Can architecture influence our behaviour?

Live Debate - 1pm 02 August 2011

The Secret Life of Buildings, Tom Dyckhoff’s fascinating new three-part series on Channel 4, puts architecture under the microscope – almost literally.

He meets a neuroscientist whose experiments with mice apparently prove what many architects know intuitively: that the design of buildings can affect the way we feel and behave.

But what does this mean for the profession?

Should psychology and anthropology be taught to Part 1s?

Can science tell us how our buildings ought to look?

And, as we face down another recession, isn’t all this a luxury we can ill afford?

BDonline has assembled an outspoken panel to discuss the issues raised in the series.

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BD Live

Join us between 1pm and 2pm on Tuesday August 2 – the day after the first episode goes out – to share your questions and comments.

It promises to be a lively debate.

Elizabeth Hopkirk, Journalist, BD

Speakers

Tom Dyckhoff, The Secret Life of Buildings

Tom Dyckhoff is the presenter of The Secret Life of Buildings and has fronted a number of other architectural programmes including the Stirling Prize ceremony. He is architecture correspondent for The Times and has also written for many other papers including The Guardian. His first book on architecture is out in 2012, with Random House.

Angela Brady, RIBA

Angela Brady is the incoming president of the RIBA. She founded her own practice, Brady Mallalieu Architects, in 1987 with Robin Mallalieu. Before moving to London she worked in Toronto, Dublin and Copenhagen. She has developed a particular interest in housing, community and educational projects. She has also presented a number of TV series.

Liz Peace, BPF

Liz Peace CBE is chief executive of the British Property Federation. Born in Birmingham – which must have taught her a thing or two about urban design – she studied history in London before starting her career at the Ministry of Defence, ultimately privatising its R&D arm, QinetiQ, in 2001. She has been working in the property industry ever since.

Robert Adam, ADAM Architecture

Robert Adam founded his traditional practice, now known as ADAM Architecture, in 1977. A senior fellow of the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment, he founded the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism and the Traditional Architecture Group.