Over various blog posts through the last few years, I've shared some of the key steps and stages leading to the eventual unanimous Council approval of Vancouver's EcoDensity Initiative. Since then the EcoDensity Charter and new policies have been changing the way we think about density, green building and site design, and our ecological footprint in and outside of city hall. We've also been moving forward on various EcoDensity actions approved in principle by Council back in 2008.
Architecture
R.I.P. Julius Shulman
Julius Shulman, famed popularizing mid-century modern architecture through his photographs, died yesterday at the age of 98. In his honor, The Architect's Journal features some of Shulman's photographs and commentary.
The Architect's Journal
Wayfinding in the City
A review of The Wayfinding Handbook: Information Design for Public Places by David Gibson finds it rich with great ideas for designing new systems, but lacking in ideas for fixing old ones.
re:place Magazine
Prince Charles Quits Preservation Group
In the continuing battle between architects and Prince Charles, the Prince has resigned from the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings after it rejected the foreword he had written for an upcoming handbook on restoration.
The Independent (UK)
The Securitization of Public Space
Julia Galef takes a look at Secure Cities, a new website that maps the effect of security measures on public space since 9/11.
Metropolis Magazine
Top 10 Cities from the World of Comic Books
Citing the important role they tend to play in storylines, the Architects' Journal lists off the top 10 cities from comic books.
Architects' Journal
No Community Pool? Go Dumpster Diving!
Artists in Brooklyn are filling a void by converting construction dumpsters into swimming pools.
Ready Made
Post-Katrina, A Neighborhood Changes
The Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans was deluged in the post-Katrina flooding. Today, a new community emerges with traditional renovations living side-by side with unique contemporary buildings.
The Times-Picayune
Does Destroying a Building Erase History?
The Nakagin Capsule Tower, designed in Tokyo in 1972 as part of the Japanese Metabolism movement in architecture, is facing destruction. Residents of the building have voted to demolish it and replace it with a modern structure.
The New York Times
The Burnham Plan Was Also the Bennett Plan
The 1909 Plan of Chicago is widely credited to Daniel Burnham. But Burnham's right-hand-man, Edward Bennett not only played a big role in writing the plan, he also helped put it into action.
Chicago Tribune
Making Temporary Use of Empty Development Lots
Empty lots are scattered throughout San Francisco, sites of would-be towers that have been temporarily put off by the building bust. Instead of letting these lots sit empty until construction, some are finding ways to utilize them in the meantime.
San Francisco
Designing a City on the Sea
Winners have been announced in an open competition to design what could become a permanent, sea-based, autonomous living facility.
Bustler
Bid to Build Museum in San Francisco's Historic Presidio Dropped
A controversial effort to develop a modern art museum in San Francisco's Presidio has come to an end.
San Francisco Chronicle
Urbanism is Alive
Steve Mouzon explains how to think about cities and towns as living species, and how that perspective should guide the practice of planners and architects.
Living Urbanism
A Walk On The High Line
Managing Editor Tim Halbur reviews The High Line, the much-lauded new linear park in Manhattan.
McMansion Demand Nosedives
A survey of architects shows that a very low percentage of Americans are still clamoring for McMansions, indicating what may be a broad shift to smaller homes.
The Wall Street Journal
8 Republicans Bucking the Party on Climate Change and Transit
Reps. Mack (CA), Kirk (IL) and Reichert (WA) are among a small group of Republicans who voted for the recent climate change bill. It turns out these eight are also supporters of transit. Streetsblog makes the connection.
Streetsblog



















