Changing Cities and Evolving Lives | Susan Fitzgerald | TEDxDalhousieU

[Applause]

[Applause] what architecture and urban space could

what architecture and urban space could

what architecture and urban space could change with your life I’m an architect a

change with your life I’m an architect a

change with your life I’m an architect a professor a mother a wife a sister and a

professor a mother a wife a sister and a

professor a mother a wife a sister and a daughter

daughter

daughter I’m all of these things and a whole lot

I’m all of these things and a whole lot

I’m all of these things and a whole lot of other labels that evolve over a life

of other labels that evolve over a life

of other labels that evolve over a life along with this change comes uncertainty

along with this change comes uncertainty

along with this change comes uncertainty life is unpredictable at the scale of

life is unpredictable at the scale of

life is unpredictable at the scale of the individuals lives as people move

the individuals lives as people move

the individuals lives as people move they change countries their health

they change countries their health

they change countries their health changes their children mature and their

changes their children mature and their

changes their children mature and their relationships evolve but also at the

relationships evolve but also at the

relationships evolve but also at the scale of cities as they’re continually

scale of cities as they’re continually

scale of cities as they’re continually made and remade as politics economics

made and remade as politics economics

made and remade as politics economics and technology develop army Lefebre in

and technology develop army Lefebre in

and technology develop army Lefebre in the production of space claims that

the production of space claims that

the production of space claims that urban space is a social product that’s

urban space is a social product that’s

urban space is a social product that’s composed of overlapping and

composed of overlapping and

composed of overlapping and contradictory criteria that evolve over

contradictory criteria that evolve over

contradictory criteria that evolve over time and these include the form of the

time and these include the form of the

time and these include the form of the city and also the activities experiences

city and also the activities experiences

city and also the activities experiences and encounters that happen within it so

and encounters that happen within it so

and encounters that happen within it so how does architecture deal with this

how does architecture deal with this

how does architecture deal with this constant change how does it understand

constant change how does it understand

constant change how does it understand uncertainty we certainly cannot

uncertainty we certainly cannot

uncertainty we certainly cannot alleviate it we can only work with it

alleviate it we can only work with it

alleviate it we can only work with it creatively so I would like to talk to

creatively so I would like to talk to

creatively so I would like to talk to you about two very different projects

you about two very different projects

you about two very different projects that do just that one is a building I

that do just that one is a building I

that do just that one is a building I designed here in Halifax and the other

designed here in Halifax and the other

designed here in Halifax and the other is a garden in Havana Cuba that I’ve

is a garden in Havana Cuba that I’ve

is a garden in Havana Cuba that I’ve been visiting with students from the

been visiting with students from the

been visiting with students from the School of Architecture for several years

School of Architecture for several years

School of Architecture for several years the first is located in an eclectic

the first is located in an eclectic

the first is located in an eclectic community in the north end of Halifax

community in the north end of Halifax

community in the north end of Halifax now this community has recently seen a

now this community has recently seen a

now this community has recently seen a great deal of change

great deal of change

great deal of change mmm it’s seen innovative ventures such

mmm it’s seen innovative ventures such

mmm it’s seen innovative ventures such as micro breweries there’s a flotation

as micro breweries there’s a flotation

as micro breweries there’s a flotation center there’s a gym there’s various

center there’s a gym there’s various

center there’s a gym there’s various automobile shops and and all of these

automobile shops and and all of these

automobile shops and and all of these create very diverse networks in the

create very diverse networks in the

create very diverse networks in the neighborhood the area has also had large

neighborhood the area has also had large

neighborhood the area has also had large land amalgamations and they’ve been a

land amalgamations and they’ve been a

land amalgamations and they’ve been a lot of houses that have been demolished

lot of houses that have been demolished

lot of houses that have been demolished in this process and this has the effect

in this process and this has the effect

in this process and this has the effect of reducing the community networks so

of reducing the community networks so

of reducing the community networks so the intention for this project is to

the intention for this project is to

the intention for this project is to creatively anticipate change both in the

creatively anticipate change both in the

creatively anticipate change both in the life of my family and also in the city’s

