VPSN Public Space Reading Club

Jane Jacobs holding VPSN volunteer job descriptions

This month, join us on Monday, November 23rd to digest and discuss some of the most fundamental and influential writing on urban studies and public space: Jane Jacobs. Explore the concept of “eyes on the street” and why “a park is not automatically anything” (when good parks go bad!), and how we can apply this New York perspective to our own city.

WHY

Dive into the workings of great minds and learn new perspectives about the space that you share with strangers: public space. This is a chance to engage in life long learning, share knowledge, and explore theory, design, case studies and best practices pertaining to public space for the benefit of our own education and our work and activities with the VPSN, and in other public space play or profession.

WHEN + WHERE

6:00 pm on Monday, November 23rd at Zawa, 920 Commercial Drive

WHAT

A classic must-read:

Jane Jacobs’ The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Chapter 2: The uses of sidewalks: safety
Chapter 5: The uses of neighbourhood parks

RSVP

Please email paola[at]vancouverpublicspace.ca to RSVP and if you need help finding a copy of the readings.

HOW

Articles and book chapters (non-fiction) centered on the theme of public space will be chosen by a Club member each month, shared with the group, and discussed at these meetings. We don’t want this to be too burdensome, so one or two articles/chapters a month up under 30 pages is a good limit to stay within. An especially provoking blog post or magazine article (i.e. much shorter) is great too! And if you’re the person who chooses the month’s reading, it’s good to have a few questions or prompts ready to encourage discussion.
Here’s to expanding our Public Space knowledge and awareness!