Alternative Libraries

Attempting to enliven public space to facilitate relationships and build community is more involved than creating additional seating areas and social places. Commercial areas and community facilities play an important role but there must be other ways, especially those that are universally inclusive through access and being free. Residents of this neighborhood are in dire need of additional community amenities, especially a library. Compared to other areas of Vancouver, it is home to more people and less services. 

One solution that may be feasible in these economic times may be a return to the tradition of the bookmobile. Combined with the Vancouver Public Library's fantastic on-line hold system, in which you can request book to be brought to your location, this solution may provide access to even the hardest to reach demographics. 

http://www.harrison.lib.ms.us/images/history/bookmobile_1953%28lg%294.jpg

Other types of libraries are becoming more common. Starting in Berkeley, tool libraries are thriving, especially in Portland. Columbus is even working on establishing satellite branches and a mobile unit. There are so many possibilities for events and programs associated with a tool library and the physical building of community. The possibility of a community kitchen is also intriguing, especially a mobile adjunct. 

In a dense area of apartments, creating these elements of the typical house as part of the neighborhood extends the physical and social boundaries of home. The interactions and exchanges that could occur in this diverse community would be rewarding and educational and hopefully create connections and provide services that encourage long-term residence.

http://www.harrison.lib.ms.us/images/history/bookmobile_1953%28lg%295.jpg

Revealing History

A significant component of my project is placemaking through uncovering buried layers of history. I repeatedly state that I'm going to "map the invisible" but this is proving to be easier said than done.

The work of Hajime Ishikawa, a Japanese landscape architect and map enthusiast has been instructive and inspirational. This English article is a better resource for me than his site.

Maps literally evoke sense of place through imagined inhabitation when reading a map. Further, the maps enhance the experience of places by establishing context.  

"When you use a map, it adds some depth to the real experience in the city. For example, when you see the slope in the Akasaka area, it’s just slope land. And when you walk through it, it becomes part of the big topographic land. But you cannot see the whole dimension of the land form. But when you study the map, you see that slope as part of the whole topographic area and a part of the valley and river form. You use the map to locate yourself in the area and you use this sort of image to identify your place."

Topographical map, with white revealing higher areas. Several hundred years ago the Asakusa area consisted of temples and shrines. This fine-grained topographic data show transitions from land to street with accuracy of a meter.  Old land uses remain evident "like scratches" on the ground.

(Image by Geographical Survey Institute: digital map 5m grid (elevation) of Tokyo’s 23 wards, digital map 25000 (map image)+Kashmir3D)

Indeterminate Soundwalk for 59-49-13-21-0-2010

1) Begin walking, begin listening.
2) Allow yourself to follow the loudest sounds you can hear.
3) Consider: listening through your feet.
4) Stop.


While researching Vancouver's history, I came across an interesting book titled The Vancouver Soundscape published in 1975 by the World Soundscape Project. I am pursuing the idea of creating several themed walks through the neighborhood I am working in and soundwalking will be an interesting avenue to explore. It is unfortunate that the dominant sound is traffic but I am confident some gems could be uncovered as well.
Several Soundwalks are already conducted in Vancouver in association with New Music Vancouver. Hildegard Westerkamp, a sound composer who records ambient noises and edits them to produce original works, is a prominent walk leader.

If you're in a hurry, you can generate your own personal soundwalk.

Social Landscape: Community Infrastructure

I am passionate about how design can improve people’s lives and am currently completing my final semester of a Master of Landscape Architecture program. My thesis, “Social Landscape: Community Infrastructure,” explores the issue of creating social cohesion and community stability in a diverse and under served neighborhood with high residential turnover. I am in the design phase of the project, implementing the theoretical solutions of inclusive public space, place making, and opportunities for community involvement at neighborhood and site scales.

I will be using this blog as a repository for the information I find that may be relevant to my final design. Anything that doesn't make the cut will at least be interesting.