Bringing ideas to life with the power of questioning, participating and experiencing our environment
curiosity
Designing cities with cultural respect
Today involved a field trip to a place called Pacoima to experience the Van Nuys Boulevard and the impact environment justice group, Pacoima Beautiful is having on street design. Pacoima has a strong cultural identity expressed through the tradition of mural art. The residents are mostly of Mexican descent and from a low socio-economic background. The community had suffered from years of...
The measure of a great place?
Over the last year, place has been at the forefront of discussion within transport planning circles, thanks to the release of the Road Planning Framework and the pioneering work undertaken by the NSW Government. In response to all the debate, I thought a light-hearted reflection on those places I have enjoyed in the last year, may shed light on common place features and elements which contribute...
Reclaiming Space
The power of community-led action in delivering places with identity I could not help but giggle at the thought of Mr Taylor, our Geography teacher, creating gardens under the shadow of darkness. He and his green fingered crusaders would target unused spaces, abandoned houses and disused land; transforming sites of anti-social behaviour into pocket parks and flower displays. At the time,...