http://trulab.org/blog daily 0.75 2023-07-23 http://trulab.org/blog/2023/7/23/community-washing-in-urbanism-1 monthly 0.5 2023-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/0b9c5e1d-2350-4c3b-a99e-81c7a7fd5dfd/Puerta_del_Sol-Madrid-image.jpg Blog - Community-washing in urbanism? - Make it stand out Puerta del Sol square in Madrid: Hundreds of young Spaniards camped out on the streets of Madrid and other cities protesting against mass unemployment, corruption and a political class they say is ruled by the financial markets, not the needs of the people. The demonstration in Madrid gradually developed from a small sit in, to a full blown tent city with a market, a garden and even a library. http://trulab.org/blog/2021/9/23/i-love-this-photograph-you-may-want-to-know-why-2 monthly 0.5 2021-09-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1632402661955-O1RD1XP2YO0VZ6BWNPSE/Aseem_Inam_talk-screen_grab-Sept_16_2021-small.jpg Blog - I love this photograph! You may want to know why . . . - Make it stand out I took the photograph of the Dhobi Ghat in the Mahalakshmi area of Mumbai, India in 2013. The Dhobi Ghat is the largest open-air laundry in the world and is run by a cooperative. I like the contrast with the high-rise residential buildings under construction in the background, geared towards the affluent members of society, which in India means the middle-income and upper-income groups. While there is aesthetic contrast between them, in reality they are intertwined physically, socially and economically. Image of screen: Elahe Karimnia. http://trulab.org/blog/2021/1/14/essay-postpandemic-cities monthly 0.5 2021-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1610625147609-FXKKR9IW8B60RE2G1UEX/Cover-Postpandemic-winter_2021-Issues.jpg Blog - ESSAY: "POSTPANDEMIC: CITIES" The cover of the special section on “Postpandemic” of the journal, Issues in Science and Technology, with a mixed-media painting by Diane Burko. http://trulab.org/blog/2020/12/21/book-review-new-companion-to-urban-design monthly 0.5 2020-12-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1608563806669-W2FS7DI0VMUM7W2NSZUR/Banerjee_and_Loukaitou-Sideris_book-New_Companion_to_Urban_Design-Routledge_2019-COVER.jpg Blog - Book review: New Companion to Urban Design Cover image of the recent book, The New Companion to Urban Design. Source: Routledge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1608563893726-YWAKILAWNFFPJUTRHAQA/Aseem_Inam_book_review-New_Companion_to_Urban_Design-JUD_2020-COVER-cropped.jpg Blog - Book review: New Companion to Urban Design First paragraph of the published book review. Source: Journal of Urban Design. http://trulab.org/blog/2020/5/23/designing-the-off-grid-city-empowering-the-transactions-of-infrastructure monthly 0.5 2020-05-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1590250391225-9YV61RYGKFZDKUJYWOV1/Aseem_Inam-Sao_Paulo-Feb_2016-Occupasao_mural-1-small.jpg Blog - Designing the "Off-Grid" City: Empowering the Transactions of Infrastructure The Ocupação São João in São Paulo addresses the critical shortage of housing via a residential squatting strategy that also contributes to the cultural infrastructure of the city through a self-managed cultural center, the Centro Cultural São João. The mural in the cultural center symbolizes how citizens can empower the transactions of such infrastructure through radically democratic strategies and informal urbanisms. Source: Aseem Inam. http://trulab.org/blog/2020/4/6/caring-for-the-city monthly 0.5 2020-04-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1586203642198-T766Y0652I9BU2GYHIT9/Aseem_Inam-Cardiff_August_2019-Butetown_Carnival-Jenny_Elahe_Julian_1-small.jpg Blog - Caring for the City The love of public space: Friends and friends of friends enjoying the beautiful weather, the great music and each other’s company at the Butetown Music Festival in Cardiff in the summer of 2019.. Source: Aseem Inam. http://trulab.org/blog/2019/6/8/designing-an-equitable-city monthly 0.5 2019-06-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1560009527104-QLEK8J5A4SX5LM4GMJQ7/Aseem_Inam-Cardiff_January_2019-MAUD_Autumn_Studio-final_review_1-small.jpg Blog - Designing an Equitable City https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1560008496465-GGMTDYYBCZITVOU35689/MAUD_Autumn_Studio_2018_2019-Final_Report_Studio_Section_Aseem_Inam_Page_01.jpg Blog - Designing an Equitable City https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1560008930759-69GJBMNH7KM3KWN18ZK7/MAUD_Autumn_Studio_2018_2019-Final_Report_Studio_Section_Aseem_Inam-modular_housing.jpg Blog - Designing an Equitable City http://trulab.org/blog/2017/10/1/why-i-teach-part-3-to-collaborate-with-students monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1506907399660-IE2ZEI0Y2O5FJSXUXFE8/Maria_Grandez-Toronto-March_2016-Thorncliffe_Park-Myseum_crowd_1.jpg Blog - Why I Teach: Part 3: To Collaborate With Students The scholar-practitioners from the University of Toronto designed and conducted a series of extremely stimulating and productive community workshops in partnership with the Thorncliffe Park Women's Committee in Toronto. In this way, they demonstrated both great creativity and deep commitment. Source: Maria Grandez. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1506907626700-DQCOH2UY3YONOHLEH67X/Inam-Urban_Design_Studio-Fall_2015_3.jpg Blog - Why I Teach: Part 3: To Collaborate With Students While I established the partnership with Sabina Ali, the Chair of the Thorncliffe Park Women's Committee, as well as the parameters of the design strategies, it was the group of brilliant and energetic scholar-practitioners who took the lead in collaborating with the community in extremely engaging ways. Source: Aseem Inam. http://trulab.org/blog/2017/10/1/why-i-teach-part-2-to-transform monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1506904463696-DZF7X4EA1XG4EI7TNLPF/Urban_Practice-mapping_the_field-blackboard_2013.jpg Blog - Why I Teach: Part 2: To Transform The scholar-practitioners [i.e. graduate students] at the Parsons School of Design in New York City engaged in a collective exercise to inquire into and redefine the field of urban practice, coming up with a series of questions and issues that this newly-defined field addresses. Source: Sara Wallis Minard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1506904862613-6RR5FA0TK23726CIFF2P/Gandhi-salt-march.jpg Blog - Why I Teach: Part 2: To Transform If one looks carefully and critically enough, one can find many sources of inspiration from collective actions that led to transformation throughout history. A brilliant example is when nearly 400 million Indians threw off the oppression of British colonial rule through nonviolent political strategies under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and others. Source: Wikipedia. http://trulab.org/blog/2016/2/19/why-i-teach-part-1-to-learn monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1455887380125-0SCF56QXFJSRBYNN22DX/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Why I Teach: Part 1: To Learn Students of the highly innovative MA Theories of Urban Practice program [of which I was the founding Director] of the Parsons School of Design in The New School in New York City. The students organized a public symposium of their work in Brooklyn in 2015. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1455887538850-6P2U6S8UDRDZQUAAFOBB/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Why I Teach: Part 1: To Learn The best learning often occurs in the interaction between students and professors, such that both are open to be challenged and to new ways of thinking. Source: Matthew Sussman, The New School. http://trulab.org/blog/2015/7/8/planning-for-the-unplanned monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1436393659749-4BHE5FBHL43LOJJUM3U8/Book_cover-Planning_for_Unplanned-small.jpg Blog - Planning for the Unplanned The book, Planning for the Unplanned: Recovering from Crises in Megacities, analyzes examples of successful housing rebuilding after earthquakes in Los Angeles and Mexico City, but also failed attempts at addressing critical economic development and air pollution challenges in both cities. Source: Aseem Inam. http://trulab.org/blog/2015/5/7/diversity-politics-and-engaging-pluralism-as-transformative-urban-practice monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1430976002317-0KT5O596SE1C13QLLRAZ/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Diversity Politics and Engaging Pluralism as Transformative Urban Practice The “We Went Looking for Home but We Found” interactive, bi-lingual exhibition asks attendees to contribute to the discourse of urban transformation through questions such as, “How does your identity shape the culture of Philadelphia?” Mapping the relations between various stakeholders demonstrates which voices included in decision making and how power structures negotiate. Source: Nadia Elokdah https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1430976084534-3PPJO7IWMLGZ61A0O08A/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Diversity Politics and Engaging Pluralism as Transformative Urban Practice Understanding the city of Philadelphia as perpetually transforming allows for critical analysis of current systems of urban governance while also creating openings for new possibilities. Putting in conversation unlikely allies moves toward processes of inclusion and co-design of pluralistic frameworks for arts and culture and diversity politics. Source: Nadia Elokdah http://trulab.org/blog/2015/4/4/embodying-the-transformative-potential-of-urbanism monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1428173348234-EECAOFVA4F85HBHI2OWA/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Embodying The Transformative Potential of Urbanism The full spread of the cover of Designing Urban Transformation shows how the background image and foreground image [which spills over onto the back cover] work together with the placement of the texts and their colors. http://trulab.org/blog/2015/2/7/there-is-no-silver-bullet monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1423339621131-6WDNG7Z8160QOEKUNK5I/image-asset.jpeg Blog - There is no silver bullet Multiple intersecting urbanities: Love @ The Garage Bar in Louisville, Kentucky. Source: LuAnn Snawder Photography via Flickr and Creative Commons http://trulab.org/blog/2015/1/27/a-verb-not-a-noun monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1422400967720-31NLR2DO40IKP2FHRU0S/image-asset.jpeg Blog - A verb, not a noun Perpetual Renewal: An intensive workshop in the Lower East Side of Manhattan that probes the true nature of supposedly finalized projects such as urban renewal and creates further opportunities for truly equitable outcomes in the redevelopment of land. Source: Aseem Inam. http://trulab.org/blog/2014/9/26/should-we-love-or-hate-the-high-line monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1411783923654-BFHZ5MBRSXNG9PP92QSN/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Should We Love or Hate The High Line? The High Line attracts crowds of visitors, workers and residents and embraces the urbanity of Manhattan in its design. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1411784072510-47GVURTXS46IYU9C6BHU/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Should We Love or Hate The High Line? Workers from surrounding office buildings come to work, meet and have lunch on the High Line, included this secluded spot at the south end. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1411784152539-8Y41XTECF234NL6PM77S/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Should We Love or Hate The High Line? Artists and food vendors have small stalls to exhibit and sell their wares. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1411784207774-HIFONNSFX047HLS0FHQI/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Should We Love or Hate The High Line? People enjoy the details of the High Line, including specially designed benches, water features, paving patterns inspired by the former train tracks and a palette of landscapes. Source: Aseem Inam. http://trulab.org/blog/2014/8/18/chaos-is-an-order-we-dont-understand monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1408396853849-IA2J9GBNJZM9QBWD7QYC/Inam-Mumbai_2014-Mahalakshmi_Dhobighat1-small.jpg Blog - Chaos Is An Order We Don't Understand Chaotic or orderly? Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat in Mumbai, which is where thousands of clothes are still washed by hand everyday and is considered to be the world's largest outdoor laundry. Source: Aseem Inam. http://trulab.org/blog/2014/7/27/developing-future-oriented-histories-of-urban-renewal monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1406487241984-SCULM2ODXJYG30XWEC8L/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Developing future-oriented histories of urban renewal Above is the home page of the Urban Reviewer website. New York City blocks impacted by urban renewal are in bold. The site has references, essays, and an “about” section that situates the work within a larger context. Source: www.urbanreviewer.org http://trulab.org/blog/2014/7/14/urbanism-practice-and-power monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1405319333237-5LSTPD6GT0046JONA8EZ/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Urbanism, Practice and Power The recent protests calling for radical reform around the world are examples of courageous citizen initiatives and grassroots movements that can lead to fundamental change in cities. Source: Time magazine, December 11, 2011. http://trulab.org/blog/2014/6/16/urbanism-of-democracy monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1402970880961-HGW704T17PNC174LI59M/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Urbanism of Democracy View of the Town Hall from the south, with the offices and residences to the left, the public library with the large windows in the middle, and the vertical tower of the council chamber in the background. Between the office / residential block and the public library are grass-covered steps spilling out from the garden courtyard. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1402971270802-I7WO8FR6LPY2K0SO9GUQ/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Urbanism of Democracy A view of the delightful contrast of the brick-clad tower of the council chamber with the grass-covered courtyard garden, with a fountain and sculpture in the middle. A series of meeting rooms and offices surround the hallway filled with natural light on the left. Source: Aseem Inam. http://trulab.org/blog/2014/5/23/the-decent-city monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1400879277104-98T29YWH9UT874574J1G/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Decent City What does the “decent city” look and feel like? Stuyvesant Town in the heart of Manhattan, designed and built as affordable housing for soldiers returning to New York City after World War II. Source: Aseem Inam. http://trulab.org/blog/2014/5/12/urban-gardens-as-infrastructure-of-democracy monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1399903743340-4KIKBNO05DBJN9WJ4REB/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Urban Gardens as Infrastructure of Democracy? The Boston non-profit organization, The Food Project, recently built a 10,000 square foot green house that also functions as a public space, where events and education workshops are frequently hosted with neighborhood residents. Source: Matt DelSesto. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1399903838850-4QA3UGHWXW2DPMFZ1YHC/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Urban Gardens as Infrastructure of Democracy? The green house in the first image above was constructed as part of a larger neighborhood civic initiative to engage residents in the transformation of public space, including the mural in this image, which is down the street from the green house. Source: Matt DelSesto. http://trulab.org/blog/2014/4/19/what-is-the-point-of-the-world-urban-forum monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1397950034116-9Q2ONE07BWQNR4YBIFVG/image-asset.jpeg Blog - What is the point of the World Urban Forum? The Metrocable from Acevedo metro station up to the hills of the low-income neighborhood of Santo Domingo Savio. Source: Aseem Inam. http://trulab.org/blog/2014/4/3/from-more-accessible-to-more-meaningful monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1396511307806-ENM1HHGJW2NFM1RUIJV8/2_22.JPG Blog - From More Accessible to More Meaningful Source: Maggie Ollove https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1396511432914-P2AI4L44T3JVINBPKMTC/image-asset.jpeg Blog - From More Accessible to More Meaningful Source: Maggie Ollove http://trulab.org/blog/2014/4/3/complex-relationships monthly 0.5 2014-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1396510694868-D732UQNR8RN85AST7Z41/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Complex Relationships Source: Namkyu Chun http://trulab.org/blog/2014/3/5/the-place-to-be monthly 0.5 2019-11-07 http://trulab.org/blog/2014/9/24/what-can-urbanism-be monthly 0.5 2014-10-07 http://trulab.org/blog/2014/3/1/materiality-matters monthly 0.5 2015-02-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1393672926546-RZ5VQH36MOL66MXZWX9V/Inam-LA-Cathedral-courtyard_view-reduced.jpg Blog - Materiality matters The Los Angeles Cathedral, as viewed from its courtyard. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1393672990314-1DLT1NAC1EK50EW28EOF/Inam-LA-Grand_Park_garden-reduced.jpg Blog - Materiality matters A view of one of the gardens of Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1393673037324-N69H9A4XTNO4EYCBVU6W/Inam-LA-Americana_at_Brand-Glendale-reduced.jpg Blog - Materiality matters The outdoor Americana at Brand shopping mall, with housing above it. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1393673112604-UJHLPH4NU9NND7CWUCH2/Inam-LA-City_Hall-framed-reduced.jpg Blog - Materiality matters Robert Graham's sculpture "Dancer's Door" frames a view of City Hall from the Music Center Plaza in Los Angeles. Source: Aseem Inam. http://trulab.org/blog/2014/2/9/can-words-transform-cities monthly 0.5 2014-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1391966013933-Q6ASMKLMT8SSNMY59UGT/Inam-Vila_Rubi_favela-2014.jpg Blog - Can Words Transform Cities? http://trulab.org/blog/2014/1/16/designing-emerging-urban-practices monthly 0.5 2014-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1389883413626-CT0PL868F2LGL8F7SSSO/Inam-Guarapiranga_Workshop_2014-club.jpg Blog - Designing emerging urban practices Workshop team working interactively and collaboratively on-site in Guarapiranga, São Paulo. Image: Aseem Inam. http://trulab.org/blog/2013/12/31/panel-discussion-transforming-cities-transforming-practice monthly 0.5 2014-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1388540357932-KVF1LSERNQAXFADDMP73/Inam-Urban_Colloquium-Dec_12_2013.jpg Blog - Panel discussion: Transforming Cities / Transforming Practice Poster design: Anze Zadel http://trulab.org/blog/2013/11/15/designing-urban-transformation-book-release monthly 0.5 2014-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1384539885146-K8RWHDMO5N70T9VUCMM3/Designing+urban+transformation-aseem+inam-routledge-book+release.jpg Blog - Book release: Designing Urban Transformation Cover design: Sally Beesley, Namkyu Chun and Aseem Inam. http://trulab.org/blog/2013/10/27/connecting-for-change-theorizing-and-practicing-sustainability monthly 0.5 2014-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1382921766740-WTHTIRTISHJ28QZCIL46/IMG_0842.JPG Blog - Practicing Sustainability at the Connecting for Change conference Part of Purchase Street is closed for the Connecting for Change exhibition tent and farmers market--an asset for residents and program participants alike--in Downtown New Bedford, Massachusetts. Source: Matt DelSesto http://trulab.org/blog/2013/10/4/urbanists-participating-in-community-projects monthly 0.5 2014-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380916904899-5QRZI4L8QQMTNXZ3SPUY/Mexicantown_Bakery.jpg Blog - Urbanists Participating in Community Projects? Mexicantown Bakery in Detroit. Source: Wikimedia Commons   http://trulab.org/blog/category/Design+Projects monthly 0.5 http://trulab.org/blog/category/Press monthly 0.5 http://trulab.org/blog/tag/urbanism monthly 0.5 http://trulab.org/blog/tag/urban+theory monthly 0.5 http://trulab.org/blog/tag/urban+design monthly 0.5 http://trulab.org/blog/tag/urban+pedagogy monthly 0.5 http://trulab.org/blog/tag/urban+planning monthly 0.5 http://trulab.org/rural-habitat daily 0.75 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1370284838338-M63RWOPL0CE6Z62GH17X/Figure2.1.jpg Rural Habitat Development Programme - Junagadh District The villages in the Junagadh district of Gujarat, India were small, remote, and surrounded by peanut farms, with pressing challenges such as a lack of access to resources. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1370284838338-M63RWOPL0CE6Z62GH17X/Figure2.1.jpg Rural Habitat Development Programme - Junagadh District The villages in the Junagadh district of Gujarat, India were small, remote, and surrounded by peanut farms, with pressing challenges such as a lack of access to resources. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1370285863050-70VTBGY8VDOB7GEV0WAY/Figure2.2.jpg Rural Habitat Development Programme - Field Research Our extensive field research on local construction techniques and materials highlighted the important role women play, such as in the application of plaster made out of cow dung, straw and clay. Source: Aseem Inam.     https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1370285994842-VMI44KCKI0SENLF8JEJ9/Figure2.3.jpg Rural Habitat Development Programme - Engaging with Community My colleague and I, wearing all white towards the front of the image, joining the village community while enjoying ourselves doing the dandya ras, a traditional dance with sticks in the state of Gujarat. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1370286086096-WM7MGYJE7NPJ24XHCEL2/Figure2.4.jpg Rural Habitat Development Programme - Infrastructural Priorities As seen in this village, two of the infrastructural priorities were a lack of clean water supply and a lack of waste water drainage, which in this case simply collects in the dirt road that then leads to stagnant water, breeding of mosquitos, and spread of disease. Source: Aseem Inam.     https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1370286099299-7PC6Z9LLELSWJU2986A9/Figure2.5.jpg Rural Habitat Development Programme - Kitchen A view of the finished kitchen, using improved local construction materials such as polished stone, ceramic tile, treated wood, and lighting and ventilation systems. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1370286104564-9DILP981IKO5L6VL6JSX/Figure2.6.jpg Rural Habitat Development Programme - Participatory Design Process In this image, I am using the model of the day care center to discuss with the teachers how its design attributes fulfill their needs, such as creating a protected courtyard for play activities and orientation towards prevailing breezes. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1370286116730-J97TW529DLUHQ5574ZQM/Figure2.7.jpg Rural Habitat Development Programme - Job Training An important feature of the Rural Program continues to be training in improved construction techniques and materials, such as this example from the earthquake-prone state of Jammu and Kashmir. Source: Aga Khan Planning and Building Service India. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1370286116883-MM1TPTVZ59JKFS54CB56/Figure2.8.jpg Rural Habitat Development Programme - Designing with People, Especially Women An essential aspect of the Rural Program has been constant dialogue and collaboration with residents, especially women—who play a significant role in the social and economic life of the villages of Gujarat. Source: Aga Khan Planning and Building Service India. http://trulab.org/collaborators daily 0.75 2019-11-14 http://trulab.org/beyond-objects-city-as-flux daily 0.75 2019-11-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433455150443-RUBC2MXVWOBWR0QK3BAY/01.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park View looking towards a once operating blast furnace: Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord stands as a poster child of the greater restructuring in the region, and is organized in terms of zones based on activities, systems of plants and water, layers of paths like catwalks belvedere and land berms and consciously preserves a vast majority of the original industrial structures on the site. Source: Image courtesy of Ernest Haines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433455164134-P5PI62G88KVQVUADIVJV/02.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - A Plan View of the Park Instead of approaching large scale structural change as a predetermined master plan, the IBA establishes a process of designing the park to be flexible enough to change over time through social constructions and ongoing processes of flux. Source: Peter Latz + Partners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433455186225-N0S9BXRRYW9TYNGX1URZ/03.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Landscape as Flux Transformation of Physical Space The park responds to the abandonment of Thyssen Plant, 1985 (left) and reuse of previous structures and framing in new ways, 2002 (right) Source: Images courtesy of Ernest Haines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433455197560-OUMMOFSWN5R0U2EG7IW5/04.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Reuse Plan for Park Park is designed around a series of old industrial structures and connects with current urban context. Each part is woven together by a series of historic railways. Despite the rigidness of the material objects, the site has been continually shaped and re-shaped by social values throughout time. Source: Latz + Partners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433455208421-05T243NVUGE5HS178Q1G/05.