Call For Entries - Places For Life: Post Conference Perspectives

The Places for Life conference, which took place on 12th October 2016 will be followed by a publication capturing post-conference reflections and key messages from the speakers, workshops and discussions. We’re therefore extending an invitation to share your perspective as someone who attended the day or someone interested in the topics and themes that were explored.

The conference explored the interrelationship between mobility, green space, social infrastructure, placemaking and the important role of a clear vision in creating great places to live.  Where we live affects how we live and how we live affects everything else including our health, wellbeing, relationships, access to work, social life and impact on the environment.  Wales needs mroe homes and the future of residential development in Wales must be about more than just the number of 'units' that are built - it must be about creating thriving 'places for life'.

The Design Commission for Wales invites submissions of up to 400-word abstracts for written reflections and/or articles on the theme of Places for Life for inclusion in the publication.  We encourage submissions from designers, planners, developers, surveyors, policy and decision makers, academics, artists, authors and others with an interest in what makes a great place to live and the difference that where we live makes to health, happiness and wellbeing.  The submission may be responses to the content of the conference, research findings from studies that you have been involved in, new ideas, fresh perspectives or case studies.  Images, diagrams and illustrations to accompany the text are welcomed.

We are keen for the conference to inspire and provoke better approaches to the way that residential developments are planned, designed and delivered and to hear about proposals that can help bring about change.  This could be a conversation, an idea, a shift in practice, or a change of thinking.

As a reminder, or if you missed the conference, you can find a summary of #placesforlife Twitter conversations here.

Abstracts and essays may be submitted in English and/or Welsh language. Joint authorship is allowed. You may enter more than one abstract. All abstracts received will be reviewed by the Design Commission for Wales, and a range of proposals will be selected for inclusion in the publication. Abstracts will be judged on the merit of their critical response to the theme of Places for Life, clarity of structure and expression, and their potential to stimulate and contribute to the debate.

Abstracts must be submitted with an entry form to the Commission by 26th October.  Authors of selected abstracts will be asked to submit text of no more than 3,000 words with relevant illustrations to be included in the publication which will also be made available on Design Commission for Wales’ website. Selected authors will be announced by Friday 4th November 2016. Completed essays should be received by Design Commission for Wales by midday on Friday 25th November 2016. The selection and editorial decision of the Design Commission for Wales is final.

Please contact Jen Heal, Design Advisor at the Design Commission for Wales if you have any questions or would like to submit an abstract:

T: 029 2045 1964

E: Jen.heal@dcfw.dev