The Civic By Design Forum is a monthly discussion on growth issues in the Charlotte region.
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
A Green Infrastructure Approach to
View images from the April Forum! CIVIC BY DESIGN FORUM
What will Future Settlements for Boomers and Millennials Look Like?
CIVIC BY DESIGN FORUM
TREE The collective sadness for the loss of treasure trees has prompted the February forum with a tree theme. Come join others sharing a passion for our trees including Al Harris who will present a photo-essay of Charlotte’s Treasure Trees. Bring your thoughts, poetry, and ideas. CIVIC BY DESIGN FORUM
The Artist’s Role in Shaping Cities How do artists proactively engage the process of designing our public realm? Artist Jim Gallucci of Greensboro will lead the discussion on how art provides character, identity, and a sense of place; enlivens connections and mobility across the urban fabric; animates a city though location, approach, and setting; enables meaningful relationships between buildings and the natural landscape; contributes to important places of civic activity or just chance social encounter, adds essential vitality to the professional practices of architecture, urban planning, landscape design, engineering, development, and more!* The discussion will be moderated by the Public Art Program of Charlotte’s Arts & Science Council. CIVIC BY DESIGN FORUM
The Light Imprint Initiative was introduced at an Open Space Workshop in conjunction with the Congress of the New Urbanism held in Philadelphia in 2007. Light Imprint is a New Urbanist planning approach that adds a tool box of techniques to manage stormwater and natural drainage. Interest generated at that workshop grew exponentially. DPZ Charlotte began creating Light Imprint overlays for its projects in the planning and construction stages. DPZ Charlotte assembled a team of experts, led by Low, to publish a limited edition of the first Light Imprint Handbook in 2007. Following an intensive four-month period of international peer review of the Handbook and the associated web site, the Light Imprint team gathered again at DPZ Charlotte in August 2008 to edit and compile version 1.3 of the newest Light Imprint Handbook: Integrating Sustainability and Community Design.
The Learning Cottage Initiative grew from an informal dinner discussion following a meeting of the Civic By Design Forum, which is chaired by Low. Those attending the dinner were discussing the Katrina cottages proposed as housing replacements for FEMA trailers. The question arose, "Could a similar design replace mobile classrooms at local schools?" Everyone agreed that mobile classrooms used to supplement classroom space are visually unappealing, generally poorly sited, and signify overcrowding. Ideas for a Katrina-inspired Learning Cottage were sketched on paper napkins. The interest generated became the basis for the School Design Workshop held on September 12, 2006. The Learning Cottage was the subject of a Salon held at the Congress for the New Urbanism in Philadelphia in 2007. Since then, DPZ Charlotte greatly expanded the scope of the initiative by designing campus plans, alternate classroom plans and elevations, and plans and elevations for gymnasiums and administrative buildings.
The Early Twentieth Century Neighborhood Planning Initiative seeks to return successful early town and neighborhood planning techniques to the development of modern towns and new neighborhoods. By focusing on the work of American planners like John Nolen and the Olmsteds, this initiative emphasizes the importance of providing public open space in compact, walkable communities. One product of this ongoing initiative is the publication of the book, Civic By Design: John Nolen's Lessons and the New Urbanism, written by Low with Thomas Hanchett. One example of the inspiration found in Nolen's work is the pinwheel square incorporated into Vermillion, a DPZ Charlotte project in Huntersville, North Carolina.
The Civic By Design Forum has been featured in several articles throughout its 5 year history. Recently the Civic By Design Forum received a grant from the Foundation of the Carolinas through its Front Porch Program. This grant facilitates Civic By Design Forums and builds on the Crossroads Charlotte Initiative. The Learning Cottage Initiative was also featured in a News Special on WBTV. The clip describes the Initiative in a short segment.
|
|
