Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
4x4 lecture series
From The Leeds Society of Architects, the 4x4 event series took place across Thursday evenings in February 2024, in conjunction with in conjunction with Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Civic Trust and RIBA.
The series proved a success, highlighting their relevance and importance to the City of Leeds and further afield.
Each evening was chaired by four expert hosts, who lead Q&A sessions with the presenters following each presentation. This ultimately encouraged conversation around architecture, urban design, the arts, culture and sustainability.
The program will saw sixteen brilliant speakers, on the basis of four speakers per evening. They shared their thoughts and presented on four key themes: Culture, Development, Design and Sustainability.
Featured speakers
Week One: A City Alive
Sponsor: Optima
Optima is an international leader in high-quality, low-carbon glass partitioning systems and solutions, with over 35 years of experience delivering stunning, high-performance projects globally. We pride ourselves on offering exceptional service and beautifully designed glass partitions and doors which exude quality. We are wholly dedicated to helping our clients create effective and innovative workspaces in some of the world’s most iconic buildings.
Chair: Peg Alexander
Speakers
- Ian Tod
- Jessica Davidson
- Mark Johnston
- Pippa Hale
- Abigail Scott Paul
- Kully Thiarai
Week Two: A Developing City
Sponsor: James Hardie
James Hardie is the world’s number one producer and marketer of high-performance fibre cement cladding and backerboard and a market leader in Europe for fibre gypsum products. Our company culture is built on providing a foundation of “Zero Harm”, creating a positive impact in communities, and delivering environmentally responsible innovative solutions to customers. Our durable, low maintenance and innovative products are made from natural and sustainable raw materials, delivering endless possibilities of design and aesthetics to consumers.
Chair: Former editor of the Guardian, Martin Wainwright.
Speakers:
- Previous Design Team Leader at Leeds City Council, Mark Burgess.
- Previous Leeds City Council Councillor, Elizabeth Minkin.
- John Rhodes, Award winning architect and Senior Principal and Director of Sport + Enterntainemt Architecture for HOK.
- Karen Stafeckis, Head of Development (North) at CEG.
Week Three: The Look
Sponsor: Forbo
Forbo Flooring Systems is a global player in high-quality commercial flooring and total flooring solutions that include Linoleum, Vinyl, Luxury Vinyl Tiles, Flocked Flooring, Carpet Tiles and Entrance Flooring Systems. We focus on environmentally friendly, functional and design-orientated luxury flooring.
Chair: Award-winning news editor of The Architects’ Journal, Richard Waite.
Speakers:
- Previous 4X4 collaborator and the initiator of 'The Leeds Look' debate, Ken Powell.
- Feidlen Clegg Bradley Studios, Partner and Studio Leader Alex Whitbread and Associate Simon Richardson.
- Local Artist, Historian, Tour Guide and Leeds Civic Trust trustee, Clifford Stead (BiroguyLeeds).
- Angel Tenorio, Project Leader for Heatherwick Studio of the new Maggie’s Centre in Leeds, Yorkshire, which was 'New Buildings (up to £10m in value)' and 'Project of the Year' award winners, of the Leeds Architecture Awards 2023.
Week Four: A Sustainable City
Sponsor: Solus
Innovative and dynamic, Solus is renowned among the architecture and design community for being one of the UK’s leading suppliers of commercial floor and wall tiles.
Chair: Former BBC Radio Leeds presenter, Andrew Edwards.
Speakers:
- Irena Bauman, co-founder of Bauman Lyons Architects and start-up fabrication company MassBespoke.
- Paul Chatterton, Professor of Urban Futures at the University of Leeds and author of Low Impact Living, Unlocking Sustainable Cities and How to Save the City.
- Ryan Groves and Wesley Dodds, co-founders of Enjoy Design and architects of Opera North's Muisc works, Leeds Architecture Awards 2023, 'Adapted Buildings' award winners.
- Claude Saint-Arroman, architect, HEA lecturer, urban researcher and Leeds Civic Trust trustee.
watch the lectures
Catch up on all four panel talks and hear from sixteen speakers on various themes regarding culture, development, design and sustainability.
