CIVIC SQUARE

We are excited to share another chapter of the Neighbourhood Public Square publication and proposal, focused on the Physical Infrastructure Design. It seeks to build a blueprint and design methodology of how the Neighbourhood Public Square will make 3ºC Neighbourhood and Endowing The Future tangible through co-building regenerative, distributive-by-design neighbourhood civic infrastructure at the heart of Ladywood, Birmingham. Building on our many years of work reimagining economic possibility, and co-creating a shared direction alongside Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL). The site will have a foundational doughnut inspired land covenant that enshrines the social and ecological provision of the site in perpetuity, the land and infrastructure of Neighbourhood Public Square will be held in common, designed to distribute many kinds of value. We will reuse existing structures, utilise biomaterials from our ecoregion and minimise energy consumption to cultivate circular regenerative supply chains that enable the wider built environment transition of the neighbourhood. This is first and foremost a structural story of the civic infrastructure we all need, in service of the wider transformations that we must continue fighting for, locally and across the world. As our friends at Healing Justice London (HJL) remind us; we get free together. We humbly share this as part of our wider Neighbourhood Public Square publication as we shape regenerative neighbourhood civic infrastructure designed to democratise access to the spaces, tools and resources for a bold, imaginative, distributed transition. We extend our overwhelming appreciation to every person who has joined us along the journey, from Impact Hub Birmingham, TEDxBrum, The Front Room; every neighbour, peer, practitioner we have been honoured to learn with and build alongside so far to here. We are also grateful to be working alongside an adventurous and inspiring design team ARCHITECTURE 00 , Material Cultures and Architype. We warmly welcome potential collaborators, investors and technical skills for the future stages to get in touch with us at CIVIC SQUARE, to help move this ambitious vision and practice forward together. READ MORE: bit.ly/PublicSquareDesign Architectural Illustration: Sonia Dubois Ecoregion Map: Carlos Peñalver Design: Lou Byng and Charlie Edmonds Photography: Thom Bartley

If you missed the Virtual Open Evening for the Re:Builders learning programme, please check the recording from the evening, now available on our YouTube channel that helps introduce the partners Material Cultures, Dark Matter Labs, CIVIC SQUARE and Fircroft College of Adult Education. We also share more about the big picture ideas and the research that inform the programme with some focus on the practical information, visits and opportunities the programme will offer. FULL VIDEO: https://lnkd.in/etp_hSGr If you would like to join us for the in person open day in Birmingham, join us at the Drop in Information Day on Thursday 5th September, 10am - 4pm. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eCPnHCtX

I've got so much to say about the inspirational force that is CIVIC SQUARE and the impact they have had on so many people in #Retrofit land. And I have so much gratitude for the team at Home Energy Action Lab, especially to the mini HEALers and Dave Powis. We had the honour of being part of the B16 Big Lunch last weekend. HEAL ran some workshops, and this one is a favourite. It's out Home Care And Repair workshop. And it's all about demystifying our homes and empowering everyone to build a better relationship with their home. And there is much to share, and that will follow. But for now, just huge thanks and recognition for these legends. Also shout out to Joe Baker who clearly understood the assignment ;) #collectiveaction #community #collaboration #regenerativefutures #homes

