Join leading architects, policymakers and urban innovators for a day of conversations during London Climate Action Week.

Join us for a day of inspiring conversations with leading architects, policymakers and urban innovators to discuss creative and structural responses to the climate emergency and our responsibility to build resilient urban environments that help our cities and communities thrive.

Anchored by Future Observatory’s Stone Demonstrator at Earls Court, and hosted in collaboration with C40 Cities during London Climate Action Week, we will explore how we can scale ancient materials and bio-based innovations to deliver low-carbon housing at the pace our cities require. Innovators will also demonstrate how to shift our focus from new-build to the essential maintenance, retrofit, and community-led resilience of our existing urban fabric.

The programme connects perspectives from different cities to move past one-off projects and examine how policy leadership and scalable nature-based solutions can secure the inclusive, safe and decent future we all need.

Highlights include: a vision for structural stone with Amin Taha (Groupwork) and Pierre Bidaud (The Stone Collective); case studies of scaling timber and bio-based housing with Andrew Waugh; a panel on community-led retrofit with Immy Kaur (Civic Square) and Sara Edmonds (National Retrofit Hub); and urban rewilding strategies for heat and flood resilience with Adib Dada and Jacek Kisiel (Warsaw city official).

Stone: An Ancient Material for the Future

Amin Taha, Groupwork

Amin founded an independent studio in 2003 and later established Groupwork as an Employee Ownership Trust, where he currently serves as chairman. Alongside leading the design and detailing of projects, he has taught, written and lectured on architecture, served on the Royal Institute of British Architects National and International Awards Jury, and supports property research groups and funds. Groupwork’s portfolio spans homes, residential and office buildings, arts centres, infrastructure and transport projects.

Pierre Bidaud, The Stonemasonry Company 

Pierre is a stonemason with a background in heritage and Creative Director at The Stonemasonry Company, where he leads a team developing stone staircases and load-bearing structures. He believes stone should be a commodity, not a luxury, and is working to pivot his industry towards pre-assembled stone elements for a more sustainable and efficient build. Pierre has been leading the conversation on stone in contemporary architecture for two decades. 

Cris Ballester, Balearic Social Housing Institute (IBAVI)

Cris is a Mallorcan economist and sustainability expert specialised in strategic management, social impact, and regenerative development. Former Managing Director of IBAVI and Director General of Housing and Architecture for the Balearic Government, she has led innovative approaches in social housing focused on affordability, local materials, and bioregional models. In 2024, she received the Royal Academy of Arts Architecture Award, and brings international experience across cooperation, hospitality, and real estate.

From Prototypes to Policy: Scaling Bio-based Housing

Andrew Waugh, Waugh Thistleton Architects

Andrew is a Founding Director of Waugh Thistleton Architects, a practice dedicated to delivering buildings of the highest architectural quality that acknowledge their impact on the environment. A world renowned spokesperson for low impact materials and innovative delivery methods. A pivotal player in the global shift towards bio-based materials, he has received a RIBA President's Award for Research and a Stirling Prize nomination.

Vanessa Norwood, consultant

Vanessa is a curator, consultant and writer advocating for low-carbon architecture and materials. She has shaped public and professional discourse on architecture through a series of critically acclaimed exhibitions. She works with clients in the built environment towards building a more thoughtful future. 

Adaptation: Retrofit, maintenance, and community resilience

Sara Edmonds, National Retrofit Hub

Sara is an architect and activist, co-director of the National Retrofit Hub, whose mission is to enable the local delivery of retrofit at scale. She co-founded Home Energy Action Lab, an advocacy organisation for community-based domestic retrofit, and sits on the Warm Homes Plan expert advisory panel. Her work focuses on driving change in the built environment by connecting grassroots projects with collaboration and codesign at its core.

Imandeep Kaur, Civic Square

Imandeep is Co-founder and Director of CIVIC SQUARE, an organisation demonstrating neighbourhood-scale civic infrastructure for social and ecological transition. Together with people and partners, CIVIC SQUARE is reimagining land stewardship, finance and governance with a focus on ecological building design and bio-based material retrofit. Imandeep is an active member of Project 00, and sits on the Doughnut Economics Action Lab Advisory Team and Common Wealth Advisory Board.

Urban Rewilding: Design for Heat and Flood Resilience

Adib Dada, theOtherdada

Adib Dada is an internationally recognized regenerative advisor, environmental architect, and forest maker. He founded theOtherDada, an advisory & architecture practice, pioneering nature-based design that bridges architecture, ecology, and art to regenerate cities as shared spaces for all of Life to thrive. Through his initiative theOtherForest, Adib has worked with diverse communities to plant over 25 native Miyawaki forests, transforming degraded urban sites into thriving ecosystem.

Jacek Kisiel, Deputy Director in Air Protection and Climate Policy Department, Warsaw City Hall 

He has many years of experience in local self-government. He specializes in spatial planning, air quality, energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate policy. He supervised the city's anti-smog policy, the Warsaw Climate Panel, Warsaw Green City and Climate Action Plan, the Warsaw Green Building Standard and energy poverty projects. Fan of innovative and integrated projects that combine mitigation with climate change adaptation. 

Please note:

• Tickets include all-day access to the symposium

• Lunch is not provided, but the museum has two spaces where you can enjoy a light lunch, drinks and snacks: the Design Cafe (Ground Level) and the Design Kitchen (Level 2). There are also restaurants and cafes in Kensington High Street

• This event is wheelchair accessible, with step-free access throughout the museum

• If you require BSL interpretation, please book your ticket up to four weeks before the event date and indicate your request in the booking form