The future of Bath’s architecture, art and housing – and how they shape its economy – will come under the spotlight at the first major conference of its kind to be held in the city.
Speakers will include internationally acclaimed architects, designers and heritage experts along with award-winning Bath-based film director Ken Loach, who will present his vision for the city. 
The Festival of the Future City Bath is being staged by the University of Bath and will span three days of talks, walks and workshops together with lectures by major speakers between October 19 and 21.
The festival, which is being presented by the university’s arts centre The Edge, kicks-off with the question ‘whose city is It?’ and will explore how cities can reinvigorate their character and economy when looking to the future.
It will also focus on the complexities of Bath, a city similar to Venice with UNESCO world heritage status, but one that needs to continue to evolve. There will be three principal themes: housing, the artist and the city and great architecture – both locally and globally.
Among the highlights will be a walk around Bath on the opening day with writer and critic Owen Hatherley, author of A Guide To The New Ruins Of Great Britain.
This will be followed by a talk on October 20 in the Assembly Rooms which will tackle the complexities of a place like Bath in shaping its future.
Issues to be discussed will be the best ways to develop an ecosystem for all to contribute economically, including use of public space. This session will also explore the challenges of preserving architectural heritage while creating new buildings and welcoming new populations. Speakers will include leading architect Alison Brooks, Henrietta Billings, director of SAVE Britain’s Heritage, Andrew Vines of Historic England, and Jim Herevin director at Zaha Hadid Architects.
A session staged in The Edge on October 21 will look at the creative city. It will explore what makes a city a great place to live and will look at radical housing solutions, the city as artistic inspiration and 21st century design. Speakers will include Stuart Woods of Thomas Heatherwick Studio and the Garden Bridge project, Anna Minton of Big Capital, Alex Vasudevan (The Autonomous City), The Design Museum’s Justin McGuirk and artist Rut Blees Luxemburg, a photographer and installation artist focusing on urban space.
In his presentation, Ken Loach will talk about his vision around urban development, social housing and employment. How can complexities around housing and jobs be resolved in the complex, heritage-driven landscape of a UNESCO city? He will talk about these themes and then offer the discussion to the audience.
For more information on the festival go to https://www.edgearts.org/whats-on/special-events/festival-future-city-bath-2/