Another inspiring event from CIVIC SQUARE last weekend... these folk show up for the neighbourhood again and again, sharing learning and practising together for a just transition, this time through the B16 Big Lunch - but it wasn't just a delicious lunch (though it was very delicious!) An incredible line up of speakers to set the context for CIVIC SQUARE's plans for a regenerative, community-owned Neighbourhood Public Square and a bunch of hands-on activities to learn together the practical skills needed for a just transition. My highlights: 🌿 Indy Johar challenging us to reimagine the meaning of 'value' using the analogy of a coke can and an apple to make the (horrifying) point that 68% of things produced create more harm than value in our 'zombie economy' 🌿 Kwajo Tweneboa on balancing quick fixes to the housing crisis in the short term with proper investment in ecologically-sound low-carbon housing to meet our long-term ability to thrive as people and planet 🌿 Sara Edmonds bringing humour and energy to the question 'what do we know about future threats, and how do we let this knowledge inform how we fix things in the short-term?' 🌿 Josh Artus articulating that climate infrastructure = health infrastructure 🌿 Seth Scafe Smith on the risk of de-valuing the word 'radical' and the need to keep a focus on how we show up and interact locally, at the grassroots - a particularly useful provocation for me given I work under the moniker #PragmaticRadicals To dive deeper into the ideas shared, I highly recommend checking out CIVIC SQUARE's publication Neighbourhood Public Square (link in comments) Happy to have shared the day with my own neighbour, friend and active travel champion Annabel Precious - who got me out on a bike for the journey along the canal to the site - and Imandeep Kaur, Brodie Weir and Indi Kaur for the generous hosting as always 💚 I feel very lucky that I get to work alongside this team!

This was a big weekend, and spending it in the company of Josh Artus and Seth Scafe Smith amongst numerous friends at CIVIC SQUARE and Home Energy Action Lab and WeCanMake and CENTRIC LAB and Dark Matter Labs more was an absolute privilege. Watch this space for more to come. #RetrofitReimagined

CIVIC SQUARE are at it again 😍 Re:Builders is a fully-funded six-month learning programme designed for small to medium construction businesses in the West Midlands who are looking to better understand how built environment and construction sectors can rapidly adapt to and navigate the material and climatic futures we face. Supported by Innovate UK, and brought to you by Fircroft College the programme will be delivered in collaboration with CIVIC SQUARE, Dark Matter Labs and Material Cultures as a fully funded course. Working alongside further education colleges in the region, the programme seeks to develop new approaches to providing bespoke training and innovation support to businesses across a range of key sectors in the region. Applications are open - https://lnkd.in/ep4aKsik

Good times shooting for CIVIC SQUARE at their Material Matters event and B16 lunch last week. 🌿 📸

Will you be joining the 200+ senior leaders from across the #WestMidlands for THE policy conference for the region? We have over 130 different organisations represented at Connections for Prosperity 2024 - will you be in the room? Our booking website will close on Friday - book your ticket today! https://lnkd.in/d_Av3TME Here's another session that we will be hosting at Edgbaston Stadium. Huge thanks to our expert panel for sharing their insights Charlie Edmonds (CIVIC SQUARE), Afzal Hussain DL (Witton Lodge Community Association), Katie Jackson (WSP), June Marshall (Birmingham City Council) and Christopher Plumley (Trowers & Hamlins) The session will explore best practice approaches to consultation and engagement, covering lessons learned from local projects, how to avoid common pitfalls, and best support communities to participate, including through the use of innovative engagement tools. A suite of engagement tools will also be available for delegates to demo throughout the day. #newmidlands #midlands #coventry #birmingham #wolverhampton #devolution #policy #regions #thinktank #communities #engagement #tools Chris Smith

If you are a small to medium construction company and you want to find out more about doing things more sustainability, this is a great programme to find out more! Delivered over 6 months by CIVIC SQUARE, Material Cultures and Fircroft College of Adult Education, the schedule is interesting, requires a few days each month attendance and exciting - including site visits to best practice organisations across the UK - and it's all funded by Innovate UK. If this sounds like something you're interested in, take a look and apply now 👀👇

If you missed the Virtual Open Evening for the Re:Builders learning programme, please check the recording from the evening, now available on our YouTube channel that helps introduce the partners Material Cultures, Dark Matter Labs, CIVIC SQUARE and Fircroft College of Adult Education. We also share more about the big picture ideas and the research that inform the programme with some focus on the practical information, visits and opportunities the programme will offer. FULL VIDEO: https://lnkd.in/etp_hSGr If you would like to join us for the in person open day in Birmingham, join us at the Drop in Information Day on Thursday 5th September, 10am - 4pm. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eCPnHCtX