Join us for an exploration of what it takes to create thriving intergenerational communities at the Radical Housing Conference Scotland Part 3: The Zoomers & Boomers Soirée!

Part 3 of the Radical Housing Conference Scotland 2025 will be an informal soirée with food and drink, poetry and music, being held at the Augustine United Church, on George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, on 11 June, as part of the Architecture Fringe. 

Learn from experts in the field and connect with like-minded individuals. Whether you're a housing advocate, community representative or policymaker – or simply interested in learning more about the pros and cons of intergenerational living, this is the event for you.

We will discuss the benefits of intergenerational living – how it strengthens the broader community and helps tackle loneliness. We will also look at the obstacles to more intergenerational living. Why do we have a culture that doesn't promote this and what can be done to change the culture?

“I believe that integration across traditional silos - such as age groups - must be a vital focus for a country burdened by an obsession with the ‘nuclear family ’” – Savannah Fishel, Churchill Fellow, and speaker at the conference.

The evening will be filled with insightful discussions and networking opportunities – a must-attend for anyone passionate about intergenerational housing in Scotland.

ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTION

Zoë Bestel, singer songwriter

Zoë is a Scottish singer-songwriter, who describes her music as Nu-Folk. She started learning the Ukulele in 2011 and released her first EP in 2012. Zoë has released two albums, been nominated for the Scottish Alternative Music Awards under the Best Acoustic category and supported artists such as Nathan Connolly of Snow Patrol, Emily Smith, The Paul McKenna Band, The Peatbog Faeries, Erin Rae, Chris Wood, Paul Brady, Steve Tilston and Bella Hardy.

Savannah Fishel, Service designer, campaigner, researcher, coach

Savannah is an experienced project manager and problem solver. She uses cross-sector collaboration, social innovation and service design approaches to support clients in tackling systemic inequalities. 

Savannah works across the Innovation Unit portfolio with specific expertise in the social determinants of health. Recently she’s led projects which have included supporting anchor institutions across the UK to use their resource and influence to benefit local communities; phase one of codesign for Live Well, Greater Manchester’s movement for community-led health and wellbeing.

Savannah was awarded a Churchill Fellowship which funded overseas travel where she visited over 50 housing innovations which place intergenerational relationships at the centre of their design.

Robin Livingston, Fraser/Livingstone Architects

Robin is an architect with the Edinburgh-based practice Fraser/Livingstone Architects, which he founded in 2019. He has over 20 years of experience working on a diverse range of award-winning projects in the residential, community, public and arts sectors, and has taught and lectured at various schools of architecture across the UK. He has developed particular expertise in innovative community-led housing projects in both rural and urban settings and is currently leading on the delivery of a new multigenerational community at Dallas Dhu in Forres, Moray, offering mixed tenure homes with Co-Housing and Custom Self-Build opportunities.

Sehrish Azad,

Sehrish is 28 years old, Muslim, of Pakistani heritage, and born and raised in Edinburgh. I work for a charity that provides vital aid to orphans, refugees, and families in war-torn regions. I currently live with my parents and my grandmother (my dad’s mum), and I really value the blessings of intergenerational living. In our culture, and through our faith, we’re taught to honour and care for our elders — something I feel grateful to practise every day. It creates a strong sense of love, responsibility and connection between generations that I believe is so important, especially in today's world.

Julia Behrendt, Green Leaf Design & Build Ltd

.Julia is a green builder and environmental designer, specialising in Passivhaus design and sustainable materials. She has a passion for creating highly functional and healthy buildings using holistic approaches and resourceful methods of construction. Based on the Isle of Lismore, Julia is curious about how people can successfully share spaces and has lived in several house-shares and communities.

Gail Halvorsen, Halvorsen Architects & chair SEDA Land

After working for Michael Hopkins and Partners in London Gail established Halvorsen Architects in 1994. She moved to Edinburgh in 1999, where she specialises in ecological design for residential and nursery school buildings. Gail was chair of ECAN (Edinburgh Chartered Architects Network) from 2001-2 and on the board of Gorebridge Community Development Trust for 10 years, being chair from 2014-16, where she project managed the £2.5m community centre, Gorebridge Beacon. She was a Civic Trust Award assessor 1997–2011. Gail is a director of the SEDA and organised the A New Vision for Land Use in Scotland: Six Conversations in Spring 2021 after which she founded SEDA Land to look at issues facing rural Scotland in a cross-sectoral way.

Ariane Burgess MSP, for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party.

Ariane Burgess MSP grew up in Scotland and became involved in the independence movement, joining the Scottish Green Party in Moray. She authored “Life Design for Women: Conscious Living as a Force for Positive Change” and previously worked in sustainable community development. She is the Scottish Green Party spokesperson for Communities, Land Reform, Housing and Rural Affairs and MSP for the Highlands & Islands. As Convenor of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee she helped to steer the new National Planning Framework through Parliament. In January 2023 she launched her Regenerative Scotland podcast which explores the action needed to ensure a thriving future in the face of our climate and nature emergency.