Amica Dall

Amica Dall, a writer, designer, and strategist from the design collective Assemble, delves into the role of language in architecture. She shares insights from her keynote on the complexities of architectural language and its impact on social practice. Amica highlights challenges like consultation fatigue and the need for precise definitions to reinvigorate meaning. Discussing local engagement versus large-scale solutions, she argues for embracing discomfort and vulnerability in architecture, ultimately advocating for a more inclusive and situated approach to design.

Amica Dall, co-founder of Assemble and writer/researcher on design, climate and community adaptation; Frances Northrop, community economic power lead at NEF and Totnes development director. They discuss Common Treasures and practical rural responses to housing, land, food systems and livelihoods. Conversations cover grassroots design, local governance, planning barriers, and how small-scale projects scale for social and ecological resilience.