The conclusions from the BoostChat at DesignBoost 2008 "Long Live the City".
MORNING BOOST CHATS 9 - 11.30
1. Emotional city?
It is sometimes heard that emotions make you buy, feelings make you keep and affection make you sustain. Which implication would this have for urban design projects in details and in large (in the name of sustainability)?
A bland city is neither attractive, nor does it raise affection. Blandness does not cause curiosity, which is a precondition for affection. Emotion and attraction are closely linked and short-lived but still an important introduction to long-lasting appeal. The latter is created not only by the built environment but also by the services offered. A sustainable city connects to people through affection, which makes you stay or come back. This is when you start to care. A sustainable city is by definition cared for.
2. Taming nature.
Since science started to rule and rationalise our lives, we have believed that our role is to tame nature. Where are the limits of this? Or is it there we are today?
Peoples’ perception of nature is distorted. An entire generation is chocked by the fact that nature is not given and an unlimited source for human convenience: ‘of course there will always be enough clean water!’ Children in many developed countries are now aware though, that the reason for collecting trash is that there are not enough resources left to make new things. On the contrary, in nations like Dubai it is not even allowed to put washing out to dry in the cities. People are advised to use a tumbler.
Allotments are sadly rationalised away and special projects like using roofs for growing and having crops in the middle of a city are now introduced by forward looking cities.
3. Defining the quality of city life.
‘Long live the city’ but with which standard of living? What is the meaning of urban standard of living in a degraded city? What is the point of one good standard of living to the cost of another? The concept of degradation here is linked to many urban issues: social, economical and environmental: urban violence, joblessness, homelessness, etc.., pollution, traffic, heating. We need to re-think the standards in terms of urban planning, engineering terms of urban waters: re-naturalization of urban catchments is a concept that needs to be formulated in a new context, at least in contemporary degraded metropolises.
If quality of city life is to rule over quantity, politicians have to be brave and fight the ever present corruption: in monetary and moral terms. The most important thing for decision-makers is to show results, to have something to point at, even if this is not ‘the perfect outcome’. City dwellers are nowadays sometimes asked to participate in planning by expressing views and come to meetings. If it is not made clear from the start what is meant to come out of this participation, they will soon begin to look to their individual needs instead of to the communal. Politicians and planners must initially explain how they are going to make best use of the views they have collected: describe a method.
4. Telling stories.
How do cities tell stories? And how do they rewrite their stories and pass them on?
This workshop was postponed due to very few participants showing up.
5. Diversity versus conformity.
In some parts of society an increasing conformity is developing; is it a threat or a necessity?
People are generally afraid of diversity. Conformity is the safe option and your home is regarded as a sacred place where you expect to be safe and protected. To allow for a positive stand to diversity, you have to work with parameters which are important for humans’ feelings of safety, protection, peace, warmth and control. Politicians and planners have thus to offer preconditions for proximity in diversity: proximity cannot be designed but space has to be provided.
6. The value of design.
How can design add value to an investment (real estate development, infrastructure, culture etc) and how do we better visualise the value of design? And how do we explain that something well designed with high quality is better in the long run even if the initial investment is higher?
Design/architecture is not merely about creating beautiful places and buildings: it is about making places which are good to live and work in.
Unfortunately today there is a tendency towards the superficial and many places are horrible to live in. To have the people concerned involved in planning is an obvious but time-consuming route to improvements. What about architects and designers learning more about human ways of being, replacing user-centred with human-centred?
7. Science and humanity.
How much regard to our environment is dependent on technical issues and what may be achieved with raised awareness?
Technology is very crucial for development but design concepts should not be fixed to technologies. These are only the tools. Concepts ought to be based on visions and awareness of consumer needs. These drive a development which is for the consumer better as opposed to technical innovations which are not for consumption but merely showcases.
8. What is there to explore?
Recognition and understanding is important for people to orient themselves and create meaning. But people also like to explore, which of course makes them sustain interest in relevant places like their hometown. Can these factors, recognition and urge to explore, be reconciled?
