Takeaways

• Evolution of sensory design
• Personal journey and self-discovery Reimagining the kitchen experience through a different approach
• Community education and self-discovery for inclusive spaces

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Role Journey
• 02:05 Evolution of Sensory Design
• 05:22 Research Project Initiation
• 08:32 Transition to Kind Root and Career Journey
• 11:32 Discovery of Sensory Design
• 14:12 Understanding Sensory Needs
• 17:36 Personal Journey and Self-Discovery
• 19:26 Challenges and Research Program
• 21:00 Design Solutions and Framework
• 22:45 Reimagining the Kitchen Experience
• 25:26 Interactive Event and Data Collection
• 26:22 Personal Reflection and Micro Nudges
• 27:47 Leadership and Learning Journey
• 32:26 Creating Inclusive Spaces
• 37:35 Community Education and Self-Discovery

Connect with Kindroot

https://www.kindroot.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/kindroothome/

Connect with Built By Us

https://www.builtbyus.org.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/builtbyusuk/

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We look at where architectural education falls short, what sets Defrente's team apart, and the powerful work they've done on a project in Lima, Peru.

Zafir also reflects on how his design thinking has shifted over the years, and why community engagement, inclusive urban spaces, and education are non-negotiable in architecture that truly serves people.

Takeaways

• Humanitarian design and advocacy are at the core of Defrente Studio's work
• The studio's unique team composition and diverse skill sets contribute to a broader approach to architecture and design Inclusive urban design involves understanding the unique needs and perspectives of different demographic groups.
• Community engagement is crucial in shaping public spaces and ensuring that they meet the diverse needs of the community.

Chapters

• 00:00 Journey into Architecture and Advocacy
• 03:05 The Founding of Defrente Studio
• 04:00 Challenges of Architectural Education
• 07:27 Unique Team Composition and Skill Sets
• 14:24 Impactful Project in Lima, Peru
• 12:49 Shift in Design Approach and Community Engagement
• 21:30 The Importance of Education and Community Engagement
• 25:12 Inclusive Urban Design
• 27:32 Community Engagement and Social Cohesion
• 29:32 Architecture and Wellness
• 31:09 Community Involvement in Urban Development
• 44:11 Leadership and Collaboration

Connect with Zafir Ameen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zafir-ameen/

Find out more about Defrente

Instagram: @defrente.studio

LinkedIn: Defrente Studio

Website: https://www.defrente.studio/

Follow Built By Us

Website: https://www.builtbyus.org.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtbyusuk/

Built By Us is a podcast for change makers, built environment professionals, and anyone who believes the industry needs to do better.

Every fortnight, host Danna Walker, founder of Built By Us, sits down with practitioners, policy makers, urban designers, architects, planners, and the voices that rarely get a platform, to talk about equity, inclusion, and what it truly takes to build environments that work for everyone.

This is not theory. This is the real work, told by the people doing it.

New episodes every fortnight, every Monday at 7am UK time. Find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Connect with Built By Us at builtbyus.org.uk and on Instagram at @builtbyusUK.

What if truly inclusive cities start not with buildings, but with the people who live in them?

In this episode of the Built By Us Podcast, host Danna Walker sits down with Stephanie Edwards, architect, urban designer, and co-founder of Urban Symbiotics, a London-based practice, that is fundamentally rethinking how communities are engaged in the design and regeneration of the places they call home.

Together, they explore what it really means to put people at the centre of the built environment — from challenging tokenistic consultation to developing innovative, on-the-ground engagement methods that go to where communities already are.

Stephanie shares how a pivotal moment on a large-scale masterplanning project led her to start Urban Symbiotics with co-founder James Stewart, and how combining architecture with product design and communications has created a genuinely different approach to place-making and regeneration.

Whether you're an architect, urban designer, planner, community practitioner, student, or someone who simply cares about who our cities are really built for, this episode is full of honest, thoughtful, and inspiring insights.

In This Episode

• The story behind Urban Symbiotics and what inspired its founding
• Why community engagement is often an exercise rather than a genuine endeavour
• Innovative methods for reaching underserved and underrepresented communities
• The power of combining architecture with product design and communications
• Regeneration vs gentrification — navigating trust, displacement, and benefit
• Why "nothing about us without us" is central to Urban Symbiotics' approach
• What communities have taught Stephanie about design and process
• Designing flexible, inclusive spaces with low thresholds for participation
• The Stephen Lawrence Trust and its lasting impact on diversity in architecture
• Lessons from founding a purpose-driven practice — including wild optimism

About the Guest

Stephanie Edwards is an architect, urban designer, and co-founder of Urban Symbiotics. She studied at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, supported by a full scholarship from the Stephen Lawrence Trust. Her career has taken her across the globe, from the Netherlands and the Middle East to South America and West Africa, before settling in London.

Urban Symbiotics works at the intersection of people, data, and design, helping communities, developers, and local authorities to co-create places that genuinely reflect the needs, aspirations, and lived experiences of the people who use them.

Connect with Urban Symbiotics

Website: https://www.urbansymbiotics.com/

Connect with Stephanie Edwards

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-edwards-aa-dip-arb-riba-9b603a28/

Follow Built By Us

Website: https://www.builtbyus.org.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtbyusuk/

What if it could help tackle climate change, strengthen communities, and create more inclusive places for everyone?

In this episode of the Built By Us Podcast, host Danna Walker sits down with Albane Duvillier and Elliot Rogosin, co-founders of House of Bricoleurs, a UK and France-based architecture practice rethinking how we design, build, and collaborate.

Together, they explore how architecture can become a force for positive social and environmental change. From regenerative design and adaptive reuse to community-led projects and inclusive public spaces, Albane and Elliot share how their work challenges traditional approaches to architecture while putting people, place, and purpose at the centre of every project.

The conversation explores the realities of founding a purpose-driven practice, the importance of working with existing buildings and materials, and why collaboration, teaching, and knowledge-sharing are essential for creating meaningful change in the built environment.

Whether you're an architect, designer, construction professional, student, founder, or simply passionate about creating a better future, this episode offers valuable insights into how design can help shape more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive communities.

In This Episode

• The story behind House of Bricoleurs

• Why architecture must respond to climate and social challenges

• Working with existing buildings instead of always building new

• Regenerative design and sustainable construction

• Community-led architecture and collaborative design

• Teaching, learning, and sharing knowledge through practice

• The future of inclusive cities and public spaces

• Creating meaningful social and environmental impact

• Lessons learned from building a purpose-driven business

About the Guests

Albane Duvillier and Elliot Rogosin are the founders of House of Bricoleurs, an architecture and design practice operating across the UK and France.

Their work focuses on architecture, landscapes, materials, heritage, sustainability, and education. Through research, teaching, design, and hands-on collaboration, they seek to create projects that are environmentally responsible, socially inclusive, and deeply connected to the people who use them.

Connect with House of Bricoleurs

Website:
https://houseofbricoleurs.xyz/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/houseofbricoleurs/

Follow Built By Us

Website:
https://www.builtbyus.org.uk/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/builtbyusuk/