life of my family and also in the city’s

life of my family and also in the city’s future within its 25 foot by a hundred

future within its 25 foot by a hundred

future within its 25 foot by a hundred foot lot is a house that changes with

foot lot is a house that changes with

foot lot is a house that changes with our life and also increases the density

our life and also increases the density

our life and also increases the density diversity community of the neighborhood

diversity community of the neighborhood

diversity community of the neighborhood so how does a project do this well

so how does a project do this well

so how does a project do this well currently there’s an office space for my

currently there’s an office space for my

currently there’s an office space for my contractor partner and myself there’s a

contractor partner and myself there’s a

contractor partner and myself there’s a dwelling for our family of four and then

dwelling for our family of four and then

dwelling for our family of four and then there’s also a live work there’s a live

there’s also a live work there’s a live

there’s also a live work there’s a live work rental apartment it’s as

work rental apartment it’s as

work rental apartment it’s as programmatic and spatial flexibility for

programmatic and spatial flexibility for

programmatic and spatial flexibility for the commercial spaces and the

the commercial spaces and the

the commercial spaces and the residential spaces to contract and

residential spaces to contract and

residential spaces to contract and expand based upon the viability of the

expand based upon the viability of the

expand based upon the viability of the business and our ever-changing family

business and our ever-changing family

business and our ever-changing family circumstances as our children mature and

circumstances as our children mature and

circumstances as our children mature and also our parents age and potentially

also our parents age and potentially

also our parents age and potentially come to live with us rather than

come to live with us rather than

come to live with us rather than offering one size that fits all for the

offering one size that fits all for the

offering one size that fits all for the life of the project it morphs as our

life of the project it morphs as our

life of the project it morphs as our circumstances change so conventional

circumstances change so conventional

circumstances change so conventional spaces in the house are we considered

spaces in the house are we considered

spaces in the house are we considered children’s bedrooms are currently

children’s bedrooms are currently

children’s bedrooms are currently conceived as tiny little cubbies but

conceived as tiny little cubbies but

conceived as tiny little cubbies but they could open into live-work areas

they could open into live-work areas

they could open into live-work areas that can open into the courtyard so my

that can open into the courtyard so my

that can open into the courtyard so my university age son can now potentially

university age son can now potentially

university age son can now potentially go and come and go as he pleases and not

go and come and go as he pleases and not

go and come and go as he pleases and not wake up to the whole household likewise

wake up to the whole household likewise

wake up to the whole household likewise the courtyard space can be used for

the courtyard space can be used for

the courtyard space can be used for children’s play area

children’s play area

children’s play area parking area and also a workspace now

parking area and also a workspace now

parking area and also a workspace now this part of the city has almost no

this part of the city has almost no

this part of the city has almost no vegetation in it so the whole project

vegetation in it so the whole project

vegetation in it so the whole project all the spaces are used for the

all the spaces are used for the

all the spaces are used for the cultivation on the rooftops are used for

cultivation on the rooftops are used for

cultivation on the rooftops are used for the cultivation of vegetables and

the cultivation of vegetables and

the cultivation of vegetables and flowers so on a macro level this project

flowers so on a macro level this project

flowers so on a macro level this project we imagines the site conditions

we imagines the site conditions

we imagines the site conditions typically found in Halifax and if you

typically found in Halifax and if you

typically found in Halifax and if you look around there all narrow long lots

look around there all narrow long lots

look around there all narrow long lots and this creates a new mixed use urban

and this creates a new mixed use urban

and this creates a new mixed use urban typology based on a modern rendition of

typology based on a modern rendition of

typology based on a modern rendition of a side hall plan you stretched this form

a side hall plan you stretched this form

a side hall plan you stretched this form across the site you you can increase the

