Welcome to the live coverage of the 2009 RIBA Research Symposium - Changing Practices. Updates will follow at key points throughout the day summarising the presentations and debate from Portland Place.

Following a brief address to the room from current RIBA President Ruth Reed, and an introduction to the keynote speaker from previous president Sunand Prasad, Anne Lacaton has taken the lectern with her presentation “Transformation, density for a better quality of life in the cities”.

Lacaton discusses the question of recycling the modernist heritage of our cities. She discusses the reformulation of housing standards, and the need to look at housing from the scale of the city down to the scale of the individual room. As demand for housing has increased, the quality and size of our spaces have degraded.

Presentation of Lacaton & Vassal’s social housing scheme in Mulhouse. Dwellings built to sizes that exceed current standards. Question the requirement of the regulations to exclude the climate through insulation. Introduction of an inhabitable double skin that acts as a mediator of climate whilst providing additional adaptable living space. Use of prefabricated agricultural construction with built in climate controls, above a concrete base level. Discussion of rent - although this housing is significantly larger, rents should not be beyond the means of the citizens for which it was intended.

Presentation of idea for densification of cities through high rise villa style apartments, increasing density whilst providing high quality spaces. Densification in a way that is acceptable for inhabitants.

Question of recycling modernist heritage - demolition is the worst solution. Examples of potential transformations of tower blocks, paying close attention to cost.

http://www.lacatonvassal.com/