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Blast Furnace 5 Overlook One of three blast furnaces still standing on the site, now is publicly accessible. Making the physical structures and landscape accessible to a new population inverts their previous use. Instead of the physical space operating as a closed system, the structures now they serve as vantage points to observe and understand better the way in which a focus on industrial production in the Ruhr Valley manifest itself physically - and conversely the way in which a post-industrial landscape grows out of that. Source: Image courtesy of Ernest Haines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433455218637-LA14ZG4BYGKPLC5US1QN/06.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Adventure Playground Using concrete walls as a structure for a rock-climbing park (left) and Cutting through similar structures, children can slide through former structures (right) Source: Images courtesy of Ernest Haines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433455236901-BYC7K7THS00613DJSN8G/07.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Sinter Park Toxic materials both originally from the sintering park and from other places on the site are capped and a garden is placed on top. Most structures had to be demolished, but a grid of ruins remained and substrate reused as organizing structure for landscape art and a festival grounds. Source: Images courtesy of Ernest Haines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433455247065-1FKG5FTDX1X9ILHM83S4/08.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Activity in Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park The Park’s spatial production would not hold meaning were it not for the historical physical and social constructions. Since visitors can view and interact with the preserved structures, it allows for the continual interpretation and re-interpretation of memory; a state of flux Source: Images courtesy of Ernest Haines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381864277176-NTHP6UYIZK4ICYJGOESI/areial+greenway.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Elevated Park As a park constructed on the remnants of an elevated railroad, The High Line provides a unique perspective of the city and increases the green space in the neighborhood. Source: wikimedia commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381864717403-7CRNBB7WCSXGVQNWPO7W/highline+founders.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - High Line Founders While The High Line has become an internationally acclaimed design project, it began as a neighborhood coalition to stop the destruction of what was then an old elevated railway line slated for demolition, led by Joshua David and Robert Hammond. Source: courtesy Friends of The High Line https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381864238446-N4GJHS7C2EWY9HJKSB7J/Screen+shot+2013-10-15+at+3.04.10+PM.png Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Elements of High Line History The High Line is the result of an evolving process that involved a convergence of social, political, and physical histories. Source: Veronica Acosta and Laura Guzman https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381864238705-CAP0E654JZV8VI8JQLVZ/highline+old+and+new.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - The High Line as Evoloving Public Space The High Line is popular among both New Yorkers and visitors alike for it's unique landscape design and well designed seating areas. Source: courtesy Friends of The High Line https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381866222776-NFXPL0SKTQR5G6K5WBA0/Screen+shot+2013-10-15+at+3.42.01+PM.png Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Designing the High Line as Flux This map shows how the northern section of The High Line is connected to other parts Manhattan and details the plans for the third phase of The High Line (in grey at the top) along with the proposed new 7 Train subway station. Source: courtesy Friends of The High Line https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380924740025-V4Z58BWLCS9WWF5DQ8A2/Figure3.14.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Comedy Improv Exercises ​ Similar to learning to work creatively and collaboratively in urbanism, students practiced doing comedy improv exercises in a group of six, creating characters, dialogue, plot, and settings on the spur of the moment. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380924740085-3N7YQXFUYNP96Z5SPY41/Figure3.16.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - "What If...?" Scenarios Design outcomes of the comedy improv / urbanism processes included envision a series of “What . . . if?” scenarios that enrich the neighborhood thorough an innovative mix of future activities and forms and spaces that nurture humanist values such as vitality and access. Source: Hannah Creeley, Catherine Duffy, Blair Humphreys, Sarah Snider, Sara Zewde, and Kathleen Ziegenfuss. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380924740509-C75OSV0DBPT349M8PJ4F/Figure3.17.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Nuturing Activities The long-term design strategy for the project site involved nurturing specific types of activities (e.g. living, working, playing, producing, moving) that would evolve over time rather than conventional and fixed land uses (e.g. residential, office, manufacturing). Source: Hannah Creeley, Catherine Duffy, Blair Humphreys, Sarah Snider, Sara Zewde, and Kathleen Ziegenfuss.         https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380924740571-387RKTX4FEVEZXRBXZC8/Figure3.18.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Converting Plant The former Boston Herald newspaper printing plant converted into a microbrewery combined with an urban ecological research park that extends into the rest of the site through greenways, bioswales, water channels, and stormwater retention ponds. Source: Kathleen Ziegenfuss.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380924740996-UT8UZL6M4GYFCKUXW3PO/ISB_8+Final-Proposal-Vignette-02a.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380924740939-D6NWA0I2RM8AAXBE3EY6/ISB_11+Final-Sense-SiteSketchb.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Exploratory Site Analysis  An exploratory site analysis is presented by a student using a series of visual sequences to reveal what the sense of the site is (e.g. legible spaces, memorable urban form, perception of identifiable character). Source: Hannah Creeley.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380925128483-UV0E66JQ8UCLG8OSFJCY/Figure3.8.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Inspirations of the Park Al-Azhar Park’s design marries inspirations from the rich traditions of Islamic gardens with an embrace of its urbanity, for example via promenades and views that are oriented towards the historic monuments of Cairo. Source: © Aga Khan Trust for Culture.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380925128444-89IY0SQXAMA1BOSKRZ6X/Figure3.9.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Aerial View of Al-Azhar Park The site of Al-Azhar Park is extremely challenging because it was a garbage dump in the middle of a dense, historic, and low-income neighborhood of Cairo, which makes it design all the more remarkable. Source: © Aga Khan Trust for Culture.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380925128805-ICCAB4ZD1418R578P2K8/Figure3.10.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Discovery of the Ayyubid Wall What began as a landscape architecture project evolved into a historic preservation project with the discovery of the Ayyubid Wall, seen on the right with Al-Azhar Park on the left. Source: Caryn Sweeney.           https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380925128866-SPAZJRR1QR0C4RMWUYGD/Figure3.11.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Preservation and Renovation of the Wall ​ The historic preservation and renovation of local monuments has led to training and jobs for hundreds of young local workers from the low-income Darb Al-Ahmar neighborhood adjacent to the Park. Source: © Aga Khan Trust for Culture.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380925129108-GLFA8Y463H71H6O0LGI3/Figure3.12.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Evolution of the Project What began as a top-down park project initiated by a millionaire philanthropist has evolved into a community-based partnership, for example in the rehabilitation of housing, as seen in this image.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380925129189-YTBC5VQI59A093OALVXI/Figure3.131.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Darb-Al Amar Neighborhood The ongoing process of the Al-Azhar Park project has greatly benefited the adjacent Darb-Al Amar neighborhood through a mix of job training, employment, microfinance, housing rehabilitation, and health programs, in addition to having regular access to a large public park in their midst. Source: © Aga Khan Trust for Culture.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380922771397-UWQH8CPJB6E8Q10D4XYN/Figure3.5.png Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Beach The newly constructed beaches of the Olympic Village benefit the entire city due to excellent public transit connectivity and surrounding retail amenities such as cafes and restaurants. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380922771329-9BKCVML9RHUWCFBN0F95/Figure3.1.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Plan of the Olympic Village Plan of the Olympic Village which shows the new the port, marina and beaches on the right, the housing designed around courtyards in the middle of the image, and the many parks and public spaces in between the two. Courtesy: Architectural Record magazine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380922771731-PMV48XVV6HDH7Y5VP7BR/Figure3.2.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Apartment Buildings in the Village ​ As seen in this image, the vast majority of the new apartment buildings in the Olympic Village are mid-rise buildings around courtyards that work well in the Mediterranean climate. Source: Aseem Inam.           https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380922771824-E36FW6I0DGQGUPZLLAE1/Figure3.3.png Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Frank Gehry's Fish Sclupture           Frank Gehry's Fish Sculpture           The waterfront promenade of the Olympic Village marked by the iconic fish sculpture by the architect Frank Gehry and the two tall towers in the background, with the hotel on the left and the office building on the right. Source: Aseem Inam.         https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380922771967-Q6VUH4KW64KE6BWNTHGY/Figure3.4.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Linear Park The linear park between the housing to the left and the waterfront promenade further to the right provide generous public open spaces that neighborhood residents access on a daily basis. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380922771687-59YGA81C1B3X64GRLPUR/Figure3.6.png Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Cinturó de Ronda Passage A pedestrian passage from the housing towards the waterfront over the Cinturó de Ronda that is also integrated with the surrounding parks. Source: Aseem Inam.           https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1380922772334-5DRN45Q8CF75L2S4ZUX8/Figure3.7.jpg Beyond Objects: City as Flux - Urban Park on the Periphery of the Village The ripple effects of the Olympic Village design and process continue to be felt in the city as flux, for example in this large urban park built on the periphery of the Village after the Olympics with open views towards the ocean. Source: Aseem Inam.   http://trulab.org/transformationreconceptualzied daily 0.75 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372356702274-98NH8HWWQIEGW977E39S/%5Bgandhiserve.org%5D+Gandhi_spinning.jpg Transformation Reconceptualized Source: Wikimedia Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372356801815-FQMLN3F5XTALDICR4NS9/%28source_U.S.+National+Archives+and+Records+Administration%29+Civil_Rights_March_on_Washington%2C_D.C._%28Dr._Martin_Luther_King%2C_Jr._and_Mathew_Ahmann_in_a_crowd.%29_-_NARA_-_542015.jpg Transformation Reconceptualized Source: Wikimedia Commons http://trulab.org/contact daily 0.75 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1387254577509-T7WZI3JACJQ5T8POAPFK/hudson-map.jpg Contact - Transient http://trulab.org/home daily 1.0 2019-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371581845948-JKME37LEVDVU1LTN7068/Inam-Barelona-women+on+ledge2.jpg Home - Barcelona https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371581748519-Q9NJ5KNROJJWJBKLRU5U/Inam-Bengaluru-flower+vendor2.jpg Home - Bengaluru https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371581217338-6PJ9YCXJH2G1G3K77WL0/Inam-Las+Vegas-CityCenter+construction.jpg Home - Las Vegas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371581218398-K6SNGOY5RPUWDMO0FXZK/Inam-Madrid-Caixa+Forum.jpg Home - Madrid https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371581218510-GGH6M4WBT4DFPA0DG90U/Inam-Montreal-street+exhibit.jpg Home - Montreal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371581297131-1GBUWIYOGUWM214JA7ZN/Istanbul-Spice+Bazaar+passage-July+2010.jpg Home - Istanbul https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372193747419-9LJTNGYE9A1WALVSSDRK/Inam-New+York-Columbus+Circle-1.