based in Seville (Spain) and London (UK). Pablo’s work is situated in the interaction between academia and practice and explores topics from social housing to public spaces, civic and collaborative design. Some of his recent publications include; Community-Led Regeneration: a Toolkit for Residents and Planners (2020), Designing Disorder: Experiments and Disruptions in the City, and Time to be an activist: recent successes in housing activism in London (2020).

In this episode, we discuss the current housing crisis plighting London today and how we’ve ended up at a point where much of the capital’s workforce has been priced out of the city. We cover the grassroots campaigns trying to take back control of their community and social housing, what it means to be an activist today, the problem with policy and possible solutions. Truly, an episode not to be missed.

With thanks to our guest Dr Pablo Sendra, hosts Natasha Tennant and Harrison Brewer; music production by Lorenzo Angoli and graphic design by Ziyan Zhao.

Episode 1 – What’s the point in architecture? with Sir Peter Cook

By Natasha Tennant, on 4 March 2021

In today’s episode host Natasha Tennant is joined by co-host Athena Li, a first-year
BSc Architecture Student at The Bartlett School of Architecture and she’s invited a very special guest to join us! Our guest this week is Sir Peter Cook, an English architect and the co-founder of the avant-garde, neo-futuristic group Archigram. Sir Peter is the former Director of the Institute for Contemporary Art, London and the Bartlett School of Architecture. He has been a pivotal figure in the global architectural world for over half a century. Sir Peter was knighted by the Queen in 2007 for his service to architecture and teaching. He is also the founder of CRAB studio.

In this episode, we take a journey with Peter from London, around the world and back again through stories and anecdotes of a lifetime dedicated to architecture. We chat about why we need architects and what’s our role in making the world a better place? If architecture has a purpose and if so, what that might be? And the importance of radicalism both historically and today.

Don’t forget to like, save and subscribe so you never miss an episode.

With thanks to our guest Sir Peter Cook, hosts Natasha Tennant and Athena Li; music production by Lorenzo Angoli and graphic design by Ziyan Zhao.

New Dimensions Podcast – The Intro Show

By Natasha Tennant, on 4 March 2021

Welcome to New Dimensions Podcast! From The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment to the world, comes a new show which explores every aspect of the built environment. Created and led by students from The Bartlett this is a show that brings you new voices, new perspectives and new ideas from those embedded in what’s happening now.

In this episode host, Natasha Tennant welcomes listeners to New Dimensions, explaining its aims, the format of the show and the upcoming episodes.  From academics to architects and researchers to community activists, we’ll be diving deeper and interviewing the people who shape our built environment. So from wherever you’re listening, this is New Dimensions and we hope you enjoy the show.

New Dimensions Podcast – Launching March 4th 2021

By Natasha Tennant, on 23 February 2021

Launching March 4th 2021, New Dimensions Podcast