Category Archives: Spotlight

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 

(function(d, s, id){var js; if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;} js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = “https://embedsocial.com/embedscript/ei.js”; d.getElementsByTagName(“head”)[0].appendChild(js);}(document, “script”, “EmbedSocialScript”));

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.

Spotlight

In the News: Media Coverage, Commentary and Features on The Urban Vision

Commentary:

This section features news on The Urban Vision as well as some commentary and opinion columns from The Urban Vision team

  • Why are  Indian Cities failing : CNN IBN

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky3Au3xY220

    Mumbai’s Redevelopment : CNN IBN

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10qEF5YRrcE

  • Architecture Makes a City’s Character : Times of India

  • Elements of an Efficient city : Times of India]

  • Making of an eco city : Times of India

  • Compact City: Towards better civic amenities : Times of India

  • High Density Advantage : Times of India

  • Urban Redevelopment : Times of India




    • Public Space Lab, Spotlight

    Revival of the Public Realm: A Strategy to Transform Indian Cities

    Legendary Urbanist Enrique Penalosa once said “Quality of life distribution is more important than income distribution”. We must invest in infrastructure that creates better quality of life for all citizens of the city. For example, 55% of the city of Mumbai walks as their primary mode of transit. Imagine the impact on daily life of citizens if the city invested into better public spaces and walkability.
    While the master plans & vision plans are much needed .The idea that action should only be taken after all the solutions have been found is a sure recipe for paralysis. Tactics like placemaking / DIY urbanism is an important idea for such livability goals of a city. This cannot be achieved with a top down approach. We need to create frameworks so that we can realize this at the block / neighbourhood level whether in partnership with the local communities or businesses .Tactical Urbanism is a complimentary tool to a master planning process and quickly ensures liveability in your neighbourhood.
    Building a Coalition for a better city

    The space of city building & urban development is a much contested space with tense relationships between different actors like civil society, community, private sector & government. While this can be a sign of a well-functioning democracy; In India it really has reached a level which is highly unhealthy for the entire system. The placemaking approach to improving public realm is fundamentally built on a wide-ranging diverse collaboration between various stakeholders like creative groups, businesses , citizens, experts and academic groups in the city who are coming together to implement an action oriented project .
    It emphasizes the point that it is in everyone’s interest to invest into the public realm to improve a place whether one is from the private sector, government, civil society or a local citizen. From our experience , The private sector patrons understand the importance of investing into the commons.
    We have already started a movement of Privately owned Public spaces in India. Imagine the fabulous opportunities if we got the Market forces invest into what is often thought to be non-market interests in coalition with the large community – We could transform our Neighborhoods block by block.


    Above: Case study of our Placemaking Program