we live in a designed world from the clothes we wear to the technology we use
clothes we wear to the technology we use
clothes we wear to the technology we use to the cutlery we eat with the houses
to the cutlery we eat with the houses
to the cutlery we eat with the houses and homes we work and live in and
and homes we work and live in and
and homes we work and live in and buildings of course or the cities we
buildings of course or the cities we
buildings of course or the cities we call home but today I want to talk to
call home but today I want to talk to
call home but today I want to talk to you about my shoes they were designed
you about my shoes they were designed
you about my shoes they were designed for a specific purpose engineered to
for a specific purpose engineered to
for a specific purpose engineered to withstand the forces placed on them they
withstand the forces placed on them they
withstand the forces placed on them they were designed as objects that I clearly
were designed as objects that I clearly
were designed as objects that I clearly desire and as something someone else may
desire and as something someone else may
desire and as something someone else may then desire on me they make me feel a
then desire on me they make me feel a
then desire on me they make me feel a certain way they lift me up so that I
certain way they lift me up so that I
certain way they lift me up so that I can reach the top shelf allow me to
can reach the top shelf allow me to
can reach the top shelf allow me to stand tall enough so that I can find a
stand tall enough so that I can find a
stand tall enough so that I can find a friend in the crowd they start
friend in the crowd they start
friend in the crowd they start conversations and they sometimes have
conversations and they sometimes have
conversations and they sometimes have urine photographs they take me to places
urine photographs they take me to places
urine photographs they take me to places and allow me to dance but what I most
and allow me to dance but what I most
and allow me to dance but what I most love about my shoes that they tell the
love about my shoes that they tell the
love about my shoes that they tell the world a little bit about Who I am and
world a little bit about Who I am and
world a little bit about Who I am and what I care about and this may not be
what I care about and this may not be
what I care about and this may not be obvious but what I care about is
obvious but what I care about is
obvious but what I care about is walkable cities and I care about the
walkable cities and I care about the
walkable cities and I care about the intelligent design and planning of
intelligent design and planning of
intelligent design and planning of neighborhoods that encourages to bike
neighborhoods that encourages to bike
neighborhoods that encourages to bike and walk and here’s why you should too
and walk and here’s why you should too
and walk and here’s why you should too one of the biggest causes of social
one of the biggest causes of social
one of the biggest causes of social environmental cultural fiscal and health
environmental cultural fiscal and health
environmental cultural fiscal and health issues of the typical American city is
issues of the typical American city is
issues of the typical American city is sprawl 74% of Canadians commute to work
sprawl 74% of Canadians commute to work
sprawl 74% of Canadians commute to work car truck or van is by far the most
car truck or van is by far the most
car truck or van is by far the most common mode of transportation those
common mode of transportation those
common mode of transportation those commuters spend an average of twenty
commuters spend an average of twenty
commuters spend an average of twenty five and a half minutes traveling one
five and a half minutes traveling one
five and a half minutes traveling one way but this of course doesn’t represent
way but this of course doesn’t represent
way but this of course doesn’t represent the reality of all commuters for some
the reality of all commuters for some
the reality of all commuters for some that trip is almost 45 minutes or more
that trip is almost 45 minutes or more
that trip is almost 45 minutes or more those who’ve been spent the least amount
those who’ve been spent the least amount
those who’ve been spent the least amount of time traveling in one direction are
of time traveling in one direction are
of time traveling in one direction are walkers and bikers for walkers that that
walkers and bikers for walkers that that
walkers and bikers for walkers that that time is twelve and a half minutes on
time is twelve and a half minutes on
time is twelve and a half minutes on average so by simply choosing to live
average so by simply choosing to live
average so by simply choosing to live closer to your place
closer to your place
closer to your place to work you could cut your commute time
to work you could cut your commute time
to work you could cut your commute time in half you would gain additional two
in half you would gain additional two
in half you would gain additional two hours a week in time over hundred hours
hours a week in time over hundred hours
hours a week in time over hundred hours a year and equivalent about three weeks
a year and equivalent about three weeks
a year and equivalent about three weeks of additional holiday time so is this
of additional holiday time so is this
of additional holiday time so is this why Europeans seem to be more productive
why Europeans seem to be more productive
why Europeans seem to be more productive than Americans who work more and