across the site you you can increase the

across the site you you can increase the density at the site without greatly

density at the site without greatly

density at the site without greatly increasing the scale and you can allow

increasing the scale and you can allow

increasing the scale and you can allow the spaces the work space is the living

the spaces the work space is the living

the spaces the work space is the living spaces and the cultivation spaces to air

spaces and the cultivation spaces to air

spaces and the cultivation spaces to air band flow so now we’re going to go to

band flow so now we’re going to go to

band flow so now we’re going to go to Havana Cuba and the area of particular

Havana Cuba and the area of particular

Havana Cuba and the area of particular interest is a garden there’s no

interest is a garden there’s no

interest is a garden there’s no architect involved in this project just

architect involved in this project just

architect involved in this project just a resilient community and it occupies

a resilient community and it occupies

a resilient community and it occupies the space where a house collapsed

building collapse is very common in Cuba

building collapse is very common in Cuba it still experiences extreme scarcity

it still experiences extreme scarcity

it still experiences extreme scarcity and consequently has very few materials

and consequently has very few materials

and consequently has very few materials for the maintenance of buildings

for the maintenance of buildings

for the maintenance of buildings according to burka Meyer and Whitfield

according to burka Meyer and Whitfield

according to burka Meyer and Whitfield there’s one two three full or partial

there’s one two three full or partial

there’s one two three full or partial collapses a day and the special period

collapses a day and the special period

collapses a day and the special period was a time of intense hardship in the

was a time of intense hardship in the

was a time of intense hardship in the early 1990s so during this time the

early 1990s so during this time the

early 1990s so during this time the garden was used for food cultivation in

garden was used for food cultivation in

garden was used for food cultivation in the community however one day six years

the community however one day six years

the community however one day six years ago the municipality were undertaking

ago the municipality were undertaking

ago the municipality were undertaking repair work in the street and they cut

repair work in the street and they cut

repair work in the street and they cut off the water supply immediately the

off the water supply immediately the

off the water supply immediately the producer had to transition to different

producer had to transition to different

producer had to transition to different types of crops requiring less irrigation

types of crops requiring less irrigation

types of crops requiring less irrigation the plants currently cultivated are used

the plants currently cultivated are used

the plants currently cultivated are used in Santeria religious ceremonies and

in Santeria religious ceremonies and

in Santeria religious ceremonies and also homeopathic remedies for their

also homeopathic remedies for their

also homeopathic remedies for their healing properties

healing properties

healing properties according to the producer these dry

according to the producer these dry

according to the producer these dry shady conditions support these

shady conditions support these

shady conditions support these particular plants and so customers come

particular plants and so customers come

particular plants and so customers come from all over the city to purchase the

from all over the city to purchase the

from all over the city to purchase the products and seek medical advice now

products and seek medical advice now

products and seek medical advice now from this garden the producer has a view

from this garden the producer has a view

from this garden the producer has a view of the street dumpsters and he collects

of the street dumpsters and he collects

of the street dumpsters and he collects valuable items that he feels could could

valuable items that he feels could could

valuable items that he feels could could be used for the ongoing maintenance of

be used for the ongoing maintenance of

be used for the ongoing maintenance of his site and the community from these

his site and the community from these

his site and the community from these resources he’s constructed planting beds

resources he’s constructed planting beds

resources he’s constructed planting beds out of bottles and tires so this

out of bottles and tires so this

out of bottles and tires so this practice is called invent are in Cuba

practice is called invent are in Cuba

practice is called invent are in Cuba and it’s essentially inventing from

and it’s essentially inventing from

and it’s essentially inventing from nothing everyday life in the Western

nothing everyday life in the Western

nothing everyday life in the Western world is defined by forced consumption

world is defined by forced consumption

world is defined by forced consumption and built-in obsolescence and this

and built-in obsolescence and this

and built-in obsolescence and this inventor has very different rhythms with

inventor has very different rhythms with

inventor has very different rhythms with its daily social interactions the

its daily social interactions the

its daily social interactions the sourcing of materials and products and

sourcing of materials and products and

sourcing of materials and products and reimagining use of these it also has in

reimagining use of these it also has in

reimagining use of these it also has in negotiations with the community to make

negotiations with the community to make

negotiations with the community to make the necessary acquisitions so invent our

the necessary acquisitions so invent our

the necessary acquisitions so invent our feeds on change and uncertainty and it

feeds on change and uncertainty and it

feeds on change and uncertainty and it uses them creatively now that the city

uses them creatively now that the city

uses them creatively now that the city provides no water to the site again the

provides no water to the site again the

provides no water to the site again the producer has had to innovate he collects

producer has had to innovate he collects

producer has had to innovate he collects rainwater from all the adjacent rooftops

rainwater from all the adjacent rooftops

rainwater from all the adjacent rooftops and feeds it into his site via gutters

and feeds it into his site via gutters

and feeds it into his site via gutters and pipes into barrels on his property

and pipes into barrels on his property

and pipes into barrels on his property this access to irrigation water is

this access to irrigation water is

this access to irrigation water is absolutely essential for his operation

absolutely essential for his operation

absolutely essential for his operation and prior to the threat of a hurricane

and prior to the threat of a hurricane

and prior to the threat of a hurricane the community helped him clear the

the community helped him clear the

the community helped him clear the debris out the gutters so so – so it can

debris out the gutters so so – so it can

debris out the gutters so so – so it can get ready for the onslaught while the

get ready for the onslaught while the

get ready for the onslaught while the producer currently has the use of this

producer currently has the use of this

producer currently has the use of this land the community actually controls the

land the community actually controls the

land the community actually controls the future of it he has us effect status and

future of it he has us effect status and

future of it he has us effect status and it regard acquires an understanding that

