Dr Iona Hine interviews Professor Flora Samuel, Head of the Department of Architecture at the University of Cambridge. The conversation explores the concept of urban rooms, spaces where communities converge to discuss city futures, and the potential role of faith groups in these discussions. They discuss theoretical and practical challenges of considering representation, noting the 1% of a populace that typically participates in planning consultations is far from diverse.

Dr Hine also invites Professor Samuel to reflect on four possible ways faith communities can engage in sustainable urban futures, referring to a recent article by Prof Christopher Baker and Dr Chris Ives.

This episode is part of the Cambridge Interfaith Programme's UK Interfaith Futures series.

00:00 Introduction to the Interfaith Futures Series

00:38 Meet Professor Flora Samuel

01:37 The Concept of Urban Rooms

02:19 Faith Groups and Community Building

04:23 Challenges in Representation and Engagement

07:32 Faith and Urban Sustainability

10:01 Reflecting on Faith's Role in Urban Spaces

12:21 Concluding Thoughts

Resources mentioned

• The Cambridge Room, an urban room for Cambridge: www.cambridgeroom.org
• Quality of Life Foundation: www.qolf.org
• Ives & Baker, Engaging faith for a sustainable urban future, in Global Sustainability 7. doi.org/10.1017/sus.2024.32