RIBA Europe: Amplifying young voices in urban design, Copenhagen
On 8 March , RIBA Europe partnered with Make Space for Girls, a UK-based charity advocating for more inclusive public spaces, to host a hands-on workshop with 30 teenage girls in Copenhagen. The session explored how public spaces can better serve young women.
Led by Rebecca Halstead (RIBA Europe/Echo Architects) and Abigail Gaines (Make Space for Girls), the workshop invited participants to share their experiences and ideas on making urban environments safer, more accessible, and better suited to their needs.
Key insights from the workshop
The workshop revealed both universal concerns and specific design preferences that could shape future urban planning:
- Safety concerns – While parks and open areas feel safe during the day, inadequate lighting and poor visibility make them unwelcome at night
- Lighting preferences – Soft, natural lighting was preferred over harsh artificial lights, which often create glare or shadows
- Social spaces matter – There is a strong demand for more seating areas that promote social interaction, rather than spaces focused only on play
- The importance of nature – Green spaces with natural materials and calming aesthetics were perceived as more inviting and relaxing
- Play elements for all ages – Swings, climbing structures, trampolines, hammocks, and circular paths were highlighted as ideal play and relaxation features
- Lack of public toilets – The absence of clean, well-maintained public restrooms remains a major barrier to spending time in urban areas
- Perceptions of modern architecture – Some contemporary urban designs were described as too stark or imposing, with a preference for more human-scale, nature-integrated designs
One of the most thought-provoking moments occurred when a participant asked: “Will people actually see what we have designed and talked about?” This question framed the conversation for the evening panel discussion, where professionals in the field responded directly to the ideas generated during the workshop.
Panel discussion: Bringing ideas to the design table
Later that evening, the discussion continued at the 25hours Hotel Paper Island, where over 50 industry professionals, including architects, planners, and urban designers, gathered to reflect on the workshop findings and explore how urban spaces can be designed with teenage girls in mind.
Panel speakers:
- Abigail Gaines, Associate at Make Space for Girls
- Yalda Pilehchian, Senior Strategic Urban Designer at Ramboll
- Mads Birgens, Head of Urbanism at Cobe
- Moderated by: Rebecca Halstead (RIBA Europe Chapter Member / Founder of Echo Architects)
Event impact and why it matters
The workshop and panel discussion underscored the importance of engaging communities in urban planning. By facilitating direct dialogue between architects, developers, planners, and local residents, the event helped bridge the gap between those who design cities and those who use them.
Most importantly, this event demonstrated the value of co-creation. When people of all ages and backgrounds are involved in shaping their surroundings, the result is more inclusive, functional, and sustainable urban spaces.
Acknowledgments
RIBA Europe extends its gratitude to:
- The British Embassy Copenhagen for sponsoring the event.
- RIBA Europe for making this initiative possible.
- Andrea Pražienková for capturing the event through photography.
- The 30 teenage girls who shared their insights - your voices matter!
Follow RIBA Europe on LinkedIn for updates on future initiatives and membership information.
RIBA Gulf Chapter IWD 2025, Dubai
RIBA Gulf Chapter’s Women in Architecture Programme again partnered with AIA Middle East to mark International Women’s Day in Dubai.
Hosted by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Dubai at Academic City, the afternoon brought together over 175 guests from across the industry, including seasoned professionals, emerging architects, and students. Incorporating the UAE’s 2025 Year of Community theme, the event was designed to nurture intergenerational connections and create an inclusive space for shared experiences.
An energised, inspiring and enthralling Keynote was delivered by architect Pallavi Dean of Roar, the award-winning, all female Dubai based interior design studio. A role model to students and home-grown practice founders alike, Pallavi was raised and studied architecture in the Emirates and shared her experiences as a woman Founder and Creative Director. In her presentation “We are Creatives” she outlined a few key lessons that her journey has taught her so far:
- Focus on your craft – be so good that they can’t ignore you, Excellence speaks louder than bias and quality always wins.
- Work the media (traditional and social) – Visibility matters. Create useful content and always emphasise IMPACT. Be a great storyteller! Stories have the power to grab attention, connect emotionally and encourage others to rise and take action. Your work is only as powerful as the narrative behind it.
“I had the privilege of attending this truly inspiring event celebrating International Women’s Day 2025. Listening to the stories, ideas, and aspirations of the next generation of architects and designers was a powerful reminder: bold ideas, innovation, and leadership start with confidence, confidence to speak up, to challenge the status quo, and to believe that our voices matter.” - Rita Sanna, architect and Founder of Rita Sanna Coaching and Consulting, Dubai, UAE
Presentations which discussed the importance of women empowering women celebtrated the impact of leading women in architecture from the region such as Zaha Hadid, Yasmeen Lari, Lina Ghotmeh, Sumaya Dabbagh, Anupama Kundoo, Pravena Mehta, and the need to close the gap and the positives that could be brought with more women designing the future world around us.
