Yasmin Ali

News/Technology

New suite of microsites now live from Scottish design champion A+DS

Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) have prepared a new suite of webpages on their website along six key coded themes which follow their programmes. The themes include:

• 'Smarter Places' - including exemplars of best practice for design for schools and a focus on associated community engagement;
• 'Healthier Places' - with a focus on better health through working with NHS Scotland and other stakeholders on healthcare projects;
• 'Design Review' - CABE-style case study analyses and independent professional panel review by A+DS;
• 'Access' - content linked to recently relaunched Scottisharchitecture website, with content designed for all; aims to encourage the public and students to engage with built environment events and debates;
• 'Urbanism' - with links to broad issues and debates, as well as LUDO - Library of Urbanism online;
• The Lighthouse initiative 'Sust', with links to sustainability and built environment issues and research,  and its independent website http://www.sust.org/.

Each programme has its own dedicated blog and information pages. The Websuite is user-friendly and intuitive with drop-down menus and easily-navigable content.

Across the pages there is a good mix of content - alongside official posts, there is scope for open-forums and participatory discussions. LUDO - The Library of Urbanism can be built up with user contributions.

The Websuite was officially announced just over 2 weeks ago at the time of writing, in a email to users on the 4th April.

The programmes can also be reached with redirects at the following independent web addresses -

• SmarterPlaces.org
• HealthierPlaces.org
• ScottishArchitecture.com
• Urbanism.org.uk
• DesignReview.org.uk
• http://www.sust.org/