Something must be in the air. Since April of 2013 a congregation of New Urbanist-oriented folk have been gathering every few months for mature conversations about the built environment of Calgary. To repeat Calgary. There’s many municipalities where such dialogues would make sense but in the city that matches New York City for area but features one-eighth the population? C’mon.
But this is the real meal deal. Design Talks Institute — abbreviated as d.talks — seeks to foster conversations about what’s wrong and right in our city. Every few months a panel discussion is organized and folks pay the equivalent of attending a movie except it’s far more invigorating.
“We’re really just looking for ways to advocate for thoughtful design and to find ways where the public can actually feel a part of this discussion” says Amery Calvelli one of the organization’s founders and host of CJSW’s Space + Place. “I think that’s one really important part to us: the fact that we’re not just talking about design at a very high level.”
Past topics have included shopping architectural innovation brutalist design and public transportation. Panelists have been equally as diverse with appearances from city councillors real estate agents gardeners and municipal planners. The point Calvelli emphasizes is to spark conversations.
“Not everyone is coming from the same side of the coin” she says. ”In one event we had a developer we had an architect and we had someone from the city — those are not perspectives that commonly sit on the same side. But we wanted to hear: what’s that common ground?”
Building that kind of rapport really hasn’t been that difficult and many events have sold out. There’s a passionate audience in the city says Calvelli noting that people want to learn more about their concrete habitats regardless of background. That idea has only been furthered by the choice of venues for the talks which has changed — without exception — every time.
So far locations have included a Plus-15 Arts Central the Arrara Opera Centre the Historical Burns Building the Glenbow Museum and the lobby of the old Encana building. The next iteration focusing on the subject of “lost spaces” will take place at Festival Hall a venue that could be seen as the capstone of a community’s revitalization efforts.
“I don’t think the decision was because we wanted to make it harder on ourselves” Calvelli jests. “I think there’s something interesting in finding a way to showcase some buildings that might be overlooked in a certain sense. We wanted to bring some of these buildings to life. The idea of repurposing — even for a temporary movement — was something that was very interesting to us.”
To help build that kind of movement Calvelli is asking Calgarians to submit photographs of lost spaces via Twitter Instagram or email. It’s an attempt to get non-design folk to begin contemplating the inadequacies — and occasional successes — of our infrastructure. Some of the shots will be displayed in a slide show at the event.
The speaker lineup for the event is also an indicator of excellent things to come; the main talk will be delivered by Matthew Passmore the founder of Oakland’s MoreLab while the panel discussion is scheduled to feature City of Calgary natural parkland management specialist Chris Manderson and the Victoria Park Business Revitalization Zone’s David Low. Ward 9 Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra will serve as moderator.
“I think the time is right for this city to be thinking about legacy” says Calvelli. “There are a lot of things that make this city attractive. If we’re thinking about retention of good talent and places where people want to stay and live the way we build our cities and move around it is what makes it attractive. I think the timing is very right for that.”
d.talks: Lost Spaces takes place Wednesday October 1 at Festival Hall.