than Americans who work more and
than Americans who work more and restless is this why they seem healthier
restless is this why they seem healthier
restless is this why they seem healthier than happier than us and yet they can
than happier than us and yet they can
than happier than us and yet they can afford to take so much bloody holiday
afford to take so much bloody holiday
afford to take so much bloody holiday time and yet their economies remain
time and yet their economies remain
time and yet their economies remain competitive the answer of course is
competitive the answer of course is
competitive the answer of course is nuanced but generally speaking Europeans
nuanced but generally speaking Europeans
nuanced but generally speaking Europeans live in much more compact cities nearly
live in much more compact cities nearly
live in much more compact cities nearly three times denser than their North
three times denser than their North
three times denser than their North American counterparts so what does any
American counterparts so what does any
American counterparts so what does any of this have to do with design or with
of this have to do with design or with
of this have to do with design or with my shoes well the shoes help me remember
my shoes well the shoes help me remember
my shoes well the shoes help me remember what truly matters and maybe they will
what truly matters and maybe they will
what truly matters and maybe they will help you too so in addition to the
help you too so in addition to the
help you too so in addition to the additional vacation time that you would
additional vacation time that you would
additional vacation time that you would gain personally and the time and money
gain personally and the time and money
gain personally and the time and money we would collectively able to gain if we
we would collectively able to gain if we
we would collectively able to gain if we all lives closer to work in reduced
all lives closer to work in reduced
all lives closer to work in reduced infrastructure costs and being able to
infrastructure costs and being able to
infrastructure costs and being able to lower our environmental impact I mean I
lower our environmental impact I mean I
lower our environmental impact I mean I can assure you that these babies allow
can assure you that these babies allow
can assure you that these babies allow you to see the world from a different
you to see the world from a different
you to see the world from a different perspective different by about seven
perspective different by about seven
perspective different by about seven inches but you can also tell you that
inches but you can also tell you that
inches but you can also tell you that you would not want to walk any further
you would not want to walk any further
you would not want to walk any further in these than you have to so the lesson
in these than you have to so the lesson
in these than you have to so the lesson is compact cities and short distances
is compact cities and short distances
is compact cities and short distances are good and if we build and maintain
are good and if we build and maintain
are good and if we build and maintain less Road
less Road
less Road we can afford to fix the potholes
we can afford to fix the potholes
we can afford to fix the potholes properly on the roads that we already
properly on the roads that we already
properly on the roads that we already have
our population is increasing we can
our population is increasing we can either choose to continue the sprawl or
either choose to continue the sprawl or
either choose to continue the sprawl or we can choose to direct that growth into
we can choose to direct that growth into
we can choose to direct that growth into the existing city onto existing
the existing city onto existing
the existing city onto existing infrastructure routes roads municipal
infrastructure routes roads municipal
infrastructure routes roads municipal utilities like sewer and water or near
utilities like sewer and water or near
utilities like sewer and water or near existing services like libraries fire
existing services like libraries fire
existing services like libraries fire stations and corner stores the fact is
stations and corner stores the fact is
stations and corner stores the fact is that the core of the typical American
that the core of the typical American
that the core of the typical American city lacks density and it is that
city lacks density and it is that
city lacks density and it is that density that creates for vibrant cities
density that creates for vibrant cities
density that creates for vibrant cities cities that are designed so that we want
cities that are designed so that we want
cities that are designed so that we want to spend time in them as opposed to be
to spend time in them as opposed to be
to spend time in them as opposed to be speeding through them in any design
speeding through them in any design
speeding through them in any design usually the simplest most efficient
usually the simplest most efficient
usually the simplest most efficient solution is the best one beauty and
solution is the best one beauty and
solution is the best one beauty and meaning are embedded in the essence of
meaning are embedded in the essence of
meaning are embedded in the essence of things take these sandals that have
things take these sandals that have
things take these sandals that have absolutely no material or contact point
absolutely no material or contact point
absolutely no material or contact point where it’s not required they remind me
where it’s not required they remind me
