Andrès Duany Responds To Critics In Vancouver

Andrès Duany is set to reshape a piece of East Vancouver into another trademark urban village that the co-founder of the Congress for New Urbanism is famous for. Planned over a period of 15-20 years, city officials have entrusted Duany and his firm to design the proposed East Fraserlands Project, which they hope will revitalize the area's industrial waterfront.

"[While] the buildings themselves will be designed by various local architects...[many] are aghast that a New Urbanist will soon be let loose" to masterplan the area.

"The Tyee caught up with Duany for a conversation when he visited Vancouver recently. Here is what he had to say on...The problem with architects who treat cities like modern art galleries:"

" 'You cannot make a city with avant-gardist architects, because an avant-gardist architect is continually trying to do something new, and to stand out...You can make some great buildings: avant-garde architects are really good these days, no question. But you can't make a city.' "