A one-day conference for student nurses and health practitioners (10th February, 2020), organised by the Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture in collaboration with the School of Health, Middlesex University.
What was this day about?
The design of our built environment – the space in which we live and work – is increasingly recognised as an important factor in our health and wellbeing. We can think about ‘health’ not just in terms of individuals, but in terms of the factors that affect all of us. This day-long conference brought together speakers researching/working in housing, public health policy and architecture to discuss how these issues are relevant to nursing and health practitioners.
The conference touched on a variety of topics including the unhealthy city and homelessness, experiences of mental distress and housing, representations of council housing in the media, community-centred design of the built environment, and smart homes for ageing populations.
You will find a list of further reading and resources here.
Who were the speakers?
Speakers included Anna Minton (University of East London), Andy Guise (King’s College London), Laura McGrath (Open University), Katie Beswick (University of Exeter), Conrad Murray (artist), Jill Stewart (Middlesex University), Juan Augusto (Middlesex University), Jan Kattein (Jan Kattein Architects), Darron Haylock (Foster & Partners). We also featured a screening of the film A Pool of Information (1993, 35′) along with a Q&A with its director Jini Rawlings.
This event was organised by the Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture (MoDA) in collaboration with the School of Health and Education (Middlesex University).
Listen to their presentations here:
Anna Minton: What do we mean by living well? download transcript here (pdf)
In this paper, Anna Minton (Reader, University of East London) explores the implications of the current housing crisis on public health in the UK, discussing changes in public policy and the need for a change in our housing model.
Andy Guise: Homelessness and the Unhealthy City download transcript here (pdf)
Andy Guise (Lecturer, King’s College London) presents his research on urban homelessness and the healthy city, with a focus on London, to discuss the social determinants of health and the impact of economic austerity. How can we start thinking about social interdependence in new ways, and what is the role of care in our society today?
Laura McGrath: Space and mental distress download transcript here (pdf)
Laura McGrath (Lecturer, Open University London) discusses her research on the role of space in experiences of mental distress and recovery. The talk focuses on how people living with mental distress experience and use everyday community spaces, as well exploring issues for professionals working in community spaces.
Katie Beswick: How has council housing been represented in the media? download transcript here (pdf)
Katie Beswick (Senior Lecturer, Exeter University) explores how media representations of council housing have influenced how we think about it. In recent years, lack of funding has meant a narrative of decline associated with council housing. How has the media portrayed council estates and their residents, and how does lack of funding for affordable housing have an impact on public health?