Urban Democracy by Design?
Christ's College, Cambridge
26th July 2012
This is why I love and miss Cambridge so much...
You arrive in town and pick-up a few flyers, one is for the plenary session of a symposium on one of my favourite subjects: urban environments (http://poiesisfellowship.org/2012/07/12/poiesis-interdisciplinary-interventions-on-urban-transformation/). So, you go along to Christ's College and are elevated to another plane of intellectualism by the depth and power behind the experiences of each presenter. Afterwards you enjoy champagne in the Fellow's Garden under a beautiful blue sky.
The symposium is the culmination of a three year research project into the making and remaking of cities, reading the city from its physical and cultural infrastructures, the potential of urban democracy ‘by design’, and the implications of comprehensive urbanism for social thought and political practice.
Professor Richard Burdett speaks of his experience as Chief Adviser on Architecture and Urbanism for the London 2012 Olympics and advisor to the Olympic Park Legacy Company on the future development of London’s Olympic site. Burnett reflects on the importance of permeability to the post-Olympic success of the site as its development continues for the next 20-years. Over drinks afterwards Richard gives Sydney a moderate score for Homebush's post-Olympic urban renewal.
On a more intimate scale Michael Arad describes his work in the realising the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site. Titled “Reflecting Absence", what began as a private project through which Arad dealt with his response to 9/11, became the winning entry in the memorial competition. Arad's journey to create the memorial became an exercise in discourse, democracy and decision making, three facets of urban design that do not sit easily together across a myriad of stakeholders. Importantly, sufficient time was given over to engagement before the final design was resolved.
Only in Cambridge...
Christ's College, Cambridge
26th July 2012
This is why I love and miss Cambridge so much...
You arrive in town and pick-up a few flyers, one is for the plenary session of a symposium on one of my favourite subjects: urban environments (http://poiesisfellowship.org/2012/07/12/poiesis-interdisciplinary-interventions-on-urban-transformation/). So, you go along to Christ's College and are elevated to another plane of intellectualism by the depth and power behind the experiences of each presenter. Afterwards you enjoy champagne in the Fellow's Garden under a beautiful blue sky.
The symposium is the culmination of a three year research project into the making and remaking of cities, reading the city from its physical and cultural infrastructures, the potential of urban democracy ‘by design’, and the implications of comprehensive urbanism for social thought and political practice.
Professor Richard Burdett speaks of his experience as Chief Adviser on Architecture and Urbanism for the London 2012 Olympics and advisor to the Olympic Park Legacy Company on the future development of London’s Olympic site. Burnett reflects on the importance of permeability to the post-Olympic success of the site as its development continues for the next 20-years. Over drinks afterwards Richard gives Sydney a moderate score for Homebush's post-Olympic urban renewal.
On a more intimate scale Michael Arad describes his work in the realising the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site. Titled “Reflecting Absence", what began as a private project through which Arad dealt with his response to 9/11, became the winning entry in the memorial competition. Arad's journey to create the memorial became an exercise in discourse, democracy and decision making, three facets of urban design that do not sit easily together across a myriad of stakeholders. Importantly, sufficient time was given over to engagement before the final design was resolved.
Only in Cambridge...
