Robert Bedner
My foundation and training were gained from a technical perspective and formed from working for a wide range of internationally recognized practitioners of architecture and art in Europe and the USA including two Pritzker Prize winning architectural practices : Sverre Fehn in Norway, Renzo Piano in Paris and the American legendary Artist Vito Acconci in New York City. In 2007 I became a Chartered Architectural Technologist and founded Research + Design.In 2020, Research + Design was renamed Cura Design in order to focus on design processes that heal the natural world and also heal and enhance the built enviroment and importantly our well being.
Recent research has revealed the world’s 7.6 billion people represent just 0.01% of all living things, yet have caused the loss of 83% of all wild mammals and half of plants, while pets and livestock abound. Some would say we live in a civilization that is in contradiction with life itself. A civilization hard wired to exploit the earth, and to divide people and to destroy the environment.
Biophilic design offers an opportunity to address this imbalance in our culture and the way we relate to the environment, recognising the benefits that contact with nature has on our mind, body and spirit. Cura provides design and research services with our relationship to nature as the core design value, the driver and generator for creating a new type of built environment.
Cura are a Chartered Practice registered at the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (London, UK). In 2009 the office won both a "High Commendation" for the national Alan King Award and Plymouths Abercrombie Award in 2011 for Best Minor Development (New Street Residential Extension). In 2017 the office won Best Community Project and People of Plymouth Award (Stiltskin Childrens Theatre) as well as Best Community Project (Union Corner). In addition the practice was Winner (in conjuction with Hand Drawn homes and Peter Warm Consultants) of the RIBA sponsored Plymouth West End Ideas Competition in 2015.
Cura have presented at the CESW Exeter Climate Summit 2018, The 13th Biennial European Town and Town Planners Conference 2019, the Sustainable Earth 2021 - Climate Emergency - the Race to Net Zero and Plymouth “Grey to Green” 2021. Cura have also been featured at Homebuilding and Renovating Show London and Bath 2021, Greenbuild Expo, the Expert Advice Centre Grand Designs Live, and BBC Radio Devon speaking about local architectural issues.
