Architecture, Art and Wellbeing

This year's RSA Bossom Lecture, hosted by Maggie's, looks at the influence of architecture and art on people’s well being and how Maggie’s, in particular, helps people affected by cancer.

Maggie’s is delighted to be hosting the annual Bossom Architecture Lecture at The Royal Society of Arts on 8 November 2011 at 6pm.

The RSA Bossom lecture series is named after architect and politician Lord Alfred Bossom in 1965 and previous speakers have included Rem Koolhaas, Richard Rogers, David Chipperfield and Aaron Betsky.

This year lecture focuses on the concept of ‘healing architecture’. The idea of the healing influence of art and architecture has been developing over the last two decades and a large amount of research has been carried out into the impact of architectural design on the success of healthcare environments. Maggie’s Centres provide a clear example of how good design is so important and can be successful in helping anyone affected by cancer.

Key factors needed for healing environments have been identified in a number of studies by leading academics such as Cor Wagenar, including a person's connection to nature, their options and choices, positive distractions, access to social support and environmental causes of stress. Maggie’s centres address these issues but not through architecture alone.

Architect Piers Gough, art critic Richard Cork and consultant Dr Sam Guglani discuss Maggie’s pioneering approach to cancer care, and how this collaborative approach can be replicated and used to influence policy to develop better environments for people in healthcare.

The panel for the lecture features Piers Gough of CZWG Architects LLP, architect of Maggie’s Nottingham; Richard Cork, award-winning art critic, historian, broadcaster and exhibition curator; and Dr Sam Guglani, consultant in clinical oncology from Cheltenham General Hospital and Hereford County Hospital. The lecture will be introduced by Laura Lee, Chief Executive of Maggie's and chaired by Charles Jencks, co-founder of Maggie's, architectural theorist, landscape architect, designer and previous speaker at the Bossom Lecture.

Buy your ticket for the lecture from the RSA website

Suggested hashtag for Twitter users: #RSAMaggies.

You can also listen to this event live.