Reviving urban spaces with playful design
This discussion dives into the critical role that public art and playful design have in reviving urban spaces. Designers and advocates come together to explore the transformative power of creativity in shaping our cities. Using real-world examples ranging from immersive street murals to interactive installations, the speakers demonstrate how playfulness can encourage social interaction and enhance public well-being for people of all ages.
Our featured speakers
Jamie Brown
Ontario Association of Landscape Architects, Associate Member
Senior Design Lead, Landscape Architecture
Design and Construction, National Capital Commission
Presentation: Re-engaging the shoreline. Redeveloping the NCC River House inspired the creation of a space for play and relaxation. Jamie discusses how this newly animated space facilitates many recreational activities and most importantly, ensures the integration of accessibility to the landscape and the building, reconnecting people to the Ottawa River shoreline.
Vivian Gomes
Urban Designer
Presentation: Children as the catalyst of place-based joy. How can creating child-friendly, public and open spaces help create a playful city for everyone? We explore examples of how cities have been addressing children’s needs for independent mobility and free play through urban design interventions focused on joy.
Stephanie Watt
Geographer
Co-founder and Co-director of Metalude
Presentation: Starting from a shared understanding of play and children’s playful relationship with their environment, Stephanie explores how the cities we live in—and the green and blue spaces we cherish—can make room for play and children in everyday and extraordinary ways.
Melissa Mongiat
Co-founder, Daily tous les jours
Presentation: How can play, interactive arts, and performance contribute to urban design? With nearly 15 years of experience in creating “infrastructure for the human spirit,” we explore how to shape new ways of living together in cities, using the means of our times.
When?
Thursday, December 7, 2023, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm (EST)
Where?
Urbanism Lab
40 Elgin Street, 2nd floor, Ottawa, Ontario