where it’s not required they remind me of the lesson of quality over quantity
of the lesson of quality over quantity
of the lesson of quality over quantity did you know that the average North
did you know that the average North
did you know that the average North American occupies about 900 square feet
American occupies about 900 square feet
American occupies about 900 square feet of individual living space that is
of individual living space that is
of individual living space that is nearly 700 square feet more than in 1950
nearly 700 square feet more than in 1950
nearly 700 square feet more than in 1950 when that number was closer to 250
when that number was closer to 250
when that number was closer to 250 square feet per person there’s just
square feet per person there’s just
square feet per person there’s just simply no amount of mechanical gadgetry
simply no amount of mechanical gadgetry
simply no amount of mechanical gadgetry or green technology that can overcome
or green technology that can overcome
or green technology that can overcome the waste and embodied energy that it
the waste and embodied energy that it
the waste and embodied energy that it takes to house two people in a four
takes to house two people in a four
takes to house two people in a four thousand square foot home and unlikely
thousand square foot home and unlikely
thousand square foot home and unlikely to overcome for heating cooling and
to overcome for heating cooling and
to overcome for heating cooling and maintaining of that space over time
maintaining of that space over time
maintaining of that space over time efficiency affords you other things it
efficiency affords you other things it
efficiency affords you other things it affords you more vacation time more time
affords you more vacation time more time
affords you more vacation time more time doing the things that you love and
doing the things that you love and
doing the things that you love and affords you to invest in quality instead
affords you to invest in quality instead
affords you to invest in quality instead my dad used to say that poor people
my dad used to say that poor people
my dad used to say that poor people can’t afford to buy cheap things he
can’t afford to buy cheap things he
can’t afford to buy cheap things he would spend hours researching tests
would spend hours researching tests
would spend hours researching tests reviews so that he could find us the
reviews so that he could find us the
reviews so that he could find us the best quality appliance whenever our
best quality appliance whenever our
best quality appliance whenever our household needed something he wanted to
household needed something he wanted to
household needed something he wanted to buy the best so that we would not have
buy the best so that we would not have
buy the best so that we would not have to replace that item any time soon
to replace that item any time soon
to replace that item any time soon design is the same way at great quality
design is the same way at great quality
design is the same way at great quality design object can last for generations
design object can last for generations
design object can last for generations and as it is well-loved
and as it is well-loved
and as it is well-loved it gives us more delight while we use it
it gives us more delight while we use it
it gives us more delight while we use it these are my first pair of car
these are my first pair of car
these are my first pair of car fiber cantilever shoes I bought them in
fiber cantilever shoes I bought them in
fiber cantilever shoes I bought them in 2005 almost 12 years ago and I still
2005 almost 12 years ago and I still
2005 almost 12 years ago and I still wear them so counting the times and
wear them so counting the times and
wear them so counting the times and years I’ve worn them they become much
years I’ve worn them they become much
years I’ve worn them they become much more affordable than a cheap disposable
more affordable than a cheap disposable
more affordable than a cheap disposable disco shoe architecture is the same way
disco shoe architecture is the same way
disco shoe architecture is the same way today we built disposable buildings that
today we built disposable buildings that
today we built disposable buildings that add nothing to our enjoyment of cities
add nothing to our enjoyment of cities
add nothing to our enjoyment of cities disposable buildings that are then torn
disposable buildings that are then torn
disposable buildings that are then torn down in 20 years cycles as they decay
down in 20 years cycles as they decay
down in 20 years cycles as they decay quickly or become obsolete I don’t know
quickly or become obsolete I don’t know
quickly or become obsolete I don’t know how we can speak about low-carbon
how we can speak about low-carbon
how we can speak about low-carbon developments when these develops in many
developments when these develops in many
developments when these develops in many parts of the world involve billion
parts of the world involve billion
parts of the world involve billion milling build building millions of
milling build building millions of
milling build building millions of square feet of new while tearing down
square feet of new while tearing down
square feet of new while tearing down existing building infrastructure it
existing building infrastructure it
existing building infrastructure it makes no sense the amount of embodied
makes no sense the amount of embodied
makes no sense the amount of embodied energy alone in the building material is
energy alone in the building material is
