Internationally Renowned Architect Speaks About Cities For People
13 February 2008
The City of Richmond invites the public to the second lecture in The 2008 Lulu Series: Art in the City. Hear internationally-renowned architect and writer, Jan Gehl, speak about urban placemaking and designing places for people to thrive in.
This free lecture takes place on:
Thursday, February 28, 2008
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Gateway Theatre, 6500 Gilbert Rd., Richmond, BC.
North America is finally coming to grips with the term “limits to growth”. In response to an awareness of global warming and urban sprawl, is the notion that the automobile just might not be the friend that we once thought it was.
Increasingly, North American cities are looking for strategies to reintroduce people and urban life to their downtown cores. The City of Richmond is no exception. Using the soon-to-be-commissioned Canada Line rapid transit system as the catalyst, Richmond is undergoing a major initiative to construct vibrant, varied and people-friendly Urban Villages within its midst.
Jan Gehl is Principal of Gehl Architects in Copenhagen, Denmark. Gehl Architects describe their service as “Urban Quality Consultants” which speaks volumes to the fact that Gehl sets the bar higher than most others in his profession. He was instrumental in transforming Copenhagen literally into a city of pedestrians and bicycles.
Gehl earned his BA and MA in Architecture from the School of Architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and in the intervening years worked both as an architect and as Professor of Urban Design. In 1998 the new Center for Public Space Research was established at the School of Architecture with Gehl as the Director.
Gehl is the author of many benchmark books on urban vitality – Public Spaces, Public Life, New City Spaces and New City Life are among them. He is a tireless traveler and very engaging speaker, bringing his message of hope for public spaces to cities in need around the world. Perhaps his best know quote is “a City is not buildings alone; it is the Spaces Between that matter most.”
The evening will begin with a voice and piano jazz performance by Richmond musicians Jullin O’Scheaur and Andy Fielding.
This event is sponsored by 2nd Globe (Indianapolis & Vancouver) and IBI Group (Richmond).
Space is limited. Please RSVP at 604-247-8320 or sgreening@richmond.ca.
