London’s Lived-In Look

London calling! PlaceMaker Hazel Borys fuses her passions for great cities, efficient transit, civic art and form-based coding into one lavishly documented examination of the English capital. Cheers, mates!

1 minute read

June 18, 2013, 10:00 AM PDT

By Scott Doyon


"It’s summertime, and that means another installment of lessons from great cities. Last summer, I shared some images and impressions from Montreal, Mont-Tremblant, and Ottawa. Over the next few weeks, look for updates from Berlin, Paris, and this week, it’s London calling."

"What’s on my mind this week are the benefits of great transit and civic space, as well as how to codify some of London’s highly functioning non-tourist neighbourhoods using the form-based codes we often discuss here on PlaceShakers."

Borys goes on to talk ROI of movement and civic space, and the drivers of the 5 million + visitors per year to each of London's great museums. She notes how North American cities may be missing out when we decant our great civic organizations out to the 'burbs. London's calculation of note this month: "3x ROI annually for savings in health services alone as a result of cycling investment."

Monday, June 17, 2013 in PlaceShakers

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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