How to build a feminist city | RSA Journal Presents

What if your city wasn’t designed with you in mind? For most women and non-binary people, it wasn’t. But in Glasgow, that’s starting to change.

Glasgow is the first UK city to formally adopt feminist urban planning – a bold step towards creating safer, more inclusive public spaces. With a gender-sensitive approach embedded in its City Development Plan, the city is rethinking everything from street lighting and transport to parks and housing.

In Issue 2 of #RSAJournal, we explore how feminist principles are reshaping the built environment – and who it's designed to serve.

Featuring:

➡️ Holly Bruce – Scottish Green Councillor, Langside Ward
➡️ Dr May East – Urbanist and author of What if Women Designed the City?
➡️ Jude Barber – Director, Collective Architecture
➡️ Ross Aitchson – Architect, Collective Architecture
➡️ Caitlin Arbuckle-Macleod – Graduate Town Planner, Collective Architecture
➡️ Pippa Cook – Architectural Assistant, Collective Architecture

Read more on RSAJournal+: https://www.thersa.org/rsa-journal/is...

Thank you to Glasgow City Council, Collective Architecture, RIAS Bookshop and Daniel Hawelka.

#FeministUrbanism #CityPlanning #Glasgow #Architecture #InclusiveDesign #RSAJournal

Video chapters

00:45 - Introduction to councillor Holly Bruce
01:12 - What is feminist urban planning?
02:01 - Changing power structures in cities
02:46 - Edinburgh walking tour with Dr May East
04:10 - Glasgow’s bold policy shift
05:00 - Global examples of gender-sensitive design
06:14 - Applying a gendered lens to planning
07:01 - Introduction to architect Jude Barber
07:48 – The Liveable Neighbourhood Projects case study
10:07 – Glasgow's Feminist Urbanism Working Group and key projects
11:21 – What does a feminist city look like?

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This video was edited on July 17 2025.