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372193354497-D1T9B8LN1OFKZ048KTEF/Figure2.8.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372196844689-ZP03RKYW18YFW1PP6QYL/Inam-Rocinha_houses-Rio_de_Janeiro.jpg Home http://trulab.org/intro1 daily 0.75 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371591591351-PSX9EDQ91Y6FMZUIL5HO/Inam-art_deco-Miami.jpg Introduction The question "what is urban design?" carries with it unwelcome baggage. The term Urban Design was coined by Jose Lluis Sert at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design and refers to a particular form of architectural project design and capitalist development in the aftermath of WWII. The term urban design has also been marked by a longstanding domination of architects and architectural thinking, which is ultimately about three-dimensional form. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371591683381-7GMQXP0YKTIAK78SO8RH/Inam-Barcelona-Poblenou+Rambla.jpg Introduction Another approach to urbanism posits another concern with the public realm , which is, according to Denise Scott Brown in the book Urban Concepts, "the public sector seen in physical terms. We may view the public realm simple-mindedly as everything on the transportation map and everything that is blue and green on the city land use map." While such designers' perspectives are well-meaning, they remain naive and superficial for they overlook or misunderstand the crucial legal and financial aspects of the public realm. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371591586616-OMQNEE449M47K6OX3O4S/Inam-New+York-Columbus+Circle.jpg Introduction A morphological definition  of urbanism relies on describing the structure of the field, usually in terms of other fields. Such morphology includes a combination of architecture, landscape architecture, city planning, or even sub-fields in-between.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372360465624-Q5WHVV12RVNCJZ8UDRXK/Untitled-1.jpg Introduction Given the rapidly changing and increasingly complex nature of cities, scholars and practitioners have proposed yet another approach to describing urbanism: producing lists of categories of types of urbanism. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371591591008-55U9BK0UHJGLDXZWVIZM/Inam-galleria-Milan.jpg Introduction There has been a spate of books, or readers, which compile, what many consider, classic writings in urbanism  along with newer thinking, which implies a cannon for the field. These readers are also welcome for they reflect a recent surge of interest in urbanism as well as a broadening of its understanding. The central question of such readers is what is their purpose, and what is their contribution?  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371591591732-R437L0PLGVW28R8VF9FD/Inam-Rocinha-Rio_de_Janeiro.jpg Introduction Urbanism is also defined as a group of different modes of professional practice . The most distinct claims about this approach, emphasizing three contemporary and self-conscious paradigms of practice: New Urbanism, Everyday Urbanism, and, to a lesser extent, Post-Urbanism.  https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371591587769-DIM1G96FLSAJOR7KXZO2/Inam-Whittier-Uptown+model.jpg Introduction A growing realm for understanding and practicing urbanism is in the use of models . Most recently, physicists have attempted to utilize extremely large sets of data and statistics to create models or correlations for cities, claiming that many urban variables can be described by a few simple equations. Modelling can also be the basis for urban practice; designers can use models to represent complex situations at multiple scales , constructing an understanding of the city and its component elements. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371591591966-M2KFT9O0V0A7RTWX57Z6/Inam-Detroit-graffitti+art.jpg Introduction There is also the more hands-on "how to" approach , as reflected in a spate of recent books that focus on best practices and case studies, and the lessons derived from them. The books feature numerous projects and case studies of urbanism. The case studies range from projects to downtowns, residential neighborhoods, waterfronts, and parks, to monumental public structures (e.g. libraries, museums, and convention centers), and large scale development projects. However, the case studies tend to be largely descriptive, with little critical analysis, let alone the deeper theoretical insights that could lead to significant shifts in the field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371591585534-AJXB1KQMKZCQ3MGGUV6W/Inam-Madrid-Caixa+Forum.jpg Introduction The best practices approach  to urbanism is most vividly illusrated by awards and published competitions (e.g. the global "Dubai International Award of Best Practices" established in 1995 and administered by UN HABITAT, or the "Rudy Bruner Award for Excellence" created in 1986). Even with the impressive scope of these awards and provision of easy access to databases of award winners, there is no documented study of how these award programs might lead to large-scale, systemic transformation of cities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371591584386-S0RIJAUEP0JP0GPUV90O/Inam-Barelona-women+on+ledge.jpg Introduction Urbanism is at its foundation is an intellectual activity. Theories of urbanism offer a set of general directions that can be translated into specific design strategies depending on the context, while at the same time enabling criteria to evaluate existing places without demanding that all cities reach these criteria in the same way. The potency of theory is based on the premise that ideas are powerful agents of change. How we think about cities matters a great deal.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371591586205-FMRSCIDLKJAEG8UL4XFK/Inam-Madrid-bubbles+in+park.jpg Introduction Cities could be far better places if urbanists had a richer understanding of the sociological understanding of cities (described by Louis Worth) that cities are large, dense, and permanent settlements of heterogeneous individuals. This on-the-ground conceptualization of urbanism focuses not so much on what a city looks like as on how a city works as a social entity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371591587327-0OR5F5K34EB80LOY53JF/Inam-Montreal-street+exhibit.jpg Introduction Designing for Urban Transformation  is explicit about building a theory based on humanist values by examining what is fundamental and shared in society. Kevin Lynch underscores why the examination of values are important in urban design practice: "Without some sense of better, any action is perverse. When values lie unexamined, they are dangerous." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371591584953-8FLG2ZSGXRB4YXUPTHPP/Inam-Barcelona-skyline.jpg Introduction Urban theorist and critic Alexander Cuthbert complements Lynch's approach to theory by arguing that thinking and practicing urbanism occurs with reference to a larger system of spatial political economy. The spatial political economy perspective adds much needed richness and depth to theories of urbanism which enables urbanists to frame, investigate, strategize, intervene, and reflect on city-design-and-building processes and products beyond the narrow diciplinary perspectives of architecture or urban design. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372352419143-7KBO2DY7QC915PWSIBB0/Rorty.jpg Introduction - Richard Rorty Richard Rorty (1931–2007) was an American Pragmatist philosopher, who was distinctive and often controversial for his critical analysis of many modern philosophical concepts. His work, among other Pragmatists, contains important insights for understanding the potential of urbanism. Source: Wikimedia Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372353502525-8QWQ5P73SU49RB940TH5/RHDP_11bs.jpg Introduction - Anti-foundationalism The notion of anti-foundationalism suggests design strategies can be finely tuned to the changing realities on the ground, rather than implemented with strict adherence to rigid, pre-determined formulas. While the original mandate of the program was to design and build houses for the rural poor, field research and comparable case study analyses led to fundamental shifts towards addressing higher-priority infrastructure challenges in partnership with residents. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372352838477-647J9BQG9OKN0XQC7CMY/Figure2.7.jpg Introduction - Experimentation experimentation offers the view that the design and implementation of projects, programs, and policies is a way of testing and fine-tuning creative ideas that have an impact on people’s lives. The original program experimented with creative strategies for water supply systems, sanitation and sewage facilities, construction materials research and skills training—all of which were then applied at much larger scales with great effect in the sub-programs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372353814740-GA1LOSRKUWI63J9O0RQN/Figure2.8.jpg Introduction - Social Construction of Knowledge For designers and urbanists, the social construction of knowledge implies that while there may different points of view about any one situation, a key strategy in moving forward is to help construct a collective agreement about possible courses of action. Such processes of consensus are also important in constantly building and rebuilding communities and democratic processes. In this way a democratic community is not something that any policy, diagram, or mandate can accomplish; it is a process that must be constantly engaged. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371578745217-D33W0YEGS654OZOLNY5V/Figure2.1.jpg Introduction Rural Habitat Development Programme, Gujarat http://trulab.org/intro2 daily 0.75 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433878348315-DHBVM6EPV7M3F3PCKGNG/image-asset.png Case Study Analyses Duisburg Landscape Park, Ruhr Valley, Germany https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433878523401-BW4HGJ5JBKXB1ZL91R92/image-asset.png Case Study Analyses The High Line, New York https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371583967863-BET787TOEJA9811N20OX/Figure3.14.jpg Case Study Analyses MIT Experimental Design Studio, Boston https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371583888003-G6621QLPZ5YGXS3SPJRA/Figure3.8.jpg Case Study Analyses Al-Azhar Park, Cairo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371579827097-72BKCRJNMDIRWP84URWM/Figure3.1.jpg Case Study Analyses Olympic Village, Barcelona https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433879479537-NIZ9LQMVB5O2A91VJ6UI/image-asset.png Case Study Analyses Khayelitsha Township, South Africa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433880261099-ZZW9DCJEMMEJA67ZZHGN/image-asset.png Case Study Analyses Portland Loo, Portland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371584710381-SJ64AFXPA0CS7OZFCN39/Figure+4.15.jpg Case Study Analyses "Big Dig" Project, Boston https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371584637281-81X7HYG3FZLJUKO5MZ2Q/Figure+4.9.jpg Case Study Analyses India Habitat Centre, New Delhi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371584455100-98Y7QNOW1ZKW34N34Q0L/Figure+4.1.jpg Case Study Analyses Centre Pompidou, Paris https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433881019652-BW1PDUS45EYPXT6RN0ZL/image-asset.png Case Study Analyses Brasília, Brazil https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433880619158-UMT8TKWX6756Q49YN9W0/image-asset.png Case Study Analyses Ciclovia and Cicloruta Project, Bogotá https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433876959441-XNG2XY0225DCD08VUX37/Screen+Shot+2015-06-09+at+3.06.52+PM.png Case Study Analyses Parque Da Terceira Água, Belo Horizonte https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433881344591-U8ZT7NZLN4H4MU3X183X/Screen+Shot+2015-06-09+at+3.08.05+PM.png Case Study Analyses Orangi Pilot Project, Karachi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1371584818466-IW1LC012JUPUEGIE9BEK/Figure5.1.jpg Case Study Analyses Uptown Whittier Specific Plan, Whittier http://trulab.org/intro3 daily 0.75 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372358959750-EAKCXDTWA9PVK7069Z1E/urbanization+population2.jpg Introduction - Patterns of Spatial Growth One common understanding of urban transformation is observed through major shifts in patterns of the material city, in which significant change over scales of time and space are crucial. Source: Stephen Wheeler. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372358477722-ZUAMOFKP8SUGBWVV3567/urbanization+population2.jpg Introduction - Population Growth A second common understanding of urban transformation is in terms of rapid and large-scale population growth. Rapid urbanization—whether due to industrialization in the 19th century, or migration within developing regions in the 20th century—represents economic and social trends, but also reflects the human textures of cities. Source: United Nations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372359408835-X97DR8Z1AISAVYOUFW5H/EIU+top+10+cities2.jpg Introduction - Economist Table (Top 10) A third type is measured through quality of life indicators such as health, pollution, education, and infrastructure. These indicators are meant to represent relative rankings of cities around the world, with improvements indicators supposedly reflecting significant improvements in the quality of life for its citizens. A more popular approach is the city livability ranking by consulting firms and magazines such as The Economist. Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372357718858-FBZ7P1VTYQYAOJ66CAIY/good+city+form.jpeg Introduction - Performance Dimensions of the Material City A fourth type is a nuanced qualitative judgment of cities that can be achieved through what the urbanist Kevin Lynch calls performance dimensions of the material city, such as vitality, sense, fit, access, control, efficiency, and justice: “Performance dimensions are certain identifiable characteristics of the performance of cities which are due primarily to their spatial qualities and which are measurable scales, along which different groups will prefer to achieve different positions.” http://trulab.org/beyond-intentions-consequences-of-design daily 0.75 2019-11-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433455717429-VGEGWBU8LYZKSMU14TK9/01.png Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Khayelitsha Township Khayelitsha Township informal housing: the standard narrative of Khayelitsha is as a crime-ridden township, with the highest murder and unemployment rates in South Africa. Source: Image courtesy of Zung Nguyen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433455718688-AW6QYI6SZI0SC3F1W25H/02.png Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Urban Patterns Urban Patterns of Informal Settlements: Khayelitsha sits isolated as a result of Apartheid Era policies. Other social, spatial, and economic impacts include: lack of access to infrastructure, high inequality, and high unemployment and crime rates. Source: Zung Nguyen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433455717650-OFXGCV0S6B927DZR3ELE/03.png Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Infrastructure Upgrades Such features of the VPUU design include safety infrastructure upgrades such as lighting on sidewalks and community interventions aimed at increasing foot traffic and establishing a condition of safety. Source: Images courtesy of Zung Nguyen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433878205319-P1KFOX3MBD1S80HV69QR/04.png Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Community Participation in Khayelitsha Community induced-design resulting in public participation: Through this process – called negotiated development –VPUU design team realized many of the main roads were unused by pedestrians as preference was given to shortcuts through the village, cutting through backyards and difference neighborhoods. To increase the safety and accessibility, the design team suggested adding streetlights and additional infrastructure along these informal pedestrian paths. Source: Zung Nguyen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433455718227-X89MBFKM78H34OKZAMII/05.png Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - 'Active Box' The ‘active boxes’ serve as regular landmarks for pedestrians every 500 meters in an otherwise flat, expansive landscape. As seen in this image, an ‘Active Box’ along an otherwise empty road provides space for a variety of activities such as additional security, community meetings, or roadside shops. Source: Diana Martínez Loredo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433455718959-XUX4DBJ5HNS968DTJD43/06.png Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Khayelitsha Library In addition to the safety features along the main roads, additional infrastructure for youth, such as football pitches, libraries and a youth center are also constructed based on the suggestions given throughout the community participation process. Source: Images courtesy of Zung Nguyen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433455719581-WAZ7AC3M9XN1XSV1LIYB/07.png Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - VPUU Community Participation Assessment Community participation overview of interactions. This table shows the extent to which the community is involved in large and small decision making throughout the project. Despite criticism from scholars, the level of engagement has resulted in an increased sense of ownership and empowerment across the Township. Source: VPUU 2012 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433456046467-7MBO8JNB4XDJVUTU19KH/08.png Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Community Participation at VPUU By inviting community input in the design of the initial urban renewal plans, the team collected community perceptions of how crime was affecting daily life and thoughts on how it could be reduced. The design team relied on four strategies in order to affect transformation within Khayelitsha: involving community into the project design phase; involving local government and civil society into project management; supporting and hiring local entrepreneurs; and relying on community volunteers. Source: Tarna Klitzner, Landscape Architect https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381868331602-4MGFNXS7JTX31P9I1ULF/portland-loo-lawsuit.jpeg1-1280x960.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Strategic Design of Sanitation Infrastrucutre The Portland Loo is different because it's placed in the public right of way... not in corners or hidden from residents. Photo credit: Jonathan J. Cooper https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381869111982-0DZB7VRNZ1KJG05FRF91/portlandloo-a7b84ddf3911687f.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Changing the Narrative of Public Sanitation Public toilets are inherently a part of cities, yet they are often overlooked in public space design. In small ways, public toilets can improve the quality of life for city residents. Source: Sara Hottman/The Oregonian https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381870027863-FVQ4Q8JFD40C658K1GRA/loo+map.PNG Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Map of Portland Loo Locations Source: The City of Portland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381871581143-8QVD4TTTFA0AI51PB5DP/LOO-INVITE-Ash-St-Oct-2010-2.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - World Toilet Day Connecting with a larger celebration of sanitation broadens the issue from local to global. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381440222546-LUSBX5FGVKP3GOSQ60TE/Figure+4.15.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Construction of the Big Dig ​ The Big Dig under construction, with the Boston waterfront in the background and downtown to the left. Source: Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Highway Division.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381440222459-DV2TMSFJZAYSOCB11NVA/Figure+4.16.png Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Public Spaces The Big Dig has led to the creation of public open spaces and green urban landscapes in the heart of Boston where a large elevated metal highway stood for decades. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381440223664-BDT39P0NP7UZDC263X90/BDB_4+Big+Dig+mapa.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Map of the Big Dig Map showing all the major components of the Big Dig, with the tunnels in blue, including the Ted Williams Tunnel to the airport under Boston Harbor in the middle and the Zakim Bridge in green across the Charles River, in the upper left of the map, the Ted Williams. Source: Massachusetts Department of Transportation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381440223656-ZG2720HD7QLE8XDFU1A9/Figure+4.21.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Rose Kennedy Greenway A view of the Rose Kennedy Greenway with the downtown Boston skyline in the background. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381440224167-Y122ALDGC1U4EZL6JVL9/Figure+4.24.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Un-Fill Project A cross section of the Un-Fill project showing how the land between the surface and the tunnels could be occupied by parking. Source: J. Meejin Yoon, with Meredith Miller. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381440428884-G1GN0PJ1T1DJ35RUMVSM/Figure+4.23.png Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Zakim Bridge An image of the iconic Zakim Bridge, a highly visible symbol of 21st century Boston. The design of the tops of the pylons is inspired by the historic Bunker Hill monument. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381439466807-Z71R4MPQKUX21P270I9F/Figure+4.9.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Multifunctional Uses The India Habitat Centre is a hub of constant organized and spontaneous activity, such as this conference. Source: C. J. Walsh https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381439466828-YFT76VQV1F11F8NXBLYT/Figure+4.10.png Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Government Office Building as Ecological Campus The India Habitat Centre has a striking presence within the material city, with its red brick walls, concrete panels faced with green tiles, lush vegetation, and views of the interior courtyards from the street—far from the image of the conventional, bureaucratic and foreboding image of the typical Indian government office building. Source: International Pragmatics Association.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381439466450-B4BZS0QLB51ATNQ7SLWZ/Figure+4.11.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Informal Events While institutional members of the Center organize or sponsor formal events in the auditorium and the conference rooms, more informal publicly oriented events occur in the courtyards, such as this group of school children drawing. Source: C B Devgun.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381439466540-2WIWP45YID388RS9Q9S9/Figure+4.12.png Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Coutryards The lush landscaped and semi-covered courtyards not only create temperate microclimates, but provide an excellent way for workers to go from building to building, thereby generation the potential for constant social interaction. Source: von Franziska Fröhlich.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381439465985-0GI4TTVFA834HEJZ6D9J/Figure+4.13.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Materiality of the Centre The materiality of its architecture contributes significantly to the effectiveness of its urbanism; for example, in the use of local materials such as brick, tile and stone, and the clear marking of building entrances through the use of glass, wood, and details such as built in seats. Source: Shankar Barua.         https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381439465912-PYVZL5SFTHV038NO01NF/Figure+4.14.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Cultural Activity Apart from the many urban policy-related meetings and intellectual conferences, the Centre is a hub of cultural activity as this traditional Indian dance performance—which draws people from all over the Delhi metropolitan region. Source: Ashok Chankradhar.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381438823793-U6C5TE1IGEQMPAXMIX40/Figure+4.1.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Exterior of the Centre Pompidou When completed in 1977, the architecture of the Centre Pompidou was quite revolutionary for its glass and steel construction, flexible interior spaces, and the location of building services such as escalators, elevators, air ducts and water pipes to the exterior of the building. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381438838091-G3GNMBLNMWU4EGEM6Y6X/Figure+4.2.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Public Spaces ​ Even thought the original designers did not provide any kind of seating in the public spaces, people continue to be attracted to the plaza and find ways to being comfortable; for example in this image, a family using the cobblestone paving as a seat and the polished stone of the low wall as a backrest to enjoy the sun in front of the Center. Source: Aseem Inam.         https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381438837273-4WTUC6SAIPKZYC7KRVC2/Figure+4.4.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Public Library The public qualities of the building are not only to be see in the surrounding open spaces and the transparent glass façade, but also on the interior, as seen in this image, where hundreds upon hundreds of Parisians gather on a Friday night in one of the many different reading sections of the free and easily accessible library. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381438838094-NHDA7NGIRUGF5RUVM3EF/Figure+4.5.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Plaza What was once a large and foreboding parking lot surrounded by crumbling buildings has been a vast pedestrian plaza for people to do more or less as they wish. Source: Giulio Garavaglia.