energy alone in the building material is enormous we’d be so much further ahead
enormous we’d be so much further ahead
enormous we’d be so much further ahead if we learn to use the existing assets
if we learn to use the existing assets
if we learn to use the existing assets we already have design buildings that
we already have design buildings that
we already have design buildings that can be adapted to other uses in the
can be adapted to other uses in the
can be adapted to other uses in the future consider the historic warehouse
future consider the historic warehouse
future consider the historic warehouse buildings in many cases these buildings
buildings in many cases these buildings
buildings in many cases these buildings have stood the test of time and now are
have stood the test of time and now are
have stood the test of time and now are being adapted to other uses they were
being adapted to other uses they were
being adapted to other uses they were built to last that great design item has
built to last that great design item has
built to last that great design item has such quality these are my Eames shoes
such quality these are my Eames shoes
such quality these are my Eames shoes they’re adapted or their heel is adapted
they’re adapted or their heel is adapted
they’re adapted or their heel is adapted rather from the chair leg of the classic
rather from the chair leg of the classic
rather from the chair leg of the classic Charles and Ray Eames lounge chair
Charles and Ray Eames lounge chair
Charles and Ray Eames lounge chair designed in 1956 when you invest in
designed in 1956 when you invest in
designed in 1956 when you invest in great design you only have to build once
great design you only have to build once
great design you only have to build once and you get to enjoy the delight of that
and you get to enjoy the delight of that
and you get to enjoy the delight of that object building or public environment
object building or public environment
object building or public environment for its duration did you know that the
for its duration did you know that the
for its duration did you know that the average household drill only gets used
average household drill only gets used
average household drill only gets used about 13 to 16 minutes in its lifetime
about 13 to 16 minutes in its lifetime
about 13 to 16 minutes in its lifetime and yet every second household in
and yet every second household in
and yet every second household in America North America has one and
America North America has one and
America North America has one and scaling that thought up same goes for
scaling that thought up same goes for
scaling that thought up same goes for your home do you have a formal living
your home do you have a formal living
your home do you have a formal living room or a dedicated guest room that
room or a dedicated guest room that
room or a dedicated guest room that maybe guests use two weeks of the year
maybe guests use two weeks of the year
maybe guests use two weeks of the year that is less than 5% of the homes life
I don’t know how we can talk about
I don’t know how we can talk about sustainable development or green
sustainable development or green
sustainable development or green architecture when we haven’t considered
architecture when we haven’t considered
architecture when we haven’t considered the frequency of use take at regular
the frequency of use take at regular
the frequency of use take at regular school building that maybe gets used or
school building that maybe gets used or
school building that maybe gets used or gets used only during the day and sits
gets used only during the day and sits
gets used only during the day and sits empty evening at night or an office
empty evening at night or an office
empty evening at night or an office building that tends to operate from 8:00
building that tends to operate from 8:00
building that tends to operate from 8:00 to 5:00 we should be investing in
to 5:00 we should be investing in
to 5:00 we should be investing in designing and planning for a variety of
designing and planning for a variety of
designing and planning for a variety of overlapping uses like a school building
overlapping uses like a school building
overlapping uses like a school building that becomes a community center at night
that becomes a community center at night
that becomes a community center at night or building just one guest room between
or building just one guest room between
or building just one guest room between two neighboring houses sharing board
two neighboring houses sharing board
two neighboring houses sharing board room and utilities space between two
room and utilities space between two
room and utilities space between two synergetic companies so that we can save
synergetic companies so that we can save
synergetic companies so that we can save on the spaces required in the first
on the spaces required in the first
on the spaces required in the first place and cost and we can then increase
place and cost and we can then increase
place and cost and we can then increase the frequency of use of the spaces there
the frequency of use of the spaces there
the frequency of use of the spaces there only occasionally occupied I’ll be
only occasionally occupied I’ll be
only occasionally occupied I’ll be honest I don’t have a girlfriend living
honest I don’t have a girlfriend living
honest I don’t have a girlfriend living nearby anymore who I would share all
nearby anymore who I would share all
nearby anymore who I would share all these shoes with but as a kid I did just
these shoes with but as a kid I did just
these shoes with but as a kid I did just across the hall in our apartment