The problem is not about creating environments worth exploring but about a looming negative change in individual system thinking: young people believe there is little left to explore. They are bored, not by the lack of opportunities but by the overwhelming number of options. They have consequently turned inwards in avoidance. The solution is of course to reduce the number of options and make the remaining attainable.
9. How do we transform our existing cities, neighbourhoods and buildings into sustainable places?
The built environment of today’s Malmö will constitute 70 % of the built environment in 2050. If we want to make real change we have to start to transform the existing city into an improved version of itself. What might the consequences be of a totally rethought cityscape as we know it today?
Commercial interests and individual political ambitions are the main obstacles to the creation of sustainable places. Politicians are in a position which should allow them to reinforce visions and goals but are hesitant to do so. Designers and architects do often portray themselves as victims of decisions taken by others. Unfortunately the way forward will not really progress until we have reached the bottom and there is no more room for short term profit thinking: developers, politicians and designer alike.
10. A relaxed city
Is it at all possible to diminish stress in cities? Is a healthy balance between mind/body and work/leisure time the answer? How to create it?
Spaces have to be confined to make people relax. Open spaces induce fear: feelings of being exposed. The reverse goes for communities: an open community is a precondition for ‘contamination’ between people, whereas closed communities excludes. A relaxed city is where people feel invited to love and hate: to be engaged.
11. Focus for attention.
Is it at all possible to make humans change focus from their own wellbeing to that of nature?
The problem lies partly in how individuals define their role: if they insist on their right to behave individualistic, there is a problem because this means they see merely to their own wellbeing. If they on the contrary perform their individualism, they contribute with their individuality (competence, inclination, ability etc.) to a general wellbeing where nature is included. Individualistic behaviour leaves little room for empathy and lacks realisation that the resulting choices affect wellbeing negatively as this always is part of a greater whole: contextual.
12. The humanistic sustainable city
If the city is a mirror of its inhabitants in terms of sustainability can we then talk about “Citizen design” as another way to look at urban design? How can make sure that cities, products, processes etc always are developed with a user in mind?
‘Citizen design’ is one of several tools to be used in planning. It is important to realise each tool’s possibilities and limitations. Citizen design adds a more holistic view, registers value changes and regards heterogeneity. On the negative side are lack of professional awareness and knowledge, which creates problems in the communication with experts and decision-makers. It also adds cost due to the often extended time factor.
13. To reinforce the essence of multitude.
A city like Malmö consists of 8-10 merged smaller cities. Consumption, infrastructure, economy and modern city planning have in most cases erased the original smaller cityscapes of the original cities on behalf of large scale solutions.
Could we restore a healthy, respectful attitude for the ‘small’ cities, through a new architectural city planning, where we divide the big city in to smaller, human cities with big green borders in between?
Large scale solutions have contributed to people no longer knowing their city: it has become impossible to embrace. You respect the area you know but less the others. When you experience that the small scale has disappeared; you are living in one area, shopping in another and working in a third, no area belongs to you and you stop to care. London has though its immense size succeeded to keep much of the original smaller cityscape, which even shows that green borders are not necessary - even if desirable! Transition areas in the form of busy roads and industrial zones divide cities even more.
14. A change of mode.
Could cities, as opposed to rural living, ever be truly sustainable? If so, are we truly willing to take the consequences?
Is it possible to change the mode of living pursued by the 40th generation? Until they have realised that sustainability is about survival no laws will be efficient. Old structures have to collapse before new ones can successfully be put in place. The relation between structures and sustainability is still ruled by prosperity: it is a fashion, a luxury which not everyone can afford. We are willing to take the consequences of a more sustainable lifestyle as long as it is not too inconvenient. If change is to come, it will be the work of the 60th generation.
15. The Authentic city.
If you were told to regard authenticity in an urban planning project, how would you define that part of the task?