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381438838434-9GBSRBBCGXUY935DGOJN/Figure+4.6.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - View from the Top The top of the glass tube that contains the escalators is not merely a platform for spectacular view of Paris; it is a way to both float above and to be immersed within the material city. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381438838483-ZXBIUH7CA6T1KQJIP6JV/Figure+4.7.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Stravinsky Fountain ​ People are drawn to the Stravinsky Fountain (with the Centre Pompidou in the background), where they sit, meet friends, and eat and drink. Source: Hiroshiken Wang.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381438838766-4B6YYQBU2LIEFSKFW5ZA/Figure+4.8.jpg Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Neighborhood of the Centre The surrounding neighborhood has benefitted greatly from the Centre Pompidou, through not only investments in tourist-oriented businesses such as cafes and gift shops, but also through the rehabilitation of many crumbling buildings, introduction of new housing, and small neighborhood businesses such as opticians and even a Christian bookstore. Source: Nicolas Clairembault.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381438838953-JTZVPKOFPZ0Y59SZHZFS/Figure+4.3.png Beyond Intentions: Consequences of Design - Colorful Pipes On the side facing the street, the Centre Pompidou’s color-coded pipes and ducts make its presence felt, even as it aligns with the street edge and almost follows the heights of the surrounding buildings. Source: Aseem Inam.   http://trulab.org/beyond-practice-urbanism-as-creative-political-act daily 0.75 2019-11-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433456355061-FL15T8GO32PCRE1UJF37/01.png Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act Diagram that represents Brasília’s four urban scales: Residential – where people live, gregarious – where people get together (from the word aggregate), bucolic – where nature-related (mostly parks and lake) places are, and monumental – our point of interest here. Source: RS Projetos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433456358220-1V6ZXX8421WKPRA7ZCOX/02.png Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - The Monumental Scale Surrounding the central lawn, in the East side of the Plataforma Rodoviária (main bus station), there are the edifices of the Teatro Nacional Cláudio Santoro (Cláudio Santoro National Theater), Catedral Metropolitana de Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Nossa Senhora Aparecida Metropolitan Cathedral), Congresso Nacional (National Congress), ministries, Museu Nacional Honestino Guimarães (Honestino Guimarães National Museum) and Biblioteca Nacional Leonel de Moura Brizola (Leonel de Moura Brizola National Library), among others. Source: Joana França https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433456355523-B8FU7IT73GOOLX3NZULQ/03.png Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act Man crossing the Cultural Complex during daytime (left) and people waiting for their bus to go home after work (right). The crossings in the central grass fields leave traces of the presence of people. Their passage through the same path, alternative to the paved one, remains registered on the grass. It represents the victory of weak over the stronger, making evident narratives in the urban fabric. Sometimes, the diagonal shortcuts done by the inhabitants appear later covered by concrete. Source: Isabella Brandalise https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433456355947-UUZA0H55KGMDT3XMGP3K/04.png Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Visitors Around Cathedral In the monumental scale, the presence of people is related a variety of activities. There are the many uses, such as those predicted by the urban plan, such as offices and bureaucracy, practiced by the people that work in the administrative buildings of the capital. There are other kinds of occupation, such as services and social life, leisure and play, and artistic interventions including light and image projections on the structure. Source: Isabella Brandalise https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433456356616-OOZUGVPHX1KD03AUXJQ1/05.png Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - National Congress Building People taking care of the superior platform of the National Congress, demonstrating the monumentality of the material city in comparison to the human scale. Source: Isabella Brandalise https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433456356760-93OF6Q9O4S7BCZZTBZI9/06.png Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act Chart with the analytical framework of the study. Source: Isabella Brandalise https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433456357169-GAYKPF5DMYTMAGT3YJDG/07.png Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act Zone in-between ministries during lunchtime. While the users of the public space were not consulted when the rigid Cartesian lines of the plan were drawn by the architect’s pen, they nevertheless trace daily their diagonals and irregular trajectories with their feet. Source: Isabella Brandalise https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1433456357614-THO6OK20E4GJOQUF6FQZ/08.png Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act On the wide grass fields between North and South ministries, one sees sports and leisure activities such as rugby and football matches, yoga boot camps, festivals of hot air balloon, and astronomy courses. Spaces are appropriated through a number of means including small personal objects and mobile artifacts, e.g. traffic cones. Individuals begin to understand through the witness of these spatial appropriations, that the city is undergoing constant transformation. Source: Isabella Brandalise https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381873517065-94L1TS49JKWE96IMF67N/Ciclovia_em_Bogota%CC%81.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - The Impact of Closing City Streets Every Sunday, residents of Bogotá flood the streets. The increased pedestrian and bicyclist activity in the streets has been shown to lower crime and improve public health. Source: wikimedia commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1432842210477-1M0QUR9VP9JU565Z94CL/MAPA_CICLOVIA2012.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Map of Ciclovia Source: courtesy City of Bogotá https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381873525924-8GAZR9BXSM2FX31NV8DD/Bogota_Ciclovia-ruta+final+presentation.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Mayor Enrique Peñalosa Mayor from 1998-2001, Enrique Peñalosa play a major role in implementing a bus rapid transit system and permanent bike routes. He is famous for his quote "A bikeway is a symbol that shows that a citizen on a $30 bicycle is equally important as a citizen on a $30,000 car. Source wikimedia commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381873931956-ZBAIQWUTVJ610TNQ781H/Screen+shot+2013-10-15+at+5.51.49+PM.png Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Political Acts through Threee Decades Over time the lively streets of Bogotá and the larger transformations that these street revitalization projects have triggered, were the result of political interventions over the course of three decades. Source: Rose Bothomley, Marco Zelaya, Jinghang https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381445305623-11ICVD7USOV354747OKM/Figure5.13.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Orangi Township ​ Orangi township was filled with open drains and sewage, with children having to wade through the refuse on a daily basis, as seen in this image. Source: Balazs Gardi.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381445315307-L00S7T9LQPDCDPMR4TXD/Figure5.14.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Survey Map ​ A survey map from 2006 showing the extensive network of 6,000 low-cost sewage lines constructing lane-by-lane and connecting around 100,000 houses in Orangi. Source: Orangi Pilot Project Research and Training Institute.           https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381445324360-SFRZSY12GTHTO3P2PP4A/combine.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Before And After Side by side images of the same lane with the sewages pipes being installed on the left, and the finished lane clean, dry and free of waste water on the right. Source: Orangi Pilot Project Research and Training Institute.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381445330003-57HWLSOB0CYHHNBTWJ2W/Figure5.16.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Micro Enterprise Credit Program ​ With funds from the Orangi Micro Enterprise Credit program, this woman was able to begin a business making and selling incense sticks. Source: Zofeen Ebrahim/IPS.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381445335961-QU63XHKP1O12S6UOHMR8/Figure5.17.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Practicing Urbanism as a Creative Political Act The Orangi Pilot project’s ability to generate unprecedented mobilization of local neighborhoods and strategic partnerships with organizations points to the power of practicing urbanism as a creative political act. Source: Orangi Pilot Project Research and Training Institute.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381444582783-CGS2LLUCPIQM45TYS69M/Figure5.6.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Housing in Bela Horizonte ​ The vast majority of housing in informal settlements such as Bela Horizonte is built informally; that is, usually without legal title to the land, without legal permission, and with self-help construction techniques, as seen in this image. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435088473626-RC0LAIMRVZZ5ALEMMZYX/Figure5.7.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Participatory Budgeting ​ A few of the thousands of ordinary citizens in Belo Horizonte participating in the participatory budgeting process. Source: Prefeitura Municipal de Belo Horizonte.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381442921422-61PU7N7AM8X9OVF1YMQ0/Belo+Horizonte-15+years+of+partipatory+budgeting_Page_53+copy.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Participatory Budgeting Projects in Belo Horizonte ​ A map of the of nearly 1,200 participatory budgeting projects but throughout the city of Belo Horizonte from 1994 to 2008, including in favelas such as Aglomerado da Serra. Source: Prefeitura Municipal de Belo Horizonte.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435088550537-R6KQW0W7CF54A6606D15/Figure5.9.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Alomerado da Serra A view of Alomerado da Serra with the existing informal housing in the background, the widened main arterial road, Avenida do Cardoso, in the middle, and the new ecological parks to the right of the road and on the lower left, the edge of the Third Water Park. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381442921155-DX17322T8S8GBCOUP8U6/Figure5.10.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Third Water Park Two boys stop by the stream in the Third Water Park to clean their bicylces. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435088656868-V4RYA5MJM2SP3EC7DY07/Figure5.11.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - View from the Third Water Park A view from the Third Water Park towards the rest of the Aglomerado da Serra shows the rare site of a large area of lush vegetation inside an informal settlement. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381444603165-5Q1QQVEG8OO88ENZDD5D/Figure5.12.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Community Center A view of the community center, Centro Comunitário BH Cidadania, designed by the firm M3 Arquitetura as a part of the master plan for the Third Water Park. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381442387015-52HFIILWM6VWTKLYMN9H/Figure5.1.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Regulating Plan The regulating plan for Uptown Whittier provides the overall design framework within which growth and other changes will occur incrementally in the area over the next few decades. Source: Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381442386890-7G7H9M7L95LB506LT2DC/Figure5.2.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Parking Lot ​ Photograph of a relatively empty existing surface parking lot in what is considered to be the densest and most walkable part of the city of Whittier, the Uptown district. Source: Aseem Inam   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381442387201-5A3EOTCHSQU4OKEK8MOB/Figure5.3.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Public Design Charrette Residents were actively involved in the week-long public design charrette (i.e. workshop), where they challenged the design team’s ideas and contributed suggestions to critical decisions. Source: Aseem Inam.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381442387351-B66L76AN4CFSUO9XKQVU/Figure5.4.