it regard acquires an understanding that

it regard acquires an understanding that the garden has to contribute to the

the garden has to contribute to the

the garden has to contribute to the neighborhood so far from being just the

neighborhood so far from being just the

neighborhood so far from being just the site of production the owner appears to

site of production the owner appears to

site of production the owner appears to be motivated by operating within the

be motivated by operating within the

be motivated by operating within the public good he invites local schools and

public good he invites local schools and

public good he invites local schools and colleges to

colleges to

colleges to site to learn about green medicine most

site to learn about green medicine most

site to learn about green medicine most days of the week they learn about these

days of the week they learn about these

days of the week they learn about these medicinal plants and how to tend for a

medicinal plants and how to tend for a

medicinal plants and how to tend for a garden and due to the shade of the site

garden and due to the shade of the site

garden and due to the shade of the site it is also a place of socializing and

it is also a place of socializing and

it is also a place of socializing and street commerce to the site and the

street commerce to the site and the

street commerce to the site and the surrounding neighborhood display

surrounding neighborhood display

surrounding neighborhood display cooperation creativity and

cooperation creativity and

cooperation creativity and resourcefulness as they adapt to

resourcefulness as they adapt to

resourcefulness as they adapt to everyday struggles relationships Stitch

everyday struggles relationships Stitch

everyday struggles relationships Stitch this fragile environment together as

this fragile environment together as

this fragile environment together as resources land water waste and crops are

resources land water waste and crops are

resources land water waste and crops are shared and redistributed this creates a

shared and redistributed this creates a

shared and redistributed this creates a type of community symbiosis so rather

type of community symbiosis so rather

type of community symbiosis so rather than focusing solely on the formal

than focusing solely on the formal

than focusing solely on the formal language of architecture both of these

language of architecture both of these

language of architecture both of these designs one by the hand of an architect

designs one by the hand of an architect

designs one by the hand of an architect and the other by the hand of a community

and the other by the hand of a community

and the other by the hand of a community consider evolving lives activities and

consider evolving lives activities and

consider evolving lives activities and experiences the boundaries adjacent to

experiences the boundaries adjacent to

experiences the boundaries adjacent to both are blurred and shared across some

both are blurred and shared across some

both are blurred and shared across some work knowledge and conviviality of

work knowledge and conviviality of

work knowledge and conviviality of exchange change within life and cities

exchange change within life and cities

exchange change within life and cities of inevitable change that does not

of inevitable change that does not

of inevitable change that does not involve engage the existing community

involve engage the existing community

involve engage the existing community invariably causes uncertainty and

invariably causes uncertainty and

invariably causes uncertainty and distress it is usually it is important

distress it is usually it is important

distress it is usually it is important to use the present to construct the

to use the present to construct the

to use the present to construct the future not by replicating the present

future not by replicating the present

future not by replicating the present but to work with it creatively much can

but to work with it creatively much can

but to work with it creatively much can be learned from going into a

be learned from going into a

be learned from going into a neighborhood and listening carefully to

neighborhood and listening carefully to

neighborhood and listening carefully to the rhythms the rhythms of everyday life

the rhythms the rhythms of everyday life

the rhythms the rhythms of everyday life rather than attending for a moment

rather than attending for a moment

rather than attending for a moment prescribing a treatment to correct a

prescribing a treatment to correct a

prescribing a treatment to correct a perceived problem and leaving this type

perceived problem and leaving this type

perceived problem and leaving this type of listening requires continual

of listening requires continual

of listening requires continual continual visits engagement with the

continual visits engagement with the

continual visits engagement with the community and understanding the nuances

community and understanding the nuances

community and understanding the nuances and the networks of the plays

and the networks of the plays

and the networks of the plays comprehending these attributes within a

comprehending these attributes within a

comprehending these attributes within a community holds far more promise than

community holds far more promise than

community holds far more promise than for the future city than the formal

for the future city than the formal

for the future city than the formal static and economic indicators that we

static and economic indicators that we

static and economic indicators that we typically use to measure the success of

typically use to measure the success of

typically use to measure the success of our cities it seems as though many

our cities it seems as though many

our cities it seems as though many answer

answer

answer for understanding uncertainty exists

for understanding uncertainty exists

for understanding uncertainty exists within the community they are found

within the community they are found

within the community they are found within the polyrhythmic layers that

within the polyrhythmic layers that

within the polyrhythmic layers that include the natural cultural and social

include the natural cultural and social

include the natural cultural and social in a resilient ecology that includes

in a resilient ecology that includes

in a resilient ecology that includes people and their everyday activities

people and their everyday activities

people and their everyday activities that together form a transformative and

that together form a transformative and

that together form a transformative and creative view of changing cities and

creative view of changing cities and

creative view of changing cities and evolving lives thank you

evolving lives thank you

evolving lives thank you [Applause]