Good designs, good neighbours - WRHA projects consider needs of clients and communities
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Public debate over architecture and urban design is a rare occurrence in Winnipeg. Generally, discussion about our city's built form ventures no deeper than the subject of potholes or traffic circles. One exception to this came in early 2009 as the new head office for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority took shape on Main Street. Politicians, concerned citizens and the media engaged in an uncharacteristic dialogue about the development's design and urban response.
It was argued the removal of elements such as the pharmacy and ground-level retail space diminished the building's interaction with its neighbourhood and concern was raised over the expression of an open-air parkade fronting one of the city's most important streets.
Winnipeg's first community birth centre is under construction at the corner of St. Anne's Road and St. Mary's Road.
A new purpose for old buildings - Recycling helps save money and energy
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It may not be as simple as throwing a building into a giant blue box and dragging it to the curb, but with construction costs rising and sustainable design growing in importance, the practice of recycling buildings has become a significant development trend around the world.
All cities are filled with buildings that have outlived their original purpose. As an alternative to demolition, these structures are more often being looked at as a 'mine' of raw materials for new development. The recycling of buildings can be as simple as preserving specific components and reusing them in new construction. An excellent example of this is the historic facades that were maintained as part of Red River College's downtown campus.
Let's build a city we can love - Urban design must develop a connection with people
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The stars of the romantic comedy Sex and the City spent six seasons searching for love. Relationships came and went, Big, Aidan and the Russian, but the love affair that remained constant was the one they had with their city. Their emotional connection to the vibrancy, character and style of New York was the show's consistent thread.
Marking the end of the 2010 Cultural Capital celebrations, the Winnipeg Arts Council invited former Vancouver senior community planner Larry Beasley to the My City is Still Breathing Symposium to discuss how this type of urban love affair can be a defining factor in the image, physical expression and economy of a city.
2010: a year of civic progress - We didn't build any skyscrapers; we built smaller, better projects
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As the calendar turned to 2011, year-end reflections and "best of 2010" countdowns dominated the media. It has become a New Year's tradition to solve the difficult questions such as who had the better album, Kanye West or Arcade Fire, or was The King's Speech a better movie than Inception?
How then will 2010 be remembered in Winnipeg? Should we look back on its development as a countdown of highlights or should Mr. Blackwell put us on his worst dressed list?
Cube Winnipeg in the Exchange District
Petrify the Exchange District?
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By: Stacy Dyck M.Arch., LEED AP, MRAIC
The City of Winnipeg cares about the future of Winnipeg’s Exchange District. That is a fact.
Recent press related to the insertion of contemporary design into the Exchange has sparked discussion over the future of the City’s historic gem. Positive or negative, the press surrounding the opening of the Cube in Old Market square has increased historic awareness in the City.
The truth is that the buildings of the Exchange District have fallen into disrepair. Mortar has crumbed and the intricate detailing that characterizes the historic giants of the warehouse district have begun to fade away as a result of years of deferred maintenance and apathy in times when the area was not desirable to start a business or live.
Number TEN Blog
Number TEN Inspired! captures the knowledge, passion and ideas of our award winning architects, interior designers and supporting staff, as they navigate through the complexities of the modern design landscape. We are creative problem solvers, advocates for better ways of doing things, and observers of all that is interesting and noteworthy in our field. This blog is our effort to share our knowledge and ideas in a way that resonates with everyone. Whether you work in the industry as an architect, interior designer, building manager, property developer, or are just someone with an interest in creativity and new ways of doing things, this blog has something for you.