across the hall in our apartment
across the hall in our apartment building on the same floor and we shared
building on the same floor and we shared
building on the same floor and we shared everything shoes clothes and Barbies
everything shoes clothes and Barbies
everything shoes clothes and Barbies today I gave two’s away to my friends so
today I gave two’s away to my friends so
today I gave two’s away to my friends so that I can feel less guilty but also to
that I can feel less guilty but also to
that I can feel less guilty but also to extend their life and share their
extend their life and share their
extend their life and share their delights with others walkable compact
delights with others walkable compact
delights with others walkable compact cities are cities designed first and
cities are cities designed first and
cities are cities designed first and foremost for people we have to stop
foremost for people we have to stop
foremost for people we have to stop allowing our cities to be designed for
allowing our cities to be designed for
allowing our cities to be designed for the car and by traffic engineers sorry
the car and by traffic engineers sorry
the car and by traffic engineers sorry if your traffic engineer but designed
if your traffic engineer but designed
if your traffic engineer but designed for pedestrians and altered modes of
for pedestrians and altered modes of
for pedestrians and altered modes of transportation that are healthier for us
transportation that are healthier for us
transportation that are healthier for us and our home the planet Earth despite
and our home the planet Earth despite
and our home the planet Earth despite the popular belief this has actually
the popular belief this has actually
the popular belief this has actually very little to do with green technology
very little to do with green technology
very little to do with green technology but rather it has to do with something
but rather it has to do with something
but rather it has to do with something much more rudimentary designing smaller
much more rudimentary designing smaller
much more rudimentary designing smaller and better designing efficient and more
and better designing efficient and more
and better designing efficient and more compact and worrying less about the
compact and worrying less about the
compact and worrying less about the buildings themselves it’s been a weird
buildings themselves it’s been a weird
buildings themselves it’s been a weird thing for me to say as an architect but
thing for me to say as an architect but
thing for me to say as an architect but more about the spaces in between it’s
more about the spaces in between it’s
more about the spaces in between it’s not the base of the issues but the gap
not the base of the issues but the gap
not the base of the issues but the gap in the base of them that makes them
in the base of them that makes them
in the base of them that makes them special and they remind me of the
special and they remind me of the
special and they remind me of the importance of the space in between which
importance of the space in between which
importance of the space in between which city do you think is denser New York or
city do you think is denser New York or
city do you think is denser New York or Paris
New York with its tall buildings and
New York with its tall buildings and skyscrapers not at all not by a longshot
skyscrapers not at all not by a longshot
skyscrapers not at all not by a longshot it’s Paris and there’s hardly a building
it’s Paris and there’s hardly a building
it’s Paris and there’s hardly a building over 8 storeys with an average height of
over 8 storeys with an average height of
over 8 storeys with an average height of 6 density does not have to mean
6 density does not have to mean
6 density does not have to mean skyscrapers and ivory towers in fact
skyscrapers and ivory towers in fact
skyscrapers and ivory towers in fact research shows that due to the increased
research shows that due to the increased
research shows that due to the increased distance required between tall buildings
distance required between tall buildings
distance required between tall buildings six storey building height can actually
six storey building height can actually
six storey building height can actually afford you more density and that smaller
afford you more density and that smaller
afford you more density and that smaller grain than human scale creates more
grain than human scale creates more
grain than human scale creates more comfortable space and environment on the
comfortable space and environment on the
comfortable space and environment on the street universally speaking these are my
street universally speaking these are my
street universally speaking these are my low rest shoes they remind me of the
low rest shoes they remind me of the
low rest shoes they remind me of the importance of the right scale the right
importance of the right scale the right
importance of the right scale the right resolution of our urban texture so that
resolution of our urban texture so that
resolution of our urban texture so that it’s not about freeways but it’s about
it’s not about freeways but it’s about
it’s not about freeways but it’s about smaller windier streets that encourages
smaller windier streets that encourages
smaller windier streets that encourages to explore on foot keep us connected to
to explore on foot keep us connected to
to explore on foot keep us connected to the street allow us to recognize faces
the street allow us to recognize faces
the street allow us to recognize faces even from the top floor and allow our
