Can we ever design a city devoid of the suffering and loss we've always experienced? I suppose the answer makes little difference in my resolve to minimize the hurt. But studying the forest does make me question the city - what is truly a problem and what is simply a feedback or system within a system.
Read More
Last week, Sarah Goodyear from CityLab interviewed me about the project. Her first question was this: When you did your chairbombing, were you worried at all about the police confronting you? The landowner? My answer: In this case, not really. AND THEN! Here was the scene this week at the market...
Read More
What are people really trying to say when they divide cyclists into the good ones and the bad ones?
Read More
Last week, I pointed out some silly public space investments. This week, I'm working on some better ones. Here's a sneak preview of things to come.
Read More
The idea of asking developers to contribute to public space is excellent (perhaps essential). By the looks of it, this has resulted in millions upon millions of dollars invested in places to sit or frolic. Too bad it keeps ending up in places where no one would actually want to linger... Imagine if we took all that wasted investment and directed it toward building more spaces that make people happy.
Read More
I've been holding out on you all summer, but that's not to say that nothing was happening. The catch-up begins now.
Read More
People move away all the time and I've never felt compelled to write about it, but this was different. This time I was saying goodbye to people who changed a place. We shared a studio that now feels empty. We collaborated on projects that now feel strangely grown up and disconnected. We lived in a neighbourhood that feels a couple degrees cooler without knowing they are there.
Read More
Way back in May, I shared two videos with our program participants to set the tone for the summer ahead. I've found myself drawn back to them as I hit roadblocks this week. I hope they'll mean something to you as well.
Read More
I've been lucky to witness the emergence of the Fredericton Makerspace. I say lucky, because if we did not have some relentlessly dedicated volunteers pouring themselves into the project, it would still be one of those great ideas that never happened. But this week, I stood in the Makerspace woodshop and watched people build together.
Read More
I love the call and response of the city. We speak to each other through all these subtle gestures - putting out a dog-bowl on a hot day, painting the front door, installing a free library box. It's a relay passed on from one person to another. We each have our own way of expressing kindness or humour to the people around us, and the city becomes a canvas of all these tiny acts of humanity.
Read More
This longboard has been far more thought-provoking than expected. Once I'm competent enough to venture beyond my quiet street, where will I go? How do people use the streets and sidewalks when they are not on foot, bike, or driving?
Read More
Cities like to form on water. It follows that there are thousands of cities out there struggling with their own version of North Side, South Side. The phenomenon reminds me of Jane Jacobs on border vacuums.
Read More
Given how important food production and water use are to the strength of a place, one of the best things we can do as Strong Citizens is to plant a garden and catch and store the rain. I've been slow to the rain barrel game, but it finally happened and I'm delighted.
Read More
This week, I attempted to give my first urban design walking tour of Fredericton to about a dozen friends. Before hitting the road, I asked my partner if I've ever mentioned something about urban design that made him see the city in a new way. Then, I revisited my own highlights from dog-eared books that have guided my own thinking and compiled a best-of list.. I'd like to practice, improve, and repeat this walking tour going forward. What else would you add to this list of concepts that cover the basics and 'aha' moments of urban design?
Read More
I was asked to participate in a public art festival using rain-activated art. It took me a while to decide what to do and how to do it, but the process is remarkably easy once you know what to expect. Here's a how-to if you're interested in trying your own stencil rainworks. It's pretty much the same for spray chalk.
Read More
Let's say you're building an apartment building with over 20 units (arbitrary number). If it's not obvious that your parking should be opt-in and underground, maybe the development isn't a great idea to begin with?
At Strong Towns, we seem to like quick tools that help with the mental math of cities. For example, I loved the Strong Towns Strength Test which asked, "Take a photo of your main street at midday. Does the picture show more people than cars?" Maybe this parking lot thing is another weather-vane with built in wisdom. It's not to be relied upon, but can give you a good hunch to start from.
Read More
The Power of 10+ is a heuristic to help target placemaking activities. It seems to be aimed at more institutional placemakers but after a visit from my family, I've started thinking: what am I doing to add to that list? When my neighbours entertain guests from out of town, what am I doing that makes them proud to show off the town?
Read More
Sadly, I sense PACs have been stuffed into the growing suite of orderly but dumb solutions. Imagine if we had to throw away the trendy instruction manual on how to become a "world-class city" and instead demanded of each other to just think. Imagine if we looked at our constraints (people, cash, geography, climate, culture) and then decided to work within them, creatively. That's what has always made places interesting and remarkable!
Read More
Somewhere inside you is that childlike itch to make-believe or draw funny faces on things. Play is such an amazing way to engage with the city and people around us. It creates an atmosphere of light-heartedness and curiosity. It humanizes an environment instantly and can lend your city a sense of humour. It's also good for you!
Read More