[online] Buildings for Sport & Leisure: 5. Skateparks, Iain Borden
[online] Buildings for Sport & Leisure Lecture Series: 5. Skateparks, Iain Borden
Thursday 20 November 2025 at 6.30pm – 8pm
Skateboarding thrived in the urban environment created by C20th urban architecture, adopting over-looked spaces and structures for individual performance and play. Now bespoke skateparks have become the most recent type of sports building. Iain Borden will talk about the development and conservation of skateparks in the UK, including the ROM, the Livingston Skatepark and more recent schemes such as the RIBA award-winning F51 in Folkestone, the world’s first multi-level skatepark.
Iain will be joined by Oli Marshall to discuss the C20 Society’s proposal, in partnership with Ian Chalk Architects, to re-purpose the Grade II-listed Richard Dunn Sports Centre in Bradford as The Dunn, a new national skateboarding centre.
Iain Borden is Professor of Architecture and Urban Culture at the Bartlett School of Architecture and an Honorary Fellow of the RIBA. A specialist on the theory and practice of skateboarding, he was involved in the campaign to save the South Bank skateboarding space and the listing of the Rom, and has advised on skatepark schemes, including the F51 facility in Folkestone and C20 Society’s proposals for the Dunn. His books include Skateboarding and the City: a Complete History (Bloomsbury, 2019) and he co-authored the official Design and Development Guidance for Skateboarding.
The evening will also serve as the book launch of C20's new publication '100 Twentieth Century Sports and Leisure Buildings' (Twentieth Century Society/Batsford, 2025).
This booking is for online Zoom lecture. For in-person event book here.
C20 Society Member £6;
Non-Member £8;
Young C20 member free*;
Student £4 **
*For Young C20 members, please email lukas@c20society.org.uk to secure a place.
**For student pricing please select from the dropdown option next to ‘membership number’ on the booking form below.
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Note: This event is hybrid and is being run both in-person at Cowcross Street Gallery and online via Zoom. The event will be recorded and offered as a catch-up lecture for those who have booked and will be available for two weeks.
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The Twentieth Century Society is an IHBC (Institute of Historic Building conservation) recognised CPD provider.
The Twentieth Century Society is a registered charity, no 1110244
Image above: Rom skatepark
Image credit: © David Levene for the Guardian
C20’s Autumn Lecture Series is supported by Hallett Independent - a specialist firm of private client and art insurance brokers. Independent of the big, global insurance firms, we provide a service defined by expert advice and attention to detail. We are a small team of knowledgeable individuals with a shared enthusiasm for art and cultural heritage.
For more information, go to hallettindependent.com