Made in Oregon March 31, 2008

The peripatetic Charles Montgomery visits Portland.

New Stuff 1 - The Whistler Library March 31, 2008

This week: recent development around the region - in this case, the Cascadian region.
Starting at the top, Whistler’s new library:

Whistler works because it contains fantasy within a real place.   Yes, the village is a stage set, a place to let go - on the slopes, in the bars, in your head.  The sometimes cartoony quality of the [...]

Jarrett Walker on the Gehl plan for Sydney March 27, 2008

  
In his role as transportation consultant, Jarrett Walker has advised TransLink and Vancouver with insight and common sense.  Now based in Sydney, he was an immediate source to ask for comment on the just-released plan for the City, heavily influenced by the ideas of Jan Gehl (see post below). 
Gehl’s plan is excellent as an application of New [...]

Jan Gehl in Sydney March 27, 2008

Something really important is happening down under.
The City of Sydney just released its “Sustainable Sydney 2030″ strategy.  It might be just another good-intentioned vision document - but this one is based on the ideas of Danish architect/planner Jan Gehl (who recently spoke in Richmond).  And there are some big ideas. 
…the City of Sydney’s draft plan (would) dramatically transform [...]

What only Gehry can get away with … March 26, 2008

This year’s temporary Serpentine Pavilion in London:

Cautionary note to the Art Gallery March 25, 2008

From Architect Online: 

That the Bilbao effect became a wildly successful urban development strategy for resuscitating declining cities throughout the world, and then a de rigueur formula, is a familiar story, if one that is not completely played out. The “build it and they will come” approach still remains unsubstantiated by the evidence.
On a single day [...]

Flying Balloons in Paris March 23, 2008

Here’s the unedited text of my most recent column in Business in Vancouver:

Ah, Paris: the city that lives up to its cliches. They really do play sentimental accordion music on the streets, the elderly busker in the Metro really is singing “Je ne regette rien,” the women really are astonishingly chic. (Do they all take [...]

Civic Substitution March 19, 2008

Given the messy state of municipal politics, wouldn’t it be better to replace councils with appointed boards of business people who know how to run things efficiently and effectively?
Oh, wait a minute ….

Can ‘Eco-Density’ Be Beautiful? March 18, 2008

Adele Weder addresses the question in The Tyee.  Many voices weigh in. 
Here’s mine:
Former city councillor and eco-density advocate Gordon Price … does acknowledge what he calls the “Vancouver Special Paradox.” By allowing the most basic, affordable but perhaps aesthetically challenged houses to crop up, we can also provide more basic shelter to a greater number [...]

Awareness March 13, 2008

This is brilliant: 
Click it.