even from the top floor and allow our
even from the top floor and allow our allow us to call our kids up for dinner
allow us to call our kids up for dinner
allow us to call our kids up for dinner it’s that smaller grain that then
it’s that smaller grain that then
it’s that smaller grain that then invites local entrepreneurship small
invites local entrepreneurship small
invites local entrepreneurship small businesses and owner-operated
businesses and owner-operated
businesses and owner-operated outfits to flourish the hyperlocal is
outfits to flourish the hyperlocal is
outfits to flourish the hyperlocal is the new global so I owned a car a few
the new global so I owned a car a few
the new global so I owned a car a few years back I paid $20,000 for it I paid
years back I paid $20,000 for it I paid
years back I paid $20,000 for it I paid another $1,200 a year on insurance 250
another $1,200 a year on insurance 250
another $1,200 a year on insurance 250 bucks a month on parking was downtown
bucks a month on parking was downtown
bucks a month on parking was downtown one hundred and fifty dollars on gas I
one hundred and fifty dollars on gas I
one hundred and fifty dollars on gas I didn’t drive that much and another five
didn’t drive that much and another five
didn’t drive that much and another five hundred dollars a year on car oil
hundred dollars a year on car oil
hundred dollars a year on car oil changes and maintenance so amortized
changes and maintenance so amortized
changes and maintenance so amortized over four years that is over nine
over four years that is over nine
over four years that is over nine hundred dollars a month and even if we
hundred dollars a month and even if we
hundred dollars a month and even if we don’t consider the cost of the car still
don’t consider the cost of the car still
don’t consider the cost of the car still nearly five hundred dollars a month so
nearly five hundred dollars a month so
nearly five hundred dollars a month so let me put this in the currency that
let me put this in the currency that
let me put this in the currency that we’ve been talking about embracing urban
we’ve been talking about embracing urban
we’ve been talking about embracing urban life and giving up your car would mean
life and giving up your car would mean
life and giving up your car would mean at least two pairs of amazing shoes a
at least two pairs of amazing shoes a
at least two pairs of amazing shoes a month ladies
twenty-four pairs a year an additional
twenty-four pairs a year an additional vacation time that you could spend with
vacation time that you could spend with
vacation time that you could spend with your family and friends in your new
your family and friends in your new
your family and friends in your new shoes and if we consider the cost the
shoes and if we consider the cost the
shoes and if we consider the cost the car itself and additional 30 cab rides a
car itself and additional 30 cab rides a
car itself and additional 30 cab rides a month so that you can do it even if your
month so that you can do it even if your
month so that you can do it even if your favorite pair pinches your toe and you
favorite pair pinches your toe and you
favorite pair pinches your toe and you do the math further for years so I end
do the math further for years so I end
do the math further for years so I end where I started design matters design
where I started design matters design
where I started design matters design connects every part of our lives for my
connects every part of our lives for my
connects every part of our lives for my economic well-being to our health and
economic well-being to our health and
economic well-being to our health and happiness from the sustainability of our
happiness from the sustainability of our
happiness from the sustainability of our planet to our peace of mind and more
planet to our peace of mind and more
planet to our peace of mind and more resources for things we love we need
resources for things we love we need
resources for things we love we need density we need increased frequency of
density we need increased frequency of
density we need increased frequency of use we need smart planning and informed
use we need smart planning and informed
use we need smart planning and informed citizens like yourselves who will demand
citizens like yourselves who will demand
citizens like yourselves who will demand better so please do we need an economic
better so please do we need an economic
better so please do we need an economic plan that’s based on smart investment
plan that’s based on smart investment
plan that’s based on smart investment and not short-term gains we need civic
and not short-term gains we need civic
and not short-term gains we need civic leadership that understands the stakes
leadership that understands the stakes
leadership that understands the stakes beyond the next election compact
beyond the next election compact
beyond the next election compact walkable cities and smart planning of
walkable cities and smart planning of
walkable cities and smart planning of objects buildings and neighborhoods save
objects buildings and neighborhoods save
objects buildings and neighborhoods save resources for the things that truly
resources for the things that truly
resources for the things that truly matter time for our loved ones or simply
matter time for our loved ones or simply
matter time for our loved ones or simply for a love of shoes thank you
for a love of shoes thank you
for a love of shoes thank you [Applause]
”
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