Category Archives: Opinion

Others, Spotlight, Urban Leaders

Vancouver Urbanism Innovations 2018: Urban Leaders Program Summary

This year’s Leaders Study Program on Urban Innovations took place in Vancouver which is among the world’s most livable & green cities.The city’s extraordinary success meant that the city’s name itself has come to be known worldwide for a new model for urban living. “Vancouverism” is an exemplary model of planning, sustainability, architecture and engineering. The New York Times explained this phenomenon , “Vancouverism is characterized by tall, but widely separated, slender towers, interspersed with low-rise buildings, public spaces, small parks and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and facades to minimize the impact of a high-density population.” “Vancouverism” is now synonymous with tower-podium urban form and human scale architecture interspersed with green space.The city’s much admired urban form is seen as an ideal mix of the tall high density buildings seen in Asia sewn together with the walkability and human scale architecture of Europe.
 

A walk tour on Vancouverism : A Model city with Larry Beasley , Father of Vancouverism & Former Director of City Planning, Vancouver City Government.

We explored Inner-City, False Creek area and learnt about the design of Vancouver-style, tall, skinny high-rise towers set on high street retail / townhouse. This session  highlighted history and principles of the transformation of Vancouver.

Visit to Vancouver City Hall

We met with Vancouver City Hall where we explored –
. City-wide planning principles/financing growth
·Housing Vancouver highlights
· Greenest City highlights

The HybridCity : Making of Vancouverism with Trevor Boddy , Urbanist & Architecture Critic

 

Vancouver Architecture Boat Cruise & reception

 

Public Spaces : Places for People with Andrew Pask, Urban Planner , Vancouver Metro Government & Founder – Vancouver Public Space Network

We studied strategies towards vibrant and memorable public spaces from plazas to parklets, and laneway art to public squares

Climate Resilience & Green Icons : Green Infrastructure

Rain City Strategy Green Roofs , Rain Streets& Gardens at Olympic Waterfront with Vancouver Metro Government’s Climate Resilience team Wendy De Hong & Melina Scholefield.

Vancouver’s Granville Island: Setting the standard for urban design

We meet with Dale Mclaganan, Chairman , Granville Island Trust

New design typologies for high-rise living .

Renown Vancouver Architect Arno Mattis shares the evolution of high rise designs in the city.

Downtown Vancouver Architecture Walk

Emerging Satellite Cities – From Strip Malls to High Density Urbanism & Common Wealth

Bob Ransford , Developer & Writer talks to us about the transformation of emerging satellite city Surrey.

Wellness & Health in buildings

Ideas for City Transformation & Urban Innovations

 

The Green City

Round Table : Real Estate trends in Vancouver & opportunities for Indo Canadian Collaboration

Photo Gallery 

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Public Space Lab, Spotlight

Placemaking as a Winning Real Estate Development Strategy

” A Great Public Space the new Anchor tenant” : Ethan Kent , PPS, NYC

In today’s competitive real estate market, the key factor that affects people’s real-estate choice is the quality of life & amenities of a place. The place one lives in can impact you in simple, positive ways from being able to enjoy a walk in the neighbourhood park or having access to a great school or place of culture.
All of us have experienced places in our cities that we love and adore. What makes these places loved? These are places where people want to hang out and relax and not just walk through.
Developments around the world are zealously attempting to create such places which are special , where people want to come to live, to work, to play and to learn. The practice of placemaking is one methods used to achieve this. The goal here is to create places which we cherish where people want to go and linger.
Placemaking is a multi-disciplinary tactic to shape market demand and livability by enhancing the social, physical, cultural and economic qualities of a place. Placemaking can be employed to craft a special liveable places; increasing footfalls; creating a unique identity & buzz around the place as well as building community goodwill.

Opinion, Spotlight

Reviving the City by Transforming Public Spaces

The streets, squares, and public spaces form the vital element in any neighbourhood & city. They are the single most important component that add to the liveability of the city.
We have been using the tactics of Placemaking a used to enhance the civic places within a neighbourhood. Streets, sidewalks, parks, buildings, and other public spaces are going to be designed so as to stir interaction & sociability amongst the community. This is key to the long term goals of liveability & inclusivity of the city.
Below is some of our recent Placemaking interventions in India.

Opinion

Livable Street Standards: Bicycle Racks

Space where you can park the bicycle safely and for security, which helps in better accessibility and last mile connectivity
About : | Visual Dictionary of Street Standards| “To design a street according to its probable use is a reasonable but uncommon practice.” said the City of St. Louis Plan in 1917. We strongly believe the streets, squares, and public spaces form the vital element in any neighbourhood & city. They are the single most important component that adds to the livability of the city. Visual Dictionary of Street Standards visually depicts the various components of a Livable Streets
This is part of Visual Dictionary of Livable Streets which was developed by the 2016 Fellows as part of our Young Urban Leaders Program. Credit: Priyanshu Sharma, Sneh Salot, Shruti Punjabi.

Opinion

Livable Street Standards: Crosswalks

Crosswalk is a portion of roadway at an intersection which indicates crossing for pedestrian which helps to increase safety of pedestrian.

About : | Visual Dictionary of Street Standards| “To design a street according to its probable use is a reasonable but uncommon practice.” said the City of St. Louis Plan in 1917. We strongly believe the streets, squares, and public spaces form the vital element in any neighbourhood & city. They are the single most important component that adds to the livability of the city. Visual Dictionary of Street Standards visually depicts the various components of a Livable Streets
This is part of Visual Dictionary of Livable Streets which was developed by the 2016 Fellows as part of our Young Urban Leaders Program. Credit: Priyanshu Sharma, Sneh Salot, Shruti Punjabi.