27 replies to this topic

[ArtInRuins]

Having been gone from the thread for awhile, doing my own building thing, I have to say discussions like these are fantastic. It is nice to see people thinking about these things, and while a conference seems to be the place where these ideas come out, and then rarely go anywhere else, I am glad that the jolt of energy I got from hearing such ideas at the conference can be similar to the jolt I get when reading discussions such as these. I only hope that city planners and architects are taking the same ideas as seriously as we are. I hope clients (cities, developers, homeowners) are learning how to ask the right questions in case their architect is not up to speed or willing to do the extra research to explore these new opportunities.

[ArtInRuins]

riari, on Apr 18 2007, 04:11 PM, said:

Grant was a superb venue, and Pawtucket was awesome.  City people, nonprofit people, for profit people, losing-shirt people...all a pleasure to work with.  Thank you so much!

I must say, too, in reference to our panel, that it was a bit unnerving to have Brett from Puente, Clay Rock from Monohasett, and Anne and John from the Firehouse on a panel with us, and then Buff Chace, Steve Durkee and Joe Haskett (and Cotuit!) in the audience asking us questions... I must say, the tables were turned... in a great and unexpected way.

[Cotuit]

ArtInRuins, on Apr 24 2007, 11:02 AM, said:

(and Cotuit!)

I wasn't asking any questions, I was just there to steal ideas. Actually, by that time I was looking for a place to take a nap, I'd had a long day following a long night. But it was very interesting to hear from the panel on how they got things done, and how they almost didn't get things done.

[riari]

ArtInRuins, on Apr 24 2007, 09:02 AM, said:

I must say, too, in reference to our panel, that it was a bit unnerving to have Brett from Puente, Clay Rock from Monohasett, and Anne and John from the Firehouse on a panel with us, and then Buff Chace, Steve Durkee and Joe Haskett (and Cotuit!) in the audience asking us questions... I must say, the tables were turned... in a great and unexpected way.

Unnerving maybe, but no duh that Buff and his crew think they can learn from your example.  There are a lot of other cats that should have been in the room...architects, developers, preservationists, etc.  

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there aren't a lot of BIG multi-topic forums for built environment issues in RI besides the preservation conference and Grow Smart's conference.  RISD had made noises over the years about having an office or a person or a program devoted to architecture in the public realm, but you need a microscope, St. Anthony, and a post-graduate degree in forensics to find anything on the risd website about these programs if they even exist.  I recently emailed the guy from risd's latest public architecture project (he had something to do with the cornish talks downtown which opened on the same day as Planning Pawtucket) asking for more info, and never got a reply.  Public architecture my...foot.

There's some potential for more public engagement if the AIA/RI can OPEN their storefront now and then for public programs.  Ahem, ahem.  

Would the Grant be interested in hosting some sort of ir/regular built environment program?

[Cotuit]

riari, on Apr 24 2007, 09:01 PM, said:

RISD had made noises over the years about having an office or a person or a program devoted to architecture in the public realm, but you need a microscope, St. Anthony, and a post-graduate degree in forensics to find anything on the risd website about these programs if they even exist.

You need all that to find anything on RISDs websites. I hear they are working on an overhaul though. Which is much needed for a school that has 'design' in its name.  

riari, on Apr 24 2007, 09:01 PM, said:

There's some potential for more public engagement if the AIA/RI can OPEN their storefront now and then for public programs.  Ahem, ahem.

I've heard there are plans for a number of events at the AIA office. Hopefully the organizors will post here to let us know.  

riari, on Apr 24 2007, 09:01 PM, said:

Would the Grant be interested in hosting some sort of ir/regular built environment program?

That would be fun.

[riari]

Cotuit, on Apr 24 2007, 08:06 PM, said:

You need all that to find anything on RISDs websites. I hear they are working on an overhaul though. Which is much needed for a school that has 'design' in its name.

And it's not just the website...it's a farce when RISD creates a program called city/state or public architecture and don't get the public involved.  

That aside, urbanplanet is probably the best place I know to find out what's happening around town, and I try to post info on interesting talks in the events list...when I come across them.

[Cotuit]

riari, on Apr 25 2007, 09:03 AM, said:

That aside, urbanplanet is probably the best place I know to find out what's happening around town, and I try to post info on interesting talks in the events list...when I come across them.

Excellent, I appreciate it!

[xine]

Cotuit, on Apr 24 2007, 10:06 PM, said:

I've heard there are plans for a number of events at the AIA office. Hopefully the organizors will post here to let us know.  
That would be fun.

Indeed, plans are afoot. Stay tuned!

In case people haven't heard, the AIA (American Institute of Architects) has a brand new gallery/storefront meeting space at 158 Washington Street which is generously hosted by Roger Williams University and fitted with green materials and such donated by many local contractors and material suppliers.

There is no full time staff so it doesn't have regular hours and relies almost exclusively on volunteers to organize things but there's a ton of potential to have events there.  Anyone with ideas for seminars, speakers or panels of architectural interest please PM me (especially if you want to help organize it!)