Vancouverism

Until the 1980s, Vancouver was a typical mid-sized North American city. But after the city hosted Expo 86, something extraordinary happened. This otherwise unremarkable urban centre was transformed into an inspiring world-class city celebrated for its livability, sustainability, and competitiveness. This book tells the story of the urban planning phenomenon called “Vancouverism” and the philosophy and practice behind it. Writing from an insider’s perspective, Larry Beasley, a former chief planner of Vancouver, traces the principles that inspired Vancouverism and the policy framework developed to implement it. A prologue, written by Frances Bula, outlines the political and urban history of Vancouver up until the 1980s. The text is also beautifully illustrated by the author with 200 colour photographs depicting not only the city’s vibrancy but also the principles of Vancouverism in action.

This insightful book challenges Vancouverites and people everywhere in their view that progressivism is tolerance and challenges us to create a richer, more values-based culture - to move from values of looking good and feeling good, to the higher value of doing good.

-The first complete monograph of James K. M. Cheng's architectural works -Chronicles the art, development and evolution of urban transformations, sustainable environments and impacts on civic design -Features the recently completed Shangri-La mixed-use tower, the tallest building in Vancouver and a new landmark in the cityscape -Comprises rich, full-color images, plans and diagrams throughout, including detailed photography, much of which is Cheng's personal photographic work This comprehensive, richly-illustrated monograph provides the first in-depth account of the award-winning work by James KM Cheng Architects, a Canadian firm recognized internationally for its 'Vancouverism' model of architecture and subsequent redefining of urbanism. As an insightful historical biographical sketch, this superb monograph chronicles how James K.M. Cheng's thinking and design work has evolved. The book is presented in glorious full-color, schematically under geographic and thematic rubrics. Cheng meticulously documented his own work, and as one of the most unique features of this impressive book much of the photography is by the architect himself, exhibiting architecture with a refined sense of proportion. The images are accompanied by explanatory and critical texts throughout. The text progresses through informative illustrations and interpretations of how these ideas have subsequently spread elsewhere in Canada, the United States, and Asia. City Builder: The Architecture of James K.M. Cheng reveals how his ideas have evolved to transform their urban contexts. Cheng's astute leadership skills have resulted in an outstanding range of award-winning projects, many of which are highly complex urban developments that incorporate leading-edge strategies for sustainability, building technology, and urbanism. The text also delves into the finer grain of city-building in Cheng's career-long interest in the design of single family homes. This is an impressive volume, and a must-have source of inspiration for the architect, designer or urban planner.

Vancouver is heralded around the world as a model for sustainable development. In Planning on the Edge, nationally and internationally renowned planning scholars, activists, and Indigenous leaders assess whether this reputation is warranted. While recognizing the many successes of the “Vancouverism” model, the contributors acknowledge that the forces of globalization and speculative property development have increased social inequality and housing insecurity since the 1980s in the city and the region. By evaluating policies at the local, provincial, and federal levels and taking reconciliation with Indigenous peoples into account, Planning on the Edge highlights the kinds of policies and practices needed to reorient Vancouver’s development trajectory along a more environmentally sound and equitable path.

This book provides the tools to maintain and rebuild the interaction between architecture and public space. Despite the best intentions of designers and planners, interactive frontages have dwindled over the past century in Europe and North America. This book demonstrates why even our best intentions for interactive frontages are currently unable to turn a swelling tide of economic and technological evolution, land consolidation, introversion, stratification, and contagious decline. It uses these lessons to offer concrete locational, programming, design, and management strategies to maximize street-level interaction and trust between street-level architecture, its inhabitants, and the city. This book demonstrates that designers, developers, planners, and managers ultimately have to create the right preconditions for inhabitants and passersby to bring frontages to life. These preconditions connect architecture to its urban, social, economical, and technological context. Only the right frontage in the right context, with the right design, the right inhabitation, and the right attitude to the city will become part of the ecosystem of trust and interaction that supports public life. This book empowers the many participants in this ecosystem to build, inhabit, and enjoy truly urbane architecture.

Vancouver's streetscapes have changed drastically in recent years. New buildings representing current architectural trends are mixing with and often replacing those of earlier eras and tastes. Exploring Vancouver invites the reader to experience the city's continually evolving landscape in a readable, yet authoritative, guide.

This is the first comprehensive look at the role of North American suburbs in the last half century, departing from traditional and outdated notions of American suburbia.

Globalization and migration are creating disconnected societies in modern urban cities, and urban communities are at risk of becoming fragmented. Neighbourhood Houses draws on a five-year study to document and contextualize an antidote: the neighbourhood house movement. Contributors outline the history of the Vancouver neighbourhood house network, its relationship with local government and other organizations in the region, the programs and activities offered, and the experiences of participants. By providing health services, public recreation, daycare, adult literacy classes, and other programming, neighbourhood houses are revealed to be community hubs bringing both newcomers and neighbours together.