Ideas

Climate change, rapid urbanisation, digital disruption and demographic shifts, together with a worldwide health pandemic and economic fluctuations, are challenges facing the global community. It is our ethical responsibility as designers to find creative solutions to meet these challenges - for our clients and society.

So here we bring you our insights and opinions from our global interdisciplinary collective about the future of our cities, towns and communities where quality of life and our environment is pre-eminent. Structured around four global themes, which address the current challenges, our ideas stimulate future thinking and drive progressive design.

The Good City

Explore the solutions to some of the most critical urban challenges facing cities today. From urban regeneration and spatial planning to civil engineering and transport infrastructure, visit The Good City to find out how we can help you design your city.

Resilient Places

//Resilient Places

India is ready for a retail revolution

India’s retail sector finds itself poised for a transformative year. Anchored by a burgeoning middle class and distinguished by the world's largest young population, it is already a substantial industry estimated to be valued at more than US$1.2trillion.

//Resilient Places

Second life for an icon

The iconic Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo is being demolished, but it has secured a second life in the metaverse. Chief Information Officer, Alistair Kell, explains the science.

Replacing RAAC: A nationwide crisis or opportunity?

Colin Meikle explains technical issues surrounding Reinforced Aerated Autoclaved Concrete (RAAC) following the news of school closures in the UK for essential remediation works.

//Ideas

Inclusive Communities

//Inclusive Communities

Anyone can be an Innovator

In "Thank You for Being Late", Thomas Friedman explores the challenges and opportunities of living in a rapidly changing world amidst technological advances, globalization, and climate change

//Inclusive Communities

Monocle The Urbanist Podcast: How can Meanwhile use help New York City?

Listen to Jesse Klimitz and Rosalind Tsang, AIA, LEED AP BD C describe the concept of ‘meanwhile use’ and how it could help The Big Apple.

//Inclusive Communities

Apprenticeships: Standing the Test of Time

Robert Ferry, Principal, Building Services Engineering started his career in construction in Manchester as an indentured technical apprentice for a Swiss design and build engineering contractor over 32 years ago. In 2012, he had the privilege of helping to start BDP’s very first apprenticeship scheme

//Ideas

Innovative Cities

//Innovative Cities

Tokyo: The 100 Year Old TOD

What makes Tokyo the world’s largest yet least congested city? In our latest Good City paper, Eiji Okada, Head of Urbanism at Nippon Koei Urban Space, and Takayuki Kishii of the Institute of Behavioural Sciences, explore Tokyo’s century-long dedication to transit-oriented development.

//Innovative Cities

Lima: Transportation Lifelines

Solangel Fernandez, Director of Estrategia Urbana, and Alessandra Peña from BDP’s Lima office explore the challenges associated with planning the world’s largest city without a metro in this Good City insights paper.

//Innovative Cities

Applied Innovation

As designers, we recognise that the way we work and live must evolve to better suit our current and future needs.

People-centred Placemaking

//People-centred Placemaking

Rebuilding Birmingham

The City of Birmingham, despite occasional setbacks, has displayed great bravery in upgrading its vision for 2040 in ‘Our Future City’. The recent application consent and the release of this version 2.0 of the 'Big City Plan' suggest a bold step forward.

Nature finally has a seat at the table

Associate, Duncan Mackay gives a planner’s perspective on biodiversity net gain in the development of homes, businesses, and infrastructure in the UK.

//People-centred Placemaking

A City Transformed: Celebrating 15 Years of Liverpool One

As we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the completion of Liverpool ONE, we can take the time to reflect on the extraordinary journey of creativity, innovation, and collaboration that has transformed Liverpool's trajectory from post-industrial decline to a thriving hub of positivity and growth.