There appears to be, and have been for long, much too little regard to authenticity in city planning: commercialisation of public space has had priority over the recreation of the city’s narrative. A narrative emanates from several small centres within the city as well one true, main centre. Both London and Paris are examples of this. Authenticity is about changing without spoiling, which is sometimes difficult but the damage could be made less or worse.
16. The aesthetic narrative.
Do we live or learn aesthetic appreciation? This is an important question as it among other things has critical impact on the city aesthetic: decided by ‘experts’ (top down) or influenced by what has proven to work: the city narratives (down up).
We live aesthetic appreciation but people do not seem to care, other matters have priority, at least consciously. It is likely that many would experience enhanced wellbeing in a more aesthetically pleasing environment though. There is no real authority on aesthetics: aesthetical (and sustainable) values have turned into one time actions and marketing gimmicks (like organic cotton!?). All discussions about aesthetical values become easily charged with suspected elitism, which tend to restrict them to conveying general rather than specific views.
17. Inherent capacity.
In the introduction to ‘Long live the city’ it says ... ‘a city should make use of its inherent capacity’ ... to ensure durability over time and in a holistic sense. What is inherent capacity and how could it be put to use?
There is a difference between an established and a true capacity. The Swedish university town, Lund has long relayed on its capacity as a place of wisdom and culture but not used this capacity for development. It is now logging behind Malmö, where the Öresund Bridge is an excellent example of an inherent capacity which has come to maximum use. A city, like a person, has to continuously review its inherent capacity, convince itself what can be made of it and go for it. Capacity is never about pursuing conformity.
18. What’s new?
The developed world is obsessed with newness, which seem to rule not only our desire for objects but also city planning. Is this stand point at all compatible with sustainability? If not, how can all professionals involved in the creation of the new contribute to moderation?
If we can relate to objects, this overrules our desire for newness. As ‘new’ has become an important incitement for change, we obviously have difficulties relating to objects. Manufacturers do not enough engage in a product’s eventual lifecycle and we do not think in terms of saving for coming generations: cradle to grave has replaced the notion of ‘cradle to cradle’. The Feng Shui School (among others) states that object/human relations are crucial for wellbeing. However, material quality still rules over immaterial and quantity is the ruling measure of growth.
19. Cultivate the city.
Is ‘humanity’ in building the foundation for a sustainable city? Does a more human approach in itself regard content more than shape?
Let’s ideate around these thoughts and have the title from the present Biennale in Venice in mind “Out There: Architecture Beyond Building”.
Respect for differences and non-conformity, recognition of peoples’ feelings of exclusion and potent actions against segregation are all essential measures for the cultivation of a city.
In an effort to restore their moral, several big cities claim for example that problems in their suburbs are national issues and not specifically linked to the city in question. This may be true – but only with the addition of an also.
20. Parks as history?
Are parks really relevant from a human well being point of view? Or are there other types of ‘greens’ which serve us better while still acting as city lungs?
When we look to how ideas concerning the development of different kind of spaces have resulted in improvements, parks are left behind. They are aesthetically (at best) pleasing city lungs and other functions are not much considered. Greens and parks ought to be social places but lack of funds as well as existing laws and regulations prevent them from fulfilling this role.
21. Engage and involve
A city is never more sustainable than its citizens allow it to be. What can we do to get everyone on the track? Inform? Change laws? Inspire? Can design and architecture help forming visions that engage people?
It is often heard that our planet is ill. Is it not instead Homo sapiens who is ill and refusing to see things as they really are? Engagement and not least courage are very important for the progress of sustainable development. But visions have to be within reach. Utopias take us nowhere if they are not attainable. Awareness that change happens slowly and only as a result of consistency is another important insight. It is not motivated to stop contributing with reference to there not being immediate or visible results.
22. The Breathing City.
How can a sustainable city be developed that allows everything living to coexist and cohabit through design features such as permeable concrete, edible lawns and animal estates…? Is a sentient city at all possible?
