Ryder Architecture, established in 1953 in Newcastle upon Tyne, is an international practice with studios across the UK and a growing presence in Vancouver and Victoria. Over the past twelve years, Ryder’s Glasgow team has been designing learning environments and public sector infrastructure across Scotland’s remote and island locations. Through this work, the practice has developed an approach to design rooted in a deep understanding of place, climate, culture, and the interconnected nature of design interventions in small communities.

In this talk, Chris Malcolm, Principal at Ryder and team leader of the Glasgow office, will share lessons from this work through a series of case studies and explore how insights from rural and island contexts in Scotland may inform design and service delivery in British Columbia. Chris has led education projects across the length and breadth of Scotland and brings a particular passion for working in rural and island communities.

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