*Hackney Council:
Contribution to research award
*Inspire Future Generations
Research award
2022
Chingford Mount Child Friendly District Research and Feasibility Study
Report on research findings from engagement programme at Chingford Mount.
This research unfolds in two layers: Part 1 combines quantitative and qualitative analyses done by the perspectives of young people, while Part 2 presents interventions designed through collaborative co-production. This dual framework charts a course for local authorities, furnishing recommendations and a pioneering pilot scheme for future town center initiatives. Rooted in the insights of young collaborators, the proposed designs illuminate Chingford Mount as a vibrant hub where the aspirations of youth take centre stage.
2020
Making London Child-Friendly
Produced by Publica and Erect Architecture with a Foreword by Dinah Bornat who was co-chair of the MDA Sounding Board.
This report from the Mayor’s Good Growth by Design initiative outlines how strategic built environment design can empower young Londoners' independent mobility. It consolidates research, policies, and practices to establish key principles for creating a child-friendly city. While existing research has delved into child-friendliness and mobility, their translation into urban design has been limited. This report addresses the gap, highlighting the pivotal role of the built environment in shaping youth mobility, encompassing public spaces, roads, and residential developments.
2020
Making it possible to do
Play Sufficiency
Produced by Play Wales. Dinah Bornat was a member of the review Panel.
This study builds upon prior research focusing on the Play Sufficiency Duty, shifting the focus to the conditions that enable local authorities to support children's play opportunities. These conditions are influenced by various factors, including people, policies, funding, and more, which facilitate Play Sufficiency enactment. The report underscores these connections, offering examples and recommendations for Welsh Government, Play Wales, local authorities, and the children's workforce.
2019
Neighbourhood Design
Report produced by ZCD Architects
This report addresses the lack of representation of children in urban development policies, focusing on a Hackney neighborhood through children's perspectives. We engaged, observed, and analyzed their outdoor activities, proposing innovative approaches to urban design and participation that better serve younger generations. Based on a commitment to become child-friendly, our study spans the De Beauvoir Estate and nearby De Beauvoir Primary School, offering insights applicable beyond Hackney to cities across the UK.
2019
Child-Friendly Planning in the UK
Written by Jenny Wood, Dinah Bornat and Aude Bicquelet-Lock.
This report explores integrating children's needs and rights into planning policy, revealing gaps in current national policies despite ratified rights. It examines key UNCRC human rights like participation, public space access, and play, advocating a 'child-friendliness' approach. Recommendations are given, highlighting Wales' emphasis on children's rights, Scotland's reforms, and Northern Ireland's potential. Collaboration among nations is urged for nationwide improvement.
2018
Chain Reaction: Neighbourhood Play
Dinah Bornat wrote an essay for this anthology discussing the question: Do buildings damage your health?
Dinah's essay explores housing development design challenges, emphasizing the importance of integrated play spaces for children. It critiques existing policies that limit play to specific areas and proposes a shift towards holistic play-centric neighborhoods. Backed by research, the essay highlights declining outdoor play's impact and envisions vibrant urban spaces that foster well-being and social interaction.
2018
Between edges and hedges
Dinah Bornat wrote an essay for an anthology for Harrow Council on designing for children and people.
This essay addresses the decline in children's outdoor play and its societal impact, underscoring the crucial role of local neighborhood spaces. It advocates for car-free, shared areas accessible from homes to facilitate safe play and community engagement. Illustrated with vivid photography, the essay promotes principles for developers and planners to create inclusive, child-friendly environments. The aim is to reshape neighbourhoods into sustainable, engaging spaces that prioritise the well-being of both children and residents.
2018
Cities Alive
ZCD's research gets referenced in this ARUP publication.
This report introduces a child-friendly perspective to urban planning, emphasising its impact on children's development, health, and opportunities. Beyond playgrounds, this approach considers the holistic built environment's role in shaping children's futures and enhancing overall citizen well-being. The report urges city stakeholders to embrace child-friendly urban environments for a brighter urban future.
2018
Play Sufficiency and
Neighbourhood Layout
Report produced by ZCD Architects
This report analyzes neighborhoods in Wrexham County, Wales, mapping spatial aspects affecting children's play opportunities. ZCD Architects' mapping ranks neighborhoods based on independent play levels, revealing a correlation between mapping scores and children's satisfaction with play opportunities. This supports Play Sufficiency planning in Wales and offers insights for the UK, connecting social value with measurable outcomes through effective design.
2017
Making spaces for play
Summary of Housing Design for Community Life
Produced by NHBC and ZCD Architects
This report underscores the connection between design, community spaces, and children's play for their development. Despite global trends in child-friendly urban planning, the UK faces increasing restrictions on outdoor play. The 2015 All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) report highlighted concerns and recommendations to promote play. This report supports APPG suggestions, using mapping and observational analysis to identify design factors impacting social space use.
2016
Housing Design for Community Life
Report produced by ZCD Architects
This research emphasizes people-centered placemaking, observing their outdoor interactions to inform design. It recognizes the significance of activities like play and socializing in fostering community. It underscores the need to design safe play spaces for children, supporting community-wide benefits and elderly well-being. This manifesto calls for a shift in planning policy and cultural obligations toward inclusive community development.