You have to identify the workable variables rather than focusing the problems. Worries are allowed but solutions are more important. We have to establish working processes that people can embark one instead of one off projects where there is no real user interface. Processes are open-ended solutions, sometimes involving products, but not necessarily as there are already too many of them. Many products will seize to exist anyway when sustainable characteristics in the future are no longer to marketing advantage.
23. The density of the city.
How do you create a dense city to limit the need for transportation and enhance sociability but still allow for recreation and green space?
The circle inside which each city dweller moves is defined by the city’s density, which is not solely about spatiality: there is a correlation between work, community and needs within reach. If a city allows/is designed for human density, this overcomes scarcity of space as well as eventual surplus.
24. The socially designed city.
The human city regards social interaction. But how often does it also pay attention to its social interface? What is one person’s back yard becomes another person’s front yard – with all its implications!
Social interaction cannot be re-designed; it relies predominantly on established ways. This is why social interaction has to be carefully studied when a new city development is being taken into use. Funds must have been set aside to complete the immaterial part of the development: the social interface.
LATE AFTERNOON BOOST CHATS 15.45 - 18.00
25. An eco-village: a platform for experimental living.
Let’s think in terms of a white paper. Everything is possible. How can urban energy and countryside lifestyle walk hand in hand? What is an eco-village beyond marketing buzz-word?
The key to the creation of an eco-village is open source and participation. Without these preconditions any experiment will end in superficiality: a label without substance. The basic designs must be very clear but experience, including trial and error, must then rule the further development of the village. Eco-villages ought to form networks for the exchange of knowledge and experience. It is sometimes understood that an eco-village has to be newly constructed but it is perfectly credible to transform an old village into an eco-village using the same basic preconditions.
26. Waste prevention.
Waste is a huge urban problem. A metropolis produces hundreds of tonnes per day. The EU has decided to prioritise prevention before recycling, reuse etc. How to prevent waste from being produced?
The whole concept of waste has to be challenged: it is much too large and diverse to be summoned into one.
Generally, there is waste which may be re-consumed and waste which is not consumable. Waste prevention is primarily the un-production of the latter. Re-consumable waste has then to be differentiated on key characteristics, primarily the cost of making it re-consumable.
27. The socially designed city.
Some parts of cities suffer from cultural segregation and creative impoverishment at the same time as other parts have an overload of social durability. The commercialisation shows a different face in the city centre compared to the suburbs. How will this affect integration/segregation, crime and the long-term development of a city?
In every city there will always be demand and supply. Affluence will create more affluence and diversity in commercialisation. It is very difficult to change this equation, less difficult to approach the more substantial roots of poverty and cultural isolation. It is very important to set equality on the right level. Is it set within reach, which is good social design, there will be encouraging results, while if set to high, merely disappointment will follow. Total equality is impossible as it works against evolution.
28. What is a city?
Will ‘the City of the Future’ be a location in space, a moment in time, or a meme (characteristic of a culture) associated with the location in the moment?
A city is a city, as we understand it today, only when it becomes a place for belonging, when it is not merely a place but an emotional space. It must allow connectivity, not only between humans but also to history and context. If this is not the case with ‘The City of the Future’, we will have to call it a different name: a ‘spaceship’ where we dwell through an interface?
29. Design for urban nomadic life.
Themes ranging from adult and child homelessness to all kinds of rural and urban impacts of natural and social disasters on people’s lives require an active contribution from architects and designers in order to alleviate human suffering. Let us ideate and comment on the most pressing themes for design, architecture and sustainability: sheltering the poor and the victims of the humanitarian crises.
Do we have the competence as well as the practical, mental and moral preparation to design for the poor and the worst hit? What does ‘a shelter’ look like? Is ‘shelter’ a notion we have to rethink and reconsider? Is there an alternative? These issues are very little communicated, in politics as in education. Has not the time finally come? Have we not seen enough human misery and the effect of disasters to realise that we have to acquire the competence and make the preparations which allows us to be proactive rather than reactive?
