Constructive Voices
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1698 articles
Urban DesignVancouver’s Urban Forest: Integrating Nature into City Life
Vancouver’s Urban Forest Strategy provides tools for growing and maintaining a healthy, resilient urban forest for future generations1. The city’s approach integrates nature into everyday life, creating thriving natural areas. Vancouver residents can witness the magic of seeing salmon in local streams, whales in the harbour, and eagles overhead. The urban forest comprises all trees […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/20/2024
Urban DesignThe Rise of Vancouverism: A Model for Sustainable Urban Design
Vancouverism has emerged as a unique urban strategy, captivating the global stage as a model for sustainable development. This hybrid approach, blending influences from metropolises like New York and Hong Kong, has rewritten the narrative of urban planning1. With over thirty years of civic service experience, including fifteen years as co-chief planner in Vancouver, Larry […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/20/2024
PodcastsS3, E20: The Nature of Our Cities with Dr. Nadina Galle, Part 3
The Nature of Our Cities with Dr. Nadina Galle, Part 3 “Urban nature isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a daily lifeline for biodiversity, human health, and climate resilience.” – Host, Jackie De Burca LISTEN BELOW Welcome to the third episode in our special series featuring Nadina Galle, ecological engineer, 2024 National Geographic Explorer, and author […]
Dr. Nadina Galle · 11/19/2024
Urban DesignThe Future is Vertical: Urban Design Trends in High-Density Living
The Future is Vertical: Urban Design Trends in High-Density Living Urbanisation is transforming cities worldwide as populations grow and land becomes scarce. High-density residential design has become a focal point in urban housing development, prioritising efficient land use while addressing sustainability, affordability, and community engagement challenges1. Throughout history, cities have adapted to growing populations by […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/18/2024
Urban DesignUrban Design in the Face of Climate Change: Challenges and Innovations
Urban Design in the Face of Climate Change: Challenges and Innovations Urban design and planning are critical tools for addressing climate change, focusing on both mitigation and adaptation strategies. Mitigation involves reducing carbon emissions through principles of New Urbanism, while adaptation is localised and varies by community1. Urban design influences behaviour, potentially reducing carbon emissions […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/18/2024
Urban DesignNature in the Metropolis: Blending Green Spaces into Urban Design
As urban populations continue to surge, cities worldwide face mounting challenges such as air pollution, urban heat islands, and a lack of communal spaces. However, the strategic integration of natural elements into urban planning represents a transformative response, serving as nature’s remedy to these pressing issues. By blending green spaces seamlessly into the fabric of […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/18/2024
Urban DesignLighting the Way: How Urban Design Shapes Nightlife and Safety in Cities
From the dimly lit streets of medieval cities to the dazzling metropolitan landscapes of today, urban design has played a pivotal role in shaping the nightlife and safety of our cities. In the late 17th century, public lighting consumed 15% of the police budget in Paris, showcasing the significant allocation of resources towards lighting for […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/18/2024
Urban DesignThe Walkable City: How Urban Design Enhances Community and Connectivity
Urban design is undergoing a transformative shift, moving away from car-dominated planning towards the creation of walkable cities that enhance quality of life. The Arup Group’s report, “Cities Alive: Towards a Walking World,” highlights 50 substantial benefits of increased walkability across social, environmental, economic, and political domains1. This report analyses research and trends in city […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/18/2024
Urban DesignTimeless Cities: How Urban Design Preserves History While Embracing Change
The essence of a city lies not just in its modern architecture or bustling streets, but in the intricate tapestry of its urban fabric. This fabric, woven with threads of history, culture, and innovation, shapes the character and identity of a place. Urban design plays a crucial role in preserving the past while adapting to […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/18/2024
Urban DesignThe Art of Density: Balancing Growth and Liveability in Urban Design
Urban density has a profound impact on the socioeconomic conditions of a city, influencing factors such as accessibility, social diversity, affordability, and economic vitality. In recent years, urban planners and designers have sought to strike a balance between accommodating growth and fostering liveable communities, exploring innovative approaches to1 enhance the quality of life for city […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/18/2024
