IABSE in Conversation

In our latest ‘IABSE in Conversation’ we talk to Catherine Ramsden, a founding Director at Useful Studio which is a London based Social Enterprise of architects, designers, and practitioners. We start by exploring her transition from the US to the UK and then from work in a large practice to setting up on your own. Alongside her educational, residential and bridge projects we look at how Useful Simple Trust has been created as a ‘B-Corp’, a new type of sustainable design practice, and how that can work in a commercially savvy world. Repurposing, diversity, sustainability, and great design all come together in one ‘big pie’.

Interviewer: John Roberts, CSDI 

In the latest ‘IABSE in Conversation’ we try something different – two guests, connected by the work they do at Bridges to Prosperity. Avery Bang is a Director, and Nicola Turrini is the Partnership Manager based in Rwanda. We discuss the great work B2P does around the world constructing hundreds of footbridges that safely connect isolated rural communities with health providers, schools and new sources of income. Avery and Nico describe how sites are identified, designs developed and construction organised in these remote areas. Along the way we compare the American and Italian education systems and decide that everything is our parents’ fault. 

Steve Webb is a founding Director of Webb Yates Engineers, and has led many award-winning projects and pioneered the practice’s approach to sustainability. We discuss mega projects and staircases, innovation with stone and timber, the reasons he started his own practice, and the world’s largest gazelle.

Finn Graham is a bridge engineer and project manager with COWI, and winner of the IABSE Nethercot Prize 2020. He discusses subjects ranging from high-speed rail viaducts, demolishing occupied stadia and fibre reinforced composites through to finding a job in a recession, whilst geographically wandering from rural Ireland to the wilds of Canada, the streets of London and lockdown in Munich.