Who are we building for? Inclusiveness and circularity 

Moderator: Shaun Dawson, Chief Executive, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, UK

Community recreation and sport facilities can be so much more than code-compliant spaces—they can be catalysts for inclusion, connection, and sustainability. Aquatic experts explore how to move beyond minimum standards to create environments that welcome everyone and inspire everyday movement. Expertise from Canada share practical, experience-driven strategies to embed equity, dignity, and meaningful access at the heart of design, while examples from Denmark showcase circular approaches that transform underused spaces through reclaimed materials, adaptive reuse, and community ownership. Together, they reveal how thoughtful, people-first design can remove barriers, reduce carbon impact, and create vibrant places where communities truly thrive.

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On the panel

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Darryl is interested in design as a catalyst for positive social change. As Managing Principal at hcma architecture + design, he has helped create engaging public spaces across Canada for over 30 years. Darryl recently completed a Doctorate of Design from the University of Calgary, where he researched and developed an advanced practice model to maximize public benefit from community facilities. He currently serves as Vice President on IAKS’ Executive Board.

Darryl Condon
Managing Principal, hcma architecture + design, Canada

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Stephen is an English-Danish architect at the internationally recognized design studio JAJA Architects, known for projects like Parking House + Konditaget Lüders and GAME Streetmekka Aalborg. Educated in Nottingham and KADK Copenhagen, he joined JAJA in 2015 and has since led concept-driven design and competition projects, contributing to several winning proposals through his focus on innovation and strategic development.

Stephen Dietz-Hodgson
Architect, JAJA Architects, Denmark

Beyond compliance: from minimum standards to maximum impact
Darryl Condon, Managing Principal, hcma architecture + design, Canada
Designing for true inclusion goes far beyond adherence to code. In this session, Darryl Condon challenges design teams and decision-makers to shift from compliance to compassion – embed¬ding equity, dignity, and meaningful access as imperatives in the delivery of community recrea¬tion and sport facilities. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience, Darryl shares practical strategies for removing both physical and invisible barriers to create spaces where everyone can thrive.

Common grounds: Circular design for collective movement
Stephen Dietz-Hodgson, Architect, JAJA Architects, Denmark
In this session, Stephen Dietz-Hodgson from JAJA Architects explores circular strategies that turn sports spaces into inclusive, low-carbon community assets. Drawing on a range of JAJA projects, he shows how reclaimed materials and adaptive reuse can breathe new life into underused urban areas. Discover how design can promote everyday movement and social connections by putting people first, embracing informality, and creating a sense of shared ownership!