Feature Events: Densifying Neighbourhoods and Creating the Future Vancouver

Tonight sees the kick of two exciting programs focused on planning, urban design, and the livability of the city.

The Urbanarium Society and Museum of Vancouver (MOV) are collaborating on a new exhibit. Your Future Home: Creating the New Vancouver, on display at MOV now through May 15, 2016, will – in their words – “immerse visitors in an experience that spotlights 20 visions for tomorrow’s city, while focusing on four topical issues: housing affordability, residential density, ease of transportation, and quality of public space.”

The event promises a timely exploration of the future of Vancouver. In response to mounting concern about a rapidly changing region. The program features over 20 of Vancouver’s leading architects, urban planners, and visionaries – each presenting ideas that ask visitors to stop and rethink what they want in their hometown.

Throughout the duration of the exhibition, Vancouverites will be invited to participate in a number of complementary activities, including walking tours, discussions, social events with drinks, and workshops.

The first of these complimentary events coincides with the launch of the exhibition. “Open All Neighbourhoods to Densification” is one of four City Debates, and will probe some of the most burning questions being discussed in the city today:

• How and where will Vancouver and its region accommodate increased population?
• In densifying neighbourhoods, where do issues of fairness, democracy, ecology, and community preservation come into play?
• Should any community preservation come into play? Should any areas be off limits?

We also hope, as part of the dialogue, that the importance of public space and the public realm will be recognized. It is impossible to talk about city growth and change without accounting for the important role played by our parks, plazas, streets and civic centres. Without these, there is no such thing as liveability.

On the “pro” side:

Joyce Drohan – Director of Urban Design at Perkins + Will Canada Ltd., is an architect and an urbanist whose focus is sustainable communities.

Brent Toderian – former city planner for Vancouver, and founding principal of TODERIAN UrbanWORKS.

And on the “con” side:

Michael A. Goldberg – Professor Emeritus of Sauder School of Business

Sam Sullivan – MLA for Vancouver False Creek, is a Member of the Order of Canada and former Mayor of Vancouver.

Jointly produced with the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, the now sold-out event will be moderated by Dave Beers – founder of The Tyee, Canada’s highly awarded independent online source for news and ideas.

This is the first of four such debates. The second – for which tickets will be available later this week – looks at the role of high-rise towers.

:: More info on the “Open All Neighbourhoods” debate

:: More info on the Your Future Home Exhibit