It is well known that families place a great deal of emphasis on schools and amenities when choosing and neighbourhood -- and a house to buy or rent. What if children were making the decisions? Dr Wendy Sarkissian, a specialist in design for children and author of the acclaimed book, Housing as if People Mattered, looks at houses and neighbourhoods through the eyes of children aged five to twelve. What features of a house and a neighbourhood are important to them?
In her illustrated lecture with examples from housing and neighbourhoods in Australia and internationally, Dr Sarkissian leads us to an understanding of the fundamentals of good design for children and opens our eyes to the child's perspective on this highly relevant topic.
Often in new housing estates or redevelopment projects the parks are leftover places and the local children vote with their feet. But there are simple rules to follow to make even small open spaces comfortable and attractive to children, young people and adults. As we worry more about childhood obesity and kids staying home rather than going to the neighbourhood park to play after school and on weekends, what can we do to create good places for them to play that are also safe and able to be easily supervised by adults?
Town planner Dr Wendy Sarkissian draws on several decades’ of research in people’s use of parks in Australia and overseas to propose some approaches in this convincing illustrated presentation.
|
TOPICS AND THEMES 
