The teen gap with Make Space for Girls

As children grow into adolescence, the spaces designed specifically for them begin to disappear. Playgrounds are left behind and public space becomes increasingly important, a place to meet friends, gain independence and develop a sense of belonging.

But who are these spaces really designed for? Who feels welcome in them, and who gets pushed to the edges?

Together with Make Space for Girls, we explore what young people need from their city as they grow, with a particular focus on the experiences of teenage girls and the inequalities that can shape their access to public space. Drawing on their research into how parks and public spaces are designed and used by teenagers, particularly teenage girls. The talk will look at the evidence behind the gender gap in public space, alongside best-practice examples from the UK and internationally, to explore what better provision can look like and what designers, planners and local authorities can do differently. This develops the themes already identified for the day around gender, inclusion and who feels welcome in public space.

How can we grow to better cater for teenagers? How can our thinking, our approach to design and our city evolve as young people gain independence? And how can our parks, streets and public spaces give teenagers the freedom, space and sense of belonging they need?

The talk will be followed by a drinks reception, a chance to explore the exhibition, continue the conversation and bring Edinburgh Through a Child’s Lens to a close. After a week of listening, thinking, making and growing, we’ll come together to reflect on what Edinburgh’s children and young people have told us, and what we might take forward for the city they are growing up in.

Talk | Free Tickets

This event is part of a wider upcoming event/exhibition series that Simpson Studio is hosting in A&DS:SpACE at the Edinburgh Futures Institute.

A&DS:SpACE is a collaborative venue created by Architecture and Design Scotland and Space for Architecture, Carbon & Environment. Through exhibitions, events and public programming, it provides a platform for conversations about architecture, design, sustainability, placemaking and the future of Scotland's built environment.