Urban DesignPlaygrounds for All Ages: Redefining Urban Spaces for Recreation and Wellness
Playgrounds have evolved from their origins as early 20th-century “play gardens” to become inclusive spaces catering to individuals of all ages. Visionaries like Maria Montessori and Friedrich Froebel recognised the profound impact of play on children’s holistic development1. Today, modern playgrounds foster creativity, social skills, and physical well-being, serving as hubs for community connection and […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/18/2024
Urban DesignDesigning for Diversity: How Inclusive Urban Spaces Shape Societies
Cities are increasingly recognised as hubs for inclusive and sustainable urban growth, with culture, art, and design playing crucial roles. The New Urban Agenda emphasises the need for urban areas to promote social cohesion, resilience, and liveability by embedding these elements into planning and governance processes1. Cultural diversity contributes to the economic vitality and social […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/18/2024
Urban DesignShaping Tomorrow: The Role of Urban Design in Building Resilient Cities
As cities across the United States undergo a profound transformation, urban design has emerged as a crucial factor in fostering resilient and vibrant environments. The evolution of American cities has been marked by significant changes, driven by economic advancement, technological progress, and shifting societal needs1. CBRE’s analysis of real estate implications offers valuable insights into […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/18/2024
Urban DesignReimagining Public Spaces: Urban Design for People, Not Cars
Urban spaces have traditionally prioritised cars, shaping cities in ways that often overlooked the needs of pedestrians. However, city planning is now shifting towards a vision that places people at the centre of urban design. This approach aims to enhance quality of life, promote sustainability, and foster greater community interaction. The concept prioritises walking, cycling, […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/18/2024
Urban DesignFrom Concept to Community: How Urban Design Impacts Everyday Lives
Urban design profoundly shapes our daily experiences, influencing how we interact with our environment and one another. Everyday Urbanism, a transformative approach, celebrates the small, ordinary moments that define city life. It recognises that the bustling markets, lively street corners, and daily routines give a city its soul, emphasising sustainability, cultural expression, and community participation1. […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/18/2024
Urban DesignBridging the Gap: Urban Design’s Role in Social Equity
In the dynamic urban landscapes of the 21st century, the role of urban design has become increasingly pivotal in promoting social equity and creating inclusive communities. The concept of the “1/18 Hour City” has shed light on the stark realities faced by many low-income households and marginalized communities, where limited access to public transportation, affordable […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/18/2024
PodcastsS3, E19: The Nature of Our Cities with Dr. Nadina Galle, Part 2
The Nature of Our Cities with Dr. Nadina Galle, Part 2 In this engaging second installment with Nadina Galle, on Constructive Voices, host Jackie De Burca delves into the fascinating world of urban nature and environmental technology with Nadina, an ecological engineer and National Geographic explorer, widely recognised for her contributions to BBC Earth and […]
Dr. Nadina Galle · 11/12/2024
Solar EnergyPerovskite–Silicon Tandem Photovoltaics: Are They the Future of Solar Energy?
The search for clean energy has led to a new technology: perovskite–silicon tandem photovoltaics. This innovation is changing the solar power world. It’s efficient and affordable, making it a key player in the future of solar energy1. Perovskite solar cells have made huge strides. In 2006, they were at 3 percent efficiency. Now, they’ve reached […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/4/2024
Solar EnergyWhat is Solar Energy and How Does It Work?
Discover how solar energy works, its benefits for the environment, and why it's becoming a leading renewable power source. Learn about solar technology and its applications.
Jackie De Burca · 11/4/2024
FloodingValencia Floods 2024: The Role of Climate Change and the 1957 Turia River Diversion
Valencia Floods 2024: The Role of Climate Change and the 1957 Turia River Diversion Photos and videos by Patricia Sousa Sardinha “Seeing the water rise up to my sofa and then up to my kitchen work surface was so scary. I live alone in a ground floor apartment. Unless I had my washing machine in […]
Jackie De Burca · 11/3/2024
PodcastsS3, E18: The Nature of Our Cities with Dr. Nadina Galle, Part 1
The Nature of Our Cities with Dr. Nadina Galle, Part 1 Main feature photo credit: Roger Cremers for National Geographic In this thought-provoking episode of Constructive Voices, host Jackie De Burca sits down with the remarkable Dr. Nadina Galle, a Dutch-Canadian ecological engineer, technologist, and the author of the new book The Nature of Our Cities: […]
Dr. Nadina Galle · 11/1/2024