EngagingCities

As urban planners and designers, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment. The shifting political and social landscapes challenge us to rethink how we shape our cities and communities. In this context of uncertainty, I continue to use the Saint Paul on the Mississippi Development Framework principles to organize my design thinking. These ten principles serve as a compass for creating sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant urban spaces. They help ground the process of city-building in thoughtful, holistic practices. Here are the principles that continue to inspire my work:? 1. Evoke a sense of place ??? 2. Restore and establish the unique urban ecology ?? 3. Invest in the public realm ?? 4. Broaden the mix of uses ??? 5. Improve connectivity ?? 6. Ensure that buildings support broader city-building goals ???? 7. Build on existing strengths?? 8. Preserve and enhance cultural and historic resources ????? 9. Provide a balanced network for movement ??? 10. Foster public safety ?? Posed as questions, they prompt me to explore the fascinating dimensions of urban and rural places and landscapes. In the coming posts, I’ll be diving deeper into each principle, sharing examples and insights to spark discussion. I’d love to hear your thoughts—what principles guide your own approach to city-building? Let’s keep the conversation going! ???? #CityBuilding #DevelopmentFramework #Geodesign #DesignThinking

I am excited to highlight the transformative work ahead of us with the SafeGrowth Program and the innovation displayed by the three participating districts in community problem-solving and collaboration! SafeGrowth introduces a groundbreaking theory of neighborhood planning, fostering stronger partnerships between city governments and residents. It's philosophy emphasizes collaborative solutions to urban challenges, empowering communities to co-create safer, more vibrant neighborhoods. Building trust, improving public safety, and enhancing the quality of life for all. Together, we’re paving the way for lasting, impactful change.”

Join Capire Associates Sarah Roberts and Emily Mellon for a webinar on effective community engagement in the health and social services sector! This session will explore innovative approaches to inclusive community engagement that can improve consumer and client experiences and ultimately boost health and wellbeing outcomes. ?? Thursday 28 November 2024 ?? 1pm – 1:45pm AEDT ?? Register now: https://lnkd.in/g2WK76BF

There is something about expansive green lawns, towering trees, and sunshine that create a sense of peace and euphoria. While urban life tends to be chaotic and congested, city parks provide a place to stop and smell the roses. Whether you played in a park as a child, exercised on a grassy playground, or simply walked through a park on the way home from school, it’s likely you benefitted from the availability of green space. Read the full story at ---> https://lnkd.in/e6b66vQW

Thoughts from Smart Density's The Minds Behind New Neighbourhoods. Beyond the Medium Compromise: Blending Scales for a New Urban Vision: How can we bring back charm into High Density Urban Developments? I was overjoyed by the opportunity to be able to witness great designers- Misha Bereznyak and Naama Blonder speak on their approaches to creating more human centric urban density. As a young architect, here are my takeaways! Immediate interaction with large scale urban built environments : The large vasteness of streets inherently built for automobiles, provoke the human need for a human scale.?? In new cities- The loneliness of concrete parking lots and tall glass towers is simply hidden behind beautiful large landscaped plots of land and underground parking. A lot to learn from Smart Density's Plan of strategically combining high density residential towers with small scale, human sized, urban infrastructure. To birth more vibrant neighbourhoods. As a resident of toronto, I wonder if zoning can be effectively used to foster a more human-scaled environment? Or would such legislative changes simply add layers of complexity without truly addressing the scale issue? The image used below is a beautiful drawing by smart density, this and their insightful case study can be found at : https://lnkd.in/gcpenvvQ