WATERSCAPES
JMB: Finally, Steve passed on some of his studies. Does this guy have talent or what!
SS: Victoria Harbour- examples of the “messy vitality” that infuses harbour towns with their distinctive character. The land/water interface is the richest urban ecotone on the planet in terms of visual/textural diversity. Water is a natural attracter, garnering the highest per front foot residential premiums in the Calgary Region. We have to learn how to use the element more effectively in our denser urban environments. The San Antonio River Walk is a good North American model, after which I’m particularly drawn to the canal systems that crisscross the European continent. Were we a little hasty in eliminating the canals from East Village? Think about ways of translating/transporting the river amenity into the amenity-less inner regions of the development; any development for that matter that has an opportunity to incorporate a water element. The Europeans and Asians will go to almost any lengths to create waterscapes. We, on the other hand, will use almost any excuse to eliminate them. Sometimes you just have to get jiggy with it.
JMB: Steve took a sabatical in Southern France and brought back renewed visions on the relevancy of design to urban places. Sure is a good thing when you are as instrumental as Steve has been for the past 15 years to changing the many faces of our here City: Calgary. We spoke, and from these views, as well as more to come, we intend to provide both a methodology and commentaries of urban design as they relate to Calgary and compared to other urban communities.
SS: Victoria Harbour- examples of the “messy vitality” that infuses harbour towns with their distinctive character. The land/water interface is the richest urban ecotone on the planet in terms of visual/textural diversity. Water is a natural attracter, garnering the highest per front foot residential premiums in the Calgary Region. We have to learn how to use the element more effectively in our denser urban environments. The San Antonio River Walk is a good North American model, after which I’m particularly drawn to the canal systems that crisscross the European continent. Were we a little hasty in eliminating the canals from East Village? Think about ways of translating/transporting the river amenity into the amenity-less inner regions of the development; any development for that matter that has an opportunity to incorporate a water element. The Europeans and Asians will go to almost any lengths to create waterscapes. We, on the other hand, will use almost any excuse to eliminate them. Sometimes you just have to get jiggy with it.
JMB: Steve took a sabatical in Southern France and brought back renewed visions on the relevancy of design to urban places. Sure is a good thing when you are as instrumental as Steve has been for the past 15 years to changing the many faces of our here City: Calgary. We spoke, and from these views, as well as more to come, we intend to provide both a methodology and commentaries of urban design as they relate to Calgary and compared to other urban communities.
posted by Le Cid at 9:03 AM
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