Certificates were awarded by AIAS the American Institute of Architects Students (AIAS) along with copies of the following won across multiple categories voted for at the culmination of the Pecha Kucha by the audience:
Congratulations to our winners:
- Most Creative Idea – Kiguongo Eddy Kanja, MAHE Dubai
- Most Engaging Session - Kiguongo Eddy Kanja, MAHE Dubai
- Best DEI / EDI Design Concept – Amelia Janajreh, AUS
- Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Empowerment – Madiha Khan, AUS
- Best Team Theme - Women's Empowerment, MAHE Dubai
- Audience Favourite – Anushka Dasgupta, HWU
“This was a very special afternoon! An unforgettable experience. It was a safe space filled with generations of women in architecture – students, educators and industry leaders all coming together to share knowledge, challenge norms, celebrate progress and support each other. Here’s to pushing boundaries, elevating women in architecture, and making our industry more inclusive!” – Tala Alnounou, architect and Head of Marketing MENA, LWK & Partners, Dubai, UAE
Acknowledgments
RIBA Gulf Chapter would like to thank our hosts MAHE – Dubai, our partners AIA Middle East, AIAS, the Chapter’s YAA (spell out), RIBA and RIBA Gulf, Pallavi Dean, all student participants and their faculties, along with our audience for their tremendous support of this event.
The RIBA Gulf Chapter supports members across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states including the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Sultanate of Oman.
RIBA Singapore Chapter
Women’s History Month and IWD 2025 provided the RIBA Singapore Chapter with an opportunity to reflect on advancements in tackling the structural barriers that uphold inequality and hinder women's achievements in architecture.
The RIBA Singapore Chapter used their LinkedIn account to feature seven female professionals from the RIBA Singapore Chapter who represent a diverse range of career stages and sectors, from private to government and from architecture to the built environment. The series highlighted the depth and breadth of the members' contributions and experiences.
Throughout the week-long feature, each shared personal insights and stories that highlight their experiences and challenges within the built environment, their careers in Singapore and Asia, and how they have contributed to accelerating equality within the profession. Contributors to the series included:
- Rita Soh, Managing Director, RDC Architects Pte Ltd
- Wingsee Wong, Architect and Associate, Arup
- Fiona Nixon, Founding Director, STUDIO NvS
- Vanessa Liaw, Vice President, International Business Execution, Real Estate Services, Citi
- Vivien Leong, Director,Scott Brownrigg
- Sookyieh Vun, Director, WSP in Asia
- Lay Bee Yap, Director, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore
The chapter look forward to sharing more inspirational dialogue and moments from chapter members and beyond. To view the series please visit the RIBA Singapore Chapter LinkedIn.
RIBA Hong Kong Chapter: Assemble!
To celebrate IWD, RIBA Hong Kong Chapter, together with American Institute of Architects Hong Kong and Hong Kong Institute of Architects, invited COLLECTIVE, a women-owned and majority women-led RIBA Chartered Practice to lead a tour of 83 King Lam Street. RIBA Hong Kong chapter committee member Betty Ng then introduced a forum discussion with diverse industry voices. The forum was held inside New World Town Hall, designed by COLLECTIVE, with two connected interior auditorium spaces.
The event began with a tour of the newly completed podium for a set of office twin towers situated in the old industrial heartland of Lai Chi Kok. The podium design consists of a set of playful public Feature Steps and a two-tier auditorium. The tour guided by Betty Ng and Edwin Chan (New World Development), welcomed 90 attendees and was sponsored by New World Development and Wah Tung Façade Company. The forum included 6 speakers:
- Charlotte Lafont-Hugo, Director of BEAU ARCHITECT, Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture at University of Hong Kong
- Chi Yan Chan, Assoc. AIA, Director of COLLECTIVE, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Architecture at The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Ida Sze, HKIA, Partner at Ida & Billy Architects
- Shannon Ho, AIA, HKIA, Executive Director of Aedas
- Shirley Surya, Curator of Design and Architecture at M+ Museum
- Dr. Ying Zhou, Assoc. AIA, Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture at University of Hong Kong
The forum was moderated by:
- Betty Ng, Intl. Assoc. AIA, RIBA, RA (NL), Founder of COLLECTIVE, Adjunct Associate Professor at School of Architecture at The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Six panellists shared their views on public spaces, both as professionals and as end-users. The forum focus was on the role of each panel member’s work in architecture, in the form of practice, education, curation, and architectural archive. Each discussant also shared their background, their journey on formulating each of their careers, and their current areas of focus.
This event is a milestone for RIBA Hong Kong Chapter, being the first collaborative event hosted by three major architectural institutions in Hong Kong, including AIA Hong Kong Chapter and HKIA. Julia Lau, President Elect of HKIA, expressed her joy participating in the first event bringing together three major Hong Kong institutions in Hong Kong to celebrate a special architectural collaboration between two generations of local architects.
With over 1,000 members in Hong Kong, the RIBA Hong Kong Chapter supports its members locally through a series of networking opportunities, a programme of building tours with a focus on revitalisation projects in Hong Kong, and providing a forum for local activities and debate.
Follow the RIBA Hong Kong Chapter on LinkedIn for updates on future initiatives and membership information.
