How can we make a city that is good for our body, mind and soul? This September will see a week of walks, talks and activities in and around Bath as the Therapeutic City Festival opens the conversation about how we design and manage a city for wellbeing.
The festival is about looking at Bath’s history as a ‘therapeutic city’, a place where people have come not only to use the thermal waters but also to be restored by Bath’s beautiful setting and public spaces. As Bath applies to UNESCO to be recognised as one of the Great Spas of Europe, we ask the questions – what should a 21st century spa city be like? Does the whole city still have therapeutic value? Can it be an antidote to the common stress and pollution normally associated with urban environments?
In the 18th and 19th centuries visitors also came to Bath for enlightenment – the city was the centre of the latest radical ideas, debates and thought. The Therapeutic City Festival will continue this tradition by holding seven days of provocative talks and events, aimed at local residents, the general public and professionals involved in the design and management of Bath and other cities.
Health and wellbeing are now highly topical issues so it is perfect timing for Bath, arguably the original wellbeing city, to lead the discussion on how our cities can be good for our mind, body and soul.
The Therapeutic City Festival is created by Architecture Is, the collective behind the 2017 Festival of the Future City in Bath, and supported by RIBA.
Jon Watkins, RIBA South West, Regional Director comments: ‘The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) are delighted to be supporting this festival, it highlights the need to open up conversations around ‘the use of a city’ and what type of legacy we want to leave behind. Architecture is central to this and plays a significant role in engaging communities - we need to learn to be more sustainable and societies are demanding better infrastructure to change the way we live and work together’ .
Festival Highlights
Friday 20th September Bath: Therapeutic City, 6-8pm @ the Guildhall. A pecha kucha event looking at the past, present and future of Bath as a therapeutic city. Speakers from Historic England, the National Trust, University of Bath and Grant Associates Landscape Architects.
Saturday 21-Sunday 22 September: Healthy Living, Healthy City Weekend A weekend of healthy and creative activities, explorations and exercise, including the Love Milsom Street car free weekend.
Monday 23 – Wednesday 25 September: Café salons 6-8pm. We take over some of the city’s cafes for relaxed and lively evenings as residents and professionals debate how to shape a therapeutic and healthy city.
Friday 27 September: Therapeutic City Conference 9am–5pm @ Apex Hotel. Bringing together international policymakers, designers and developers to explore how to create a city that promotes and supports wellbeing. Speakers include Basalt Architects, Grant Associates, Invisible Studio, Tonkin Liu, Townshend Landscape Architects and many more.
Find out more at www.therapeuticity.org, @therapeuticity or contact info@architectureis.org.uk or call: 07732172872