Betty Owoo, architectural designer at Be First, summarises the key talking points from NLA's first NextGen conference, with key focus on skill development.

Cross-disciplinary thinking, communication, and creating good places – these were just some of the items on the agenda at the very first New London Architecture NextGen conference, as part of the 20th edition of the London Festival of Architecture. Tired of being pigeonholed and limited to discussions around sustainability and inclusion, the NLA's NextGen panel convened Finding Your Place: The Skills Needed For A Better Built Environment, bringing together a plethora of next-gen networks and professionals from across the built environment sector to explore the rising importance of interdisciplinary skills. In not shying away from thornier topics of power, politics and money, the conference aimed to show how a wide variety of skills and services are brought together to deliver a better built environment.

 

So, just what are next-gen networks in London excited about? Where do they see the challenges and opportunities that cut across disciplines in the built environment sector?

 

After a rousing introduction from NextGen panel chair Kat Hanna, London co-managing director at Avison Young, the first session showcased the next-gen perspective from representatives of a wide range of networks, from RPTI Young Planners to BCO London NextGen. Tasked with outlining the key challenge or opportunity in their sector and the role of specialists or generalists driving change in the built environment in just two minutes, each speaker delivered a thoughtful and considered speech, spanning themes such as interdisciplinary thinking, transferable skills, and emerging tools in different sectors.

 

NLA NextGen panel member Ekaterina Lopatina kicked things off with a call for generalists to continually develop and refine their skills, as she has done at Fletcher Priest Architects. Sarah Hayford, founder of the Land Collective CIC, spoke powerfully about the importance of lived experience in placemaking, and ensuring that we make spaces and places for everyone. Jasmine Ceccarelli-Drewry from Real Estate Balance shared insight on the growing need for cross-disciplinary practitioners in placemaking, underscoring that sometimes being a generalist can be a specialism in itself. NLA NextGen panel member Kristen Ivanova spoke on behalf of CIBSE, highlighting the importance of communal language in being able to engage with different disciplines and in breaking down silos of specialists.

 

Attendees also heard from representatives from YADA, the Young Architects and Developers Alliance. YADA member Albena Atanassova spoke about how under 35s are positioned in the industry, highlighting that just 6% of buildings in the UK are designed by an architect, leaving us a 94% opportunity to get more involved. Alice Dale from the London Property Alliance shared her excitement around the growing capacity of AI and digital tools to aid with decarbonisation and planning reform. Oliver Hall, representing BCO London NextGen spoke about the need for the office typology to transform to stop young practitioners from shunning it and its historically hierarchical structures. For him, the workplace isn't "just an office", but "a place where you can do your job in the best possible way."   Helen Ng from RPTI Young Planners closed off this part of the conference, outlining the challenges of competing energy demand in our increasingly complex world, and the role of generalists in providing a holistic and broad understanding of how the demand can be mitigated.

 

In all the presentations from the network representatives, it was clear that strong communication skills were a pivotal theme. In giving space for and fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue, the event underscored the need for clear and inclusive communication in tackling the complex challenges delegates had identified within the built environment sector. As the next generation of professionals continues to shape the future of the built environment, our ability to communicate across disciplines will be key to creating spaces that are not only functional but also equitable and sustainable.