Lane it on the line
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By Brent Bellamy, Creative Director and Architect
Republished with permission courtesy of the Winnipeg Free Press.
Developing alleys could breathe new life into the city
The back lane was a perfect spot to play street hockey when we were kids. The narrow alley was enclosed and protected, houses were close-set, allowing our parents to maintain a watchful eye. The occasional slow-moving vehicle could be accommodated simply with an enthusiastic howl of ‘car!’
Image: (Supplied / Winnipeg Free Press) The silhouette of Batman adorns a downtown alleyway. Public art such as graffiti gives alleyways their unique, urban character.
Cyclist safety in numbers, not helmets
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By Brent Bellamy, Creative Director and Architect
Republished with permission courtesy of the Winnipeg Free Press.
Compulsory cranium coverage reduces ridership, studies find
Wearing a helmet when you ride a bike will reduce your risk of injury in an accident. The mandatory helmet law currently proposed by Winnipeg city council likely will not.This seems like a contradictory statement, but unlike motorcycle-helmet and automobile-seatbelt laws, bike safety relies on a set of unique variables that require a more complex response than simply forcing everyone to wear a helmet.
Image: (Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press) Wearing a helmet while cycling, as Mayor Brian Bowman did while leading 25 cyclists from at Assiniboine Park to The Forks on Bike to Work Day last Friday, won’t necessarily increase your safety as much as riding in a large group will.
How Smart is Your Space?
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Saturday, May 28 is World Interiors Day, and to celebrate the important role interior architecture/design plays in our society, we reflected on some aspects of design that are important to consider when planning your next indoor space. This year’s WID theme is Interiors Intelligence, so we asked ourselves: what factors contribute to intelligent interior design? Here are some examples of spaces that demonstrate smart design concepts in action.
Is your space sustainable? 
University of Winnipeg Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex
In addition to minimizing harm to our natural environment, sustainably designed interiors offer plenty of advantages including lower energy costs, better air quality and health benefits for building users.
Park upgrades raise the bar
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By Brent Bellamy, Creative Director and Architect
Republished with permission courtesy of the Winnipeg Free Press.
Redevelopment gives city another must-visit site
You would be hard-pressed to find a North American city the size of Winnipeg blessed with a similar number of high-quality cultural organizations and amenities.The Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the zoo’s Journey to Churchill are the most recent major additions to the city’s cultural scene, but the development is not stopping there.
Image: The Butterfly House will be designed to give visitors to the Leaf the impression they are soaring above the rest of the building.
City issues neglected in election
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By Brent Bellamy, Creative Director and Architect
Republished with permission courtesy of the Winnipeg Free Press.
Politicians yet to promote vision for Winnipeg
Nearly 55 per cent of Manitoba’s population lives inside Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway, representing more than 60 per cent of the province’s employment and two-thirds of its GDP. Despite this concentration of people and commerce, urban issues have seemingly not been a central focus of the provincial election campaign. Manitoba’s provincial budget is 12 times greater than Winnipeg’s municipal budget, meaning the province’s values and civic priorities have a substantial influence on the type of city we build.
A recent Winnipeg Free Press poll found the top priority for Winnipeg voters is roads and potholes. It was identified as being the most important issue more than twice as often as health care or taxes. While this result may be disheartening for those hoping for a more inspiring election dialogue, it is hardly surprising.
Image: Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press. Rapid transit has proven a great success in major cities across Canada, yet none of the major parties has touched on it during the provincial election campaign.
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.