30. Diversity of diversities.
“After 50 years of smart eco-design innovation, why is the world getting worse?” asks professor John Wood. He believes that it is not enough to design greener products, services and strategies: a profound revision of design itself in accord with ecological principles is needed with the aim to find new multidimensional approaches to development and arrive at not only diversity but .. of diversities. Do you agree?
Change is a movement which comes with generations as a paradigm-shift. The established generations, the 70th group included, are not born into a way of living which includes sustainable thinking. It is difficult to change almost subconscious processes. Generations born in the 80th and later have embraced intensity of living. If sustainability had been involved, it would have taken a great leap forward. Unfortunately these generations act just as un-reflected as their peers, only for different reasons: lack of awareness as opposed to selfishness. The shift will come with the generation of 2000: they have to deal with these issues for their survival.
31. Way forward?
Innovation has become a buzz word in the business as well as the design world. There appears to be a pre-assumption that innovation means development. Does it?
There are several misconceptions concerning the role of innovation: 1.It has to result in a product. 2. It can never reach a saturation point. 3. Technology can never become harassment. 4. Innovation and novelty enhances happiness (or prevents feelings of unhappiness).
Innovation at its best when it enhances welfare and is not too complicated.
32. Sustainability prioritised?
How will the ongoing recession affect investment in sustainable solutions? Are the sustainable issues consolidated in society? What can be done?
The ongoing recession will force movements ‘back to base’, not only what concerns production and consumption but also mentally. A new narrative, which does not further enhance raw capitalism and unlimited consumption, is crucial. Not prioritising sustainability in the name of counteracting recession will, if at all, only serve a purpose for a very short while, like a smoke screen. More plausible in an economic downturn is the search for examples of best practise [of sustainability] as a safe option.
33. Framework.
The politicians make laws and regulations, the industry have the money, the academic world presents contradicting research findings - what can you as a professional do to enhance durable development within this framework?
Within a given framework one has always to be honest to oneself and one’s profession but also realistic: which is the bottom line? It does not serve a long-term purpose for a designer to ignore the bottom line and blame the ‘bad guys’ in the economy department for not understanding one’s mission. If you work with the bottom line in mind, there is a greater chance of making a positive contribution: even if not what you may have preferred, it is still better than nothing.
34. Social equity in the city.
“How can we create better public spaces, services and facilities where all citizens, regardless of income, can meet as equals and create a sense of belonging and a more socially integrated community?” This quote by Enrique Peñalosa, former mayor of Bogotá, could work as inspiration: “Public space is for living, doing business, kissing, and playing. Its value can’t be measured with economics or mathematics; it must be felt with the soul.”
Life in a city is created by the unplanned, which in turn is promoted by density. Vast spaces do not only hamper interaction but create also social inequity: you do not have to meet those on ‘the other side’. You cannot design meeting places; these are created by people, often as the result of some kind of uniqueness. One important guideline ought therefore to be spelled as: conformity and ‘more of the same’ must be generally avoided in city planning.
35. Black bag aesthetics.
You have seen them: the black refuse bags which pile up along streets and around small recycling centres, often poorly sealed. How should waste disposal (systems) be designed for improved function?
Consumption gives you satisfaction whilst waste handling does not. However, the two are intimately linked. Stronger regulation and lower fees (pay per rata) for proper waste handling will probably reduce the problem but not solve it.
Where is the solution? Existing cultural codes are not sufficiently helpful but with further experience and added knowledge they will probably be: there are already today societies were many people would not happily and officially admit that they do not make their best to handle waste properly.
36. Cycling city.
Cycles for free rent have become one important addition to our efforts to leave less carbon footprints. What does it take to make a city appropriate for cycling?
Few people investigate existing possibilities and make conscious choices. It is probably not much different to ‘bring up’ people in general than to bring up children: never give up and be consequent. Be aware that changes take time and do not change a strategy too quickly: be patient! It is better to continuously update and improve a strategy than to jump between an array of solutions.
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