In Episode 4 of the Value of Design podcast, we find out if architecture can respond to a world shaped by climate change, housing pressures, emerging technologies and shifting social priorities.
Co-hosted by Urban Designer Alex Laurenson and Architecture and Design Scotland Outreach Officer Rachel McBryde, this Co-Founders and Directors of STUDIO NIRO, Rowan Mackinnon-Pryde and Nicky Thomson.
Together, they reflect on their experience attending the UIA World Congress of Architects in Barcelona, one of the world's largest gatherings of architecture and design professionals. Drawing on insights from international discussions around housing, circular design, material reuse, artificial intelligence and the changing role of architects, they explore what Scotland can learn from global perspectives and why the value of design extends far beyond the buildings we create.
Guest speakers
- Co-hosts: Alex Laurenson (Urban Designer) and Rachel McBryde (Outreach Officer, Architecture and Design Scotland
- Rowan MacKinnon-Pryde, Director and Co-Founder, STUDIO NIRO
- Nicky Thomson, Director and Co-Founder, STUDIO NIRO
Resources
- Learn about Architecture and Design Scotland
- Learn about STUDIO NIRO
- Learn about The UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 Barcelona