D:center Baltimore » Open Thread

Mapping the D.center

Fred Scharmen — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:50:11 +0000

Organizational mappings for the D.center Baltimore, produced in the spring of ‘09 by Jillian Erhardt and Ryan LeCluyse (huge thanks to you two), from MICA’s Center for Design Practice.

Which of these potential diagrams are more compelling? More accurate? More desirable? More adaptable? Why?

Open Thread: The City as Studio

Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:13:17 +0000

There’s been a lot of talk at D:Center gatherings about the ways in which the Baltimore design community could better apply research and action in urban neighborhoods. People often point to the Rural Studio in Hale County, Alabama by way of example. The Rural Studio immerses students from Auburn University’s architecture program into the community to build projects to support local needs. (There’s an interesting article in the latest edition of Metropolis magazine about their latest endeavor: the $20,000 house).

So how to translate the rural studio concept to the city? There’s a good model at Carnegie Mellon. Their Urban Studio was founded in 1963 and it uses Pittsburgh, where the university is based, as an integral part of student learning. From their Web site:

Through its programs, the Urban Lab provides interdisciplinary education in hands-on ‘real life’ contexts. It engages public agencies, elected officials, the private investment sector, and citizens, to jointly research and find solutions to community issues.

Until recently, our own regional design schools did not spend much time outside their respective campuses, but that is starting to change as MICA, Morgan, University of Maryland College Park and others look to develop community-based projects in the city. (I’m writing a bit about this in the October issue of Urbanite magazine, so stay tuned for that article).

How might we develop valuable urban studios in the city? How can the various disciplines, schools, practitioners, and funders work together for the most impact? And most importantly, how do we get this integrated into the way building and planning and design happens in the city? I’m curious to know what people think…

Who are the top urban thinkers?

Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:03:38 +0000

Planetizen is conducting an online poll. They want to know who you believe to be the top urban thinkers. Jane Jacobs? Lewis Mumford? Le Corbu? Olmstead? Burnham?

What about someone we would not normally consider to be an “urban thinker?” Planetizen left the definition vague on purpose:

We invite you to be creative and suggest urban planners, architects, artists, or everyday people. Author Upton Sinclair, for instance, would be a legitimate choice for his work as a muckraker and social activist in the city of Chicago. Reaching back to historical figures like Vitruvius or figures outside of the Western canon is also highly encouraged. Have fun, and as another Chicagoan once said, vote early and vote often.

Contribute your vote by clicking here. And feel free to discuss here as well…

Open Thread: Antiquarian Revival or Modernist Bright New Future?

Fred Scharmen — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:37:52 +0000

An open forum to discuss issues of removal, adaptation, imitation, and innovation in Baltimore architecture, planning and development. Given the closing of the Current Gallery (as noted previously), and the city’s search for new historic preservation commissioners, what sorts of productive ways can Baltimore use the relevance of its older fabric while still allowing for growth and change?