In this, the second edition of the yearly CLADbook, we celebrate eight of the many architects and designers we have interviewed over the course of the past year for our sister publication CLADmag.

In these excerpts, we’re reminded of architecture’s capacity to do many things. Jeanne Gang (p.46) tells us architecture can encourage communities to grow, that a well-designed building can, over time, effect change on its wider environment. David Chipperfield (p.50) says that architecture’s role in society must not be minimised, that architects should not shirk their responsibility to create in a way that is ‘purposeful’ for society.

Peter Zumthor (p.74) tells us that buildings should speak to us, evoke emotions in us, and Marcel Wanders (p.58) reminds us that, alongside noble aims, architecture can also be fun.

These architects and designers, and numerous others – who build museums and galleries, fitness and health facilities, wellbeing retreats and spas, places to stay when we travel and homes for sports teams and their supporters – are driven by diverse motivations, but great work in the leisure sector shares a common thread: it’s designed to welcome everyone.

Across the industry, architects are enhancing people’s lives. In Creating Audiences (p.96), architects reveal the ways they are engaging with fans in, around and beyond the stadium. As sports venues integrate with – or build their own – communities around them, audiences are increasingly valued and their experiences improved.

In Slumber Party (p.88), we learn about dynamic, adventure-loving millennials and how they are being courted by global brands like Hilton, Accor, Marriott and Shangri-La. These brands have invested heavily in hotel concepts specifically targeting this demographic. In so doing, they have found inspiring ways to appeal to anyone who is young-at-heart.

In Finger on the Pulse (p.116), we ask experience designers how they put people at the heart of the design process. And, as this is a place to share stories, we hope you’ll enjoy Water Wonderland, (p.124), about the founder and designers of a waterpark built with “ultimate inclusion” in mind. We love that this project is designed from the get-go to be enjoyed by everyone; it’s an approach we can all learn from.

Alice Davis, editor, CLADbook