Hands-On Urbanism: How to Make a Difference exhibition in Calgary

Article in CANADIAN ARCHITECT June 2, 2014

“Hands-On Urbanism explores urban gardening through the lens of informal settlements and the politics of space. Curated for the Architecture Centre Vienna and shown at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale, cultural theorist Elke Krasny critically unveils a history of citizen-led acts leading to collective community ambition, responding to urban and economic pressures.

Connecting the exhibition to Calgary is a discussion exploring the opportunity of a vacant lot. On fertile ground, Calgary’s Vacant Lots Garden Club was founded in 1911 on the premise of collective community good. Started informally, managed collectively, there were over 3,200 private and municipally owned lots under the Club’s domain at its peak. What’s the value of community? And at what price is opportunity?

Design Talks Institute (d.talks) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering conversation about design and the built environment. The aim is to broaden public awareness for design and to promote conversation on design and greater liveability in Calgary. (…)” Read full article