Nicole Levin’s Post

Ken Greenberg is Canada's urbanist guru or...Dalai Lama...yeah that's it! Both Scott Higgins and have had the pleasure of working with Ken and we came away from that experience enlightened and inspired. So, it is really a very special honour to have The JOY Experiments be included in Ken's "best books that have helped me understand cities" list. There are some real heavy hitters on that very short list including Jane Jacobs. Thank you Ken. We are thrilled and very very grateful. Here is what Ken had to say about "The JOY Experiments": "Joy is a word that is not often used to describe cities, and it should be. I very much appreciate the fact that Paul Kalbfleisch and Scott Higgins have called attention to this illusive and ineffable quality that makes city living worthwhile and fulfilling. They have drawn inspiration from their project, the Gaslight District in Cambridge, Ontario, where they have raised the bar by transforming public spaces into places of joy, harnessing creativity, playfulness, and surprise to encourage social exchange and community cohesion. They inspire us to make these kinds of interventions part of the lexicon of city-making beyond just meeting functional requirements with real and tangible benefits in terms of health and satisfaction and even return on investment." #joyexperiments #urbanism #citybuilding #urbanplanning #urbandesign #architecture #realestatedevelopment 

PENDING… Urban Amnesia (UA) Project: refers to the phenomenon where cities and their inhabitants forget or neglect the cultural, architectural, and historical elements of their urban environments. This can happen due to rapid urban development, modernization, or the erasure of older structures and traditions to make way for new infrastructure. The term highlights the disconnection between a city’s past and its present, leading to a loss of collective memory about the significance of certain places, neighborhoods, or landmarks. Urban amnesia can manifest in the disappearance of historical buildings, the loss of communal spaces, or the diminishing recognition of a city's original character and heritage. The phenomenon is often criticized because it can strip a city of its identity, disrupt community ties, and contribute to a homogenized urban landscape that lacks depth and historical continuity. Revitalizing interest in a city's past through preservation, adaptive reuse, and cultural programming can help combat urban amnesia by reconnecting people to their history and heritage.

As Chair and Co-chair of several Local Government Design Review Panels and an Urban Designer, I am amazed at how often poor design follows poor planning. I am also inspired by how the Local Government's commitment to design across planning and development policy can rapidly lift design standards and outcomes. So, how far should the Capital City go to champion great design? As I dragged myself through a half marathon yesterday, looking at the City from South Perth as it sat on a mirror of water, the skyline looked like a collection of glass boxes distinguished only by their tone of grey. Few were spoilt by the relics of antiquated, liveable urbanism, such as balconies and terraces, and none more than dabbled in integrating the biophilia that sat at their feet. Fortunately, living skylines do not make cities; it is streetscapes and interstitial spaces. In that regard, Perth is evolving quickly; look at the images in the 1992 City Spaces and City Life Study (Prof Jan Gehl et al. [including myself] for Perth City Council and the State of WA) and note the wins and losses over the last 30 years. We have to ask, where will we be in another 30 years? I am looking forward to this important conversation on this Wednesday night. It seems timely and critical not only for the panel but also because, right now, Francesco Maria Mancini and a handful of others are animating a conversation that could reshape the City’s future. 

Since Stephenson's original City Planning Scheme and its subsequent revisions, key documents like the Urban Design Framework (2009) and The Perth City Snapshot (2016) have shifted the focus toward resilience, ecology, and sustainability, aiming to reshape Perth as both a destination and a liveable city. Further initiatives, including the City of Perth Sustainability Strategy and the Perth City Deal, highlight this ongoing effort. This important event seeks to explore how the Ten Principles of good design might further inform strategic planning and provide a clear, actionable vision for addressing Perth's urban challenges and aspirations. https://lnkd.in/gP8wMX_n #planning #urbandesign #designwa #tenprinciples #citypolicy #capitalcity #perth #perthplanning #perthurbandesign #perthfuture #perthurbanresearchlab #curtin #dbe

Exploring the Beauty of Historic Canal Districts: A Guide to Preservation and Revitalization Introduction Historic canal districts have been playing a pivotal role in the d... Read More - https://lnkd.in/dgig87fj

New Urbanists have moved the needle on the practice of urban development yet our cities, towns, suburbs, single-use districts, and public realms are clearly still in need of restoration. Restorative Urbanism is the Congress focus for #CNU32 as exemplified by Principle 4 of the Charter. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e6259dPx

⚡ Bursa Will Become More Livable with Smart Urbanism Applications - Bursa Metropolitan Municipality has made successful works in smart urbanism applications within the scope of its efforts to create a more livable and more resilient city.

Always good to see the The Academy of Urbanism (AoU)'s quarterly journal published. This time reflecting on 25 years from the #Urban #Task #Force's seminal report 'Towards an Urban Renaissance'. And with a new 'New Towns' Task Force in play, it's super useful to hear from people involved at the time who consider their experience, the reports efficacy, and what if anything would change should our young leaders be asked a similar question. More here: https://lnkd.in/d2gtwFsR

What's next for new urbanism? Former Executive Director of the Congress for New Urbanism Rick Cole gives insight into the process of involving community members in policymaking, while laying out the challenges facing the public participation process and offering pathways to reform. Read more at the link in bio. #urbanism #CNU32 #cities

"As the Head of Site Supervision, I emphasize that adhering to the established height-to-width ratios is crucial for sustainable urban development. By respecting these guidelines, we ensure that our cities remain functional, safe, and visually appealing for all residents." — Eng. Mohamed Zaky #UrbanPlanning #SustainableDevelopment #BuildingRegulations #SiteSupervision #ArchitecturalDesign #CityPlanning #SafetyFirst