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Parking Strategy Diagram Parking strategy diagram showing both on-street and off-street facilities, with the darker shaded areas towards the center of the diagram representing higher cost and more short-term parking near the retail core, with the lighter shaded areas representing lower cost and more long-term parking. The red dots represent locations of solar-powered electronic payment machines for curbside parking. Source: Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists.   https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1381442387607-89Z5NL2Q5Y6Y5RSPESGW/Uptown+Whittier+Specific+Plan+-+liner+building+type.jpg Beyond Practice: Urbanism as Creative Political Act - Building Type and Parking Standards The liner building type and parking standards provide the strategic parameters with which the Park Once structures fit within the exiting urban fabric of Uptown Whittier. Source: Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists.   http://trulab.org/trulab daily 0.75 2019-11-07 http://trulab.org/book-designing-urban-transformation daily 0.75 2019-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1384542440594-QOSB1BW7HHWOFM0V9DA3/Designing+urban+transformation-aseem+inam-routledge-book+release.jpg Book: Designing Urban Transformation http://trulab.org/designing-urban-transformation daily 0.75 2022-05-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1372892525251-ZY0NIFMQPD1EEVBFF005/Inam-New_School-Union_Square-small.jpg Aseem Inam, Director Source: Matthew Sussman http://trulab.org/past-practices daily 0.75 2019-12-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1574348288021-TXBNPZ6WUP42T3AGUBQM/Aseem_Inam-Jaipur_Dec_2016-CUSP_Workshop_discussion_1.jpg Transformative Practices Aseem Inam and Sanjeev Vidyarthi introducing the discussion on the case studies during a workshop in Jaipur. Source: Aseem Inam, 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1574348289072-NEBMMN49KJTB4A7DZ9K0/Aseem_Inam-Jaipur_Dec_2016-CUSP_Workshop_group_photo_1-small.jpg Transformative Practices Participants of the first workshop in Jaipur. The group included practitioners from different fields including architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, urban design, among others. Source: Jai Singh, 2015. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1574348305279-51SNLGKJJGVM1HH2AHHX/Consequences+of+Design+Concepts.PNG Transformative Practices Concluding thoughts from the case study analysis of the Säynätsalo Town Hall in Jyväskylä [Finland]. Source: Aseem Inam, 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1573817201770-C8UH4EKENPE20KUOSM0E/Univ_of_Toronto-Thorncliffe_Park-space_networks_analysis-cropped.jpg Transformative Practices A series of overlapping plan diagrams emerged out of analysis of GIS maps, aerial photographs and on-site field work in order to more closely understand the exact nature of urban spatial relationships towards the center as well the edges of the Thorncliffe Park neighborhood. Source: Building Potential Futures of Thorncliffe Park, Toronto, 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1573817205296-D4LSGXUL62DNVIVYX08L/Maria_Grandez-Toronto-March_2016-Thorncliffe_Park-Myseum_crowd_1.jpg Transformative Practices The image from a March 2016 event captures the rich and multifaceted nature of designing new practices, including group conversations, hands-on creative exercises, public exhibition of research and proposals, and input from key stakeholders. Source: Maria Grandez. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1573817153424-U5OSLJY73CFCJHVM79MY/Univ_of_Toronto-Final_Studio_booklet-Table_of_Contents-diagram.jpg Transformative Practices The visual table of contents of the final booklet submitted to all stakeholders and community members shows how the various strategic interventions in Thorncliffe Park are grouped by three themes: economy, community and accessibility. Source: Building Potential Futures of Thorncliffe Park, Toronto, 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1573817131994-PNL8W3KVF2I9F64KYGEF/Univ_of_Toronto-Final_Studio_booklet-informal_economies_toolkit.jpg Transformative Practices A palette of different types of design interventions were developed to support the entrepreneurial spirit and informal economies of Thorncliffe Park. Source: Building Potential Futures of Thorncliffe Park, Toronto, 2016. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434053343574-A67UIU5IH64LAXLZEZ1T/APS_image01.png Transformative Practices Image of Union Square from adjacent building showing the main plaza, park, and surrounding buildings. Union Square offers an immense diversity of conditions and actors with an array of activity from major transit hub and farmer’s market to a history of public protests and high concentration of both informal and formal transactions. Source: David Robert Bliwas, creative commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434053355100-0C6GC9MZFT11D6FZ78A1/APS_image02.png Transformative Practices Team member interviewing a licensed veteran vendor selling umbrellas at Union Square Plaza on a rainy winter afternoon. Source: Aseem Inam https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434053357630-SPQWCFO01KZS8DCDGL3V/APS_image03.png Transformative Practices A mapping of power relationships of the regional vending system understood as a tool for practice to identifying points of strategic intervention within the larger system. Source: Darcy Bender and Jefferson Chicarelli https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434053356135-4DA95RTMGJ6LOKP9IR8N/APS_image04.png Transformative Practices A diagram of the proposed HUB in Union Square detailing the multifunctional spaces and potential programs, which serve primarily as a resource for APS and also the wider public. Source: Alexandre Lins https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435268502312-A7N0AJXAU8KRF7UAJIW2/Figure_1-Aseem_Inam-keynote-small.jpg Transformative Practices Prior to the workshop, Aseem Inam delivered the keynote speech at the related international conference entitled “Cidade Empreendedora: Para Transformar e Preciso Conhecer.” Speakers and delegates came from cities all over the world such as Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, London, Medellin, New York, Sao Paulo, and Turin. Source: SEBRAE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435268505405-4WJ503QJ92V9M4T3FYD7/Figure_2-Aseem_Inam-workshop-small.jpg Transformative Practices The 40 workshop participants from different cities divided into 4 groups of collaborators to foster individual brainstorming as well as mutual support. Aseem Inam and a bilingual team from SEBRAE helped facilitate the smaller group discussions. Source: SEBRAE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435268504005-Z2RENL5M908J94PP0FP0/Figure_3-PPT_slide-3_step_process.jpg Transformative Practices The three-step process of the workshop used questions to provoke individual and varied responses and strategies based on the unique context of each city [rather than imposing a top-down one-size-fits-all best-practices approach]. Source: Aseem Inam https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435268507852-U9URE3JK5JUWRJ68O6JQ/Figure_4-PPT_slide-concrete_steps.jpg Transformative Practices In the final step of the workshop, this list of provocations was left up on the screen as each group and participant generated their own concrete ideas and baby steps for further pursuing transformative strategies in their city. Source: Aseem Inam https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434053564462-L7YTTB5RNPPMYEFTA2AF/P2P_image01.png Transformative Practices Image of the Guarapiranga reservoir from a boat, with a view of the water’s edge and a favela in the background. Guarapiranga has a mix of neighborhood types with a wide range of income levels. Source: Sara Minard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434053559635-2I19P3DWUY3SOCU5641G/P2P_image02.png Transformative Practices The team of researcher-practitioners conducting fieldwork and interviewing residents in Portuguese. Source: Bruna Dallaverde de Sousa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434053561193-DPD6KCAR522D87VN60B3/P2P_image03.png Transformative Practices The proposal to strengthen movement systems in a phased manner at the regional scale, including new ferries, buses, pedestrian and bicycle paths than connect with the existing commuter train system. Source: Alex Roesch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434053559968-HZQDPYSFLROF3Z676E02/P2P_image04.png Transformative Practices An image showing the praca flutuante [i.e. floating square] on the left, the ferry in the foreground, and the new public space--the large pier with permanent spaces for the provision for social services. Source: Jeff Chicarelli and Gabriel de Alencar Novaes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434054706420-0IY9MBD5JCLVQBPRBO64/AKPBSI_workshop-Figure_1-small.jpg Transformative Practices The range of practitioners at the workshop was extremely broad, with an interactive and creative format that generated a multiplicity of powerful ideas. Source: AKPBSI https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434054707241-HWQ5YY1ZPEPSVPYRPLHH/AKPBSI_workshop-Figure_2_small.jpg Transformative Practices Ecological strategies for the often-neglected peri-urban areas included managing water and wastewater flows. Source: AKPBSI https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434054705136-K9Q5GSQFRBM1S7KSV1KA/AKPBSI_workshop-Figure_3-small.jpg Transformative Practices The final presentation of proposals was democratic and interactive, with participants walking around dialoguing with practitioners. Source: AKPBSI https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434055108474-SW1FAR99QN7W2885J21Y/AKPBSI_workshop-Figure_4-small.jpg Transformative Practices One policy proposal was to radically improve transportation networks in the Kalyan Dombivali peri-urban fringe of Mumbai by concentrating development along the electric train and open space corridor and by investing in non-motorized transport (e.g. pedestrian and bike paths, along with accommodations for rickshaws and animal transportation). Source: AKPBSI https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434139291007-52QE3JHYFMUROQWLQHNS/Figure_1-Haiti_recovery-earthquake_damage-small.jpg Transformative Practices The epicenter of the 2010 Haitian earthquake was the capital city of Port au Prince, which destroyed thousands of buildings, especially housing. The team addressed medium-term [i.e. provide immediate shelter] and long-term [i.e. design housing recovery strategies] in this context. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434139292029-734HOBMIVLULFG71UD9U/Figure_2-Haiti_recovery-community_meeting.jpg Transformative Practices Central to the team’s strategy was to immerse ourselves in the context of Port au Prince by visiting as many parts of the city and meeting as many members and leaders of the community as possible, including this community organization in an informal settlement. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434139293251-B40B0NR8E6LKDN60SB60/Figure_3-Haiti_recovery-materials_recycling.jpg Transformative Practices The team focused not only on the problems, but also building on what was working such as the entrepreneurship and innovation of Haitians as survival strategies. In this image, materials are have been salvaged from collapsed and are being sold on the streets of Port au Prince. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434139293298-TBM9ZYTD8MEZ9HZBE8XH/Figure_4-Haiti_recovery-land_titling-small.jpg Transformative Practices The research-based practice revealed that a key challenge in the housing deficit in Haiti [even more than housing finance, design or construction materials] was the issue of land titling. Thus, a key recommendation of the final proposal was to address land titling by learning from other efforts in the global south. Source: Haiti Housing Reconstruction Framework Team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434144118117-GC1YVG0E0JQ75EBXX5CC/Figure+1-Inam-Bengaluru-flower_vendor.jpg Transformative Practices A flower vendor in the streets of Bengaluru: Rather than relying on standard methods and strategies from the global north, we need develop approaches to urbanism that are more appropriate to countries like India, as in case of IIHS. Source: Aseem Inam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434144118158-AE29C8V83B9R4QTR3XDQ/figure-3_process_image.jpg Transformative Practices Participants sharing results from Master of Urban Practice course. IIHS is built on an interactive and collaborative process in which the MIT team worked with partners all over the world, especially from India and the global south. Source: IIHS. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434144117798-P3HROK1PUI4NOIR28H4Q/Figure+4-MIT_IIHS-report_cover.jpg Transformative Practices Part of the cover of the final report to the Rockefeller Foundation: The design of the IIHS curriculum could serve as an excellent inspiration for other urban pedagogical institutions in the global south, where the vast majority of urban growth is occurring. Source: MIT. