Hosted at NLA’s London Centre as part of KPF’s 50th anniversary celebrations, “The Evolution of Urban Districts” brought experts in city making together to discuss the history and future of urban areas.
KPF President and Principal James von Klemperer opened the evening with a short presentation, using examples from KPF’s portfolio to illustrate broad themes in urban development such as density, connectivity, human scale, and purpose. He reflected on the “momentum that districts develop from one project to another” and the way that individual projects “contribute to a much bigger, positive cycle of urban change.”
The presentation was followed by a panel discussion, moderated by Julie Steinberg of the Financial Times. KPF Principal Forth Bagley opened the conversation, reflecting on changing priorities across cities around the world. He noted that the cities that recovered the fastest from the COVID shutdowns were those with more social amenities, and the bulk of their recovery took place not during the workday, but after five pm or on the weekend. Forth connected this to a broader shift from office-dominated central business districts toward central social districts, which offer a greater diversity of program and more 24/7 activity.
Selina Mason, Director of Masterplanning & Strategic Design at Lendlease, stressed that change should not mean losing sight of the fundamentals of city-making. “Humanity has been very good at creating great cities, and we know what works about a good city,” she said, highlighting the need for places for cultural, social, and economic exchange that are shaped both by established urban principles and conversations with the people who live and work in them.
Long-term stewardship was another recurring theme. Drawing on experience in Hong Kong, Miami, and the Middle East, Kieran Bowers of Qiddiya discussed the value of a generational approach to mixed-use development and a commitment to long-term ownership of the public realm and retail. He also pointed to the potential for “cross-pollination” between cities, highlighting how techniques developed for the Climate Ribbon at Brickell City Centre in Miami are being adapted to improve pedestrian comfort in the Middle East.
Finally, Katie Stewart brought the perspective of the City of London, where change happens incrementally within an established urban fabric. “How do we create the framework whereby those constant little changes—in some cases, big buildings—become opportunities to evolve and adapt that fabric?” she asked. Working “with the grain of development and the existing fabric,” she described how thermal modelling is helping the City understand the microclimate impacts of new development and the spaces between buildings.
The symposium accompanied the KPF50 exhibition at NLA, which explores five decades of the firm’s work in districts around the world.
