Paradox in Practice: The City as a Work of Art and the Open Source Metropolis

Wednesday, April 6, 2016 | 7 pm

Champlain Room, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave. West

Speaker:  Mark Sterling, OAA, MCIP, RPP

Download the poster here

In this talk architect, urban designer and planner Mark Sterling will contrast two approaches to urban planning: the “City as a Work of Art”, a top-down Master Planning approach formulated in the late 19th century which continues to inform practice today; and the “Open Source Metropolis”, an emerging bottom-up urban planning approach which provides for varied participants to influence the planning process and create planning policy.

Using his own work and professional experience as examples, Mark will argue that both of these two planning modes should operate in the contemporary city. Mark asserts the importance of acknowledging which mode is appropriate to a particular situation and using that planning approach accordingly. Please join us for a discussion of the paradox of how two seemingly conflicting methodologies can in fact co-exist to yield the best results in city building.

About Mark

Mark Sterling is the Principal of Acronym Urban Design and Planning in Toronto. He is the former Director of Architecture and Urban Design for the City of Toronto and has been a member of the City of Mississauga’s Urban Design Advisory Panel since 2007 and the City of Ottawa’s Design Review Panel since 2013.

Event of Interest

Streetfight:  New York’s Urban Revolution

An evening with Janette Sadik-Khan

Wednesday, April 27, 2016
6:00 to 7:00 p.m. (Reception); 7:00-8:30 p.m. (Presentation)
Horticulture Building, Landsdowne Park
1525 Princess Patricia Way, Ottawa

RSVP is required. RSVP here to save your seat.

This event of interest is presented by Ecology Ottawa along with a range of community cosponsors including Urban Forum.

 

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