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434491197761-TNT29KS0CPOM1NCTTA47/Figure_1-Lazy+S+Trailer+Park-Sunland+Park.jpg Transformative Practices Many of the colonias are trailer parks with mobile homes but with little or no public space or public amenities, and are marked by predatory practices of housing finance. Source: Google Earth https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434491196006-XF4Z9OM1Q3TEBJKJ5LHT/Figure_2-Light_Improvements-colonias-small.jpg Transformative Practices The “light” level of intervention is simple and low-cost, with an emphasis on improvements to the public realm such as defining street edges with low walls, introducing sidewalks, and planting strips. Source: Moule and Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434491196323-4EB0DO8O2C4J8PCP779A/Figure_3-Colonias-neighborhood_growth.jpg Transformative Practices The “full” level of intervention for a new colonia consists of selecting an appropriate site, creating public spaces, introducing a connected network of streets, narrow lots at a walkable scale, and different housing types that can grow over time. Source: Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434491195510-JX5KWSNBARMDZVX7QIAG/Figure_4-Sawmill_Community_Land_Trust-small.jpg Transformative Practices The final set of implementation strategies look to learn from [rather than blindly emulate] other housing affordability efforts, such as resident-controlled limited-equity ownerships like the Sawmill Community Land Trust in Albuquerque. Source: Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434576071980-GD66VIZJ5YJ849JKD8YM/Figure_1-immersive_design_process-SP-small.jpg Transformative Practices The immersive and collaborative nature of the practice meant spending a great deal of time on site in Sunland Park, including the public charrette and interactive presentations with community stakeholders. Source: Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434576070116-ZKUTC45V3YBTCCMNG0RD/Figure_2-mapping_assets-SP-small.jpg Transformative Practices A starting point for the democratic process was the documentation of existing assets, such as the Rio Grande River and the Mount Cristo Rey, and finding ways to leverage those assets for the collective design of the new city. Source: Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434576070572-5JRZVQOXDSQ5XF4WT8CA/Figure_3-ecological_framework-SP-small.jpg Transformative Practices A central feature of the design framework for the new city was the use of ecological corridors [e.g. in the hills and along the Rio Grande River] and interconnected walkable streets that constitute everyday public space [e.g. in the residential neighborhoods]. Source: Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434576071108-GY754JLTXT9TO8VCMGBT/Figure_4-final_presentation-SP-v2-small.jpg Transformative Practices Since the city-design-and-building process has a minimum 20-30 year lifespan, the framework contains several design, legal and financial mechanisms for coordination and consistency. However, the most significant sets of actors in ensuring the quality and life of this design process are the citizens of Sunland Park, who were involved in the process from day one. Source: Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434576276024-0G0D481772S75W853H17/Figure_1-Uptown+Whittier-existing_conditions.jpg Transformative Practices A key strategy that emerged in the design process was to build upon and further extend a core of walkable, mixed-use and compact urban fabric in Uptown Whittier, such as along Greenleaf Avenue. Source: Aseem Inam https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434576276529-GSVW9EJ9H72QPNY92HT6/Figure_2-Uptown+Whittier-design_guidelines.jpg Transformative Practices In the plan, design strategies and implementation mechanisms are intertwined. One example is the use of carefully-researched and much-debated design guidelines [e.g. for contemporary architectural styles] to raise the overall quality of development, including within the reality of less-than-scrupulous developers. Source: Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434576277113-ZEE6YDI46QWDEL7T3AUW/Figure_3-Uptown+Whittier-landscape_details-small.jpg Transformative Practices Another example of intertwining design strategies with implementation strategies is to provide enough detail [e.g. of bioretention basins, tree wells and diagonal parking] such that the plan can be implemented with great ease. Source: Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434576279072-OYY20SENTYTY4ELXUBHT/Figure_4-Uptown_Whittier-final_presentation.jpg Transformative Practices The ultimate legacy--and implementation strategy--of the Uptown Whittier Specific Plan is the creation of an active political constituency of citizens who advocate for the kind of pedestrian urbanism [e.g. compact, walkable and mixed-use] they deserve over the 30-year life of the Plan. Source: Aseem Inam https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434750368047-IIK1FCD4A28O3R61HCE5/Figure_1-Santorini_Plan_page-Map_and_assets.jpg Transformative Practices The group of islands known as Santorini possess many assets, such as the stunning cliffs, small scale agriculture, traditional architecture and beautiful waters of the South Aegean Sea. The Plan for the Future of Santorini is bilingual in Greek and English. Source: University of Cincinnati Sustainable Development Group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434750364629-HXK6IDB63B0D7038U7FP/Figure_2-Santorini_hillside_VideoVik-small.jpg Transformative Practices While Santorini is filled stunning natural beauty, it is also overrun with tourism, including hotels, restaurants, shops, and cruise ships and buses that bring thousands of visitors on the small islands. The main challenge of the Plan was to address the destructive impacts of this model of tourism. Source: Flickr user VideoVik [Creative Commons]. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434750365683-9Q7Y2WNMB3JYOFZ0X4ZS/Figure_3-Westlake_Cultural_Park-China.jpg Transformative Practices An example of a UNESCO designated cultural heritage park is the West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou in China. Such designations allow for administrative, legal and financial mechanisms to create and manage the park. Source: UNESCO. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1434750366894-KHHADH9TI57JGO5GQZS7/Figure_4-Santorini_Plan_page-Compact_development.jpg Transformative Practices The Plan proposed more micro-scale interventions such as this consolidation of sprawling development into much more compact and walkable projects that are sensitive to the ecology of the hills and bluffs of Santorini. Source: University of Cincinnati Sustainable Development Group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435178853604-33SYS4HV21AYCUEHWGCU/Figure_1-Old+Tiger+Stadium-aerial.jpg Transformative Practices An aerial image of the Old Tiger Baseball Stadium at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Trumbull Avenue and the surrounding area, before its was abandoned. Source: Blog: “The Woodlands Go To Birmingham 2013” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435178852926-C06PHD8JXR1EVM26SUYW/Figure_2-Detroit_Charrette_2000-mosaic_of_places-large.jpg Transformative Practices A mosaic of urban precincts from Boston, Florence and Savannah superimposed upon the project area in Detroit reveals its vast expanse and heterogeneous quality. Source: Team Two of the Michigan at Trumbull project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435178853805-AX9NDRO6X4IWXMDWGAY3/Figure_3-Detroit_Charette_2000-regional_magnet-large.jpg Transformative Practices The proposed regional economic magnet at the intersection of highways I-75 and I-96, incorporating the existing tall structure of the Michigan Station with a new retail mall. The mall fulfills a major in this underserved area and would serve residents as well as visitors to downtown Detroit and its new baseball and football stadiums. Source: Team Two of the Michigan at Trumbull project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435178853947-QF2X6BIQVI9922ER0EPI/Figure_4-Detroit_Charette_2000-master_plan-large.jpg Transformative Practices The site photomontage shows and mosaic of proposed large- and small-scale interventions, including the variegated green area on the top center, the higher density residential and casino related commercial on the right, and the regional magnet around a rehabilitated Michigan Station on the lower left. Source: Team Two of the Michigan at Trumbull Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435259558117-EXG8MY0QVMGPUBCYUML9/Figure_1-Washington_Avenue_after_WWII.jpg Transformative Practices Much of Washington Avenue began to be abandoned after World War II, as industries declined and residents began to move from cities like St. Louis to the suburbs. Source: www.ArtLoftStLouis.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435259561238-K79QOWQI62A1MTAH70E1/Figure_2-Downtown_St_Louis_Plan-framework.jpg Transformative Practices A major push for the initial Washington Avenue Plan was its incorporation into the larger “Downtown Now! Development Action Plan,” which gave these ideas greater heft in the context of a larger political and policy effort. Source: www.StLouis-MO.gov https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435259558438-8IPU4MPO3DDIAK8SUBEW/Figure_3-Downtown_St_Louis_Plan-funding.jpg Transformative Practices Another push for the ideas of the Washington Avenue Plan was the creation of a funding strategy from private and public sources to implement the design, especially of the public realm. Source: www.StLouis-MO.gov https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435259559851-SMFV3QEZLYTOS5LJWTDE/Figure_4-WRT_Washington-Ave-Loft-District_04.jpg Transformative Practices Washington Avenue has become a destination with residential and commercial development--especially cafes, bars, restaurants and stores--that activates the newly designed streetscape. Source: www.WRTdesign.com https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435269068930-C5UU41HVQN8AWSR19KQK/Figure_1-India+Habitat+Centre-outside-v2-small.jpg Transformative Practices The large institutional presence of the India Habitat Centre is softened by the use of varied materials such as brick and tile and by the use of extensive landscaping within and surrounding the campus. Source: Aseem Inam https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435269067244-G169EPABRG0LK8Q0984A/Figure_2-India+Habitat+Centre-courtyard-v2-small.jpg Transformative Practices The remarkable courtyards are shaded and landscaped public spaces that contain constant movements as well social interactions. Source: Aseem Inam https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435269057799-96PAJQ08TEW2QOCHC1QY/Figure_3-India+Habitat+Centre-program-small.jpg Transformative Practices The India Habitat Centre is filled with wide range of ongoing activities, such as policy seminars on water, corporate social responsibility, and critical habitat issues, as well as art exhibits and cultural performances. Source: Aseem Inam https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435269068481-JTRIOVF8S8ESPM6CK76F/Figure_4-India+Habitat+Centre-garden-small.jpg Transformative Practices The landscape design of outdoor spaces is integral to the Indian Habitat Centre campus, including their regular use for exhibits, conferences and ceremonies. Source: Aseem Inam https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435269360705-9EZEXYY1Z03XP2S87MRY/Figure_1-Rural_Program-village_square-small.jpg Transformative Practices The villages of Gujarat possess many assets such as thriving agriculture and extensive entrepreneurship as well as many challenges like a lack of adequate resources and infrastructure. Source: Aseem Inam https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435269360542-JGZYHG29NTXX90NVDTE5/Figure_2-Rural_Program-construction-small.jpg Transformative Practices A main thrust of the Rural Habitat Development Programme has been in terms of housing rehabilitation and new housing construction, especially in terms of finance mechanisms, construction materials and low-cost design. Source: Aseem Inam https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435269368314-ZGXP1KE7CGV3QPTLZIE4/Figure_3-Rural_Program-water_cistern-small.jpg Transformative Practices Since the Saurashtra region of Gujarat is prone to periodic droughts, new housing construction within the program integrates the design of underground water cisterns. Source: Aseem Inam https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51a8f326e4b08c2bc46d7c14/1435269368404-QNYNO6522LIG7MCYZGEI/Figure_4-Rural_Program-construction_skills-small.jpg Transformative Practices The program also works on skills training that could lead to wealth generation in the villages, especially in construction techniques. Source: Aseem Inam http://trulab.org/videos daily 0.75 2019-11-14