I couldn't agree with your viewpoint more. In the rapid development of downtown Toronto, historical landmarks have lost their place, and all preserved buildings, with their so-called "shells," have lost their own historical narratives. As a complete structure, every material and structure should reflect the unique characteristics of that building. This concerns the technology of its construction and the aesthetics popular during its respective era. The most fascinating aspect of historical buildings is sometimes their ability to evoke the scenes of their original use without needing words—they are stories in themselves. Yet, in Toronto now, there are fewer and fewer buildings that can tell such stories, which is regrettable for the city.
In contrast, Montreal and Quebec City excel much more in preserving buildings from an architectural conservation perspective. Walking through the streets of Quebec, one can truly feel the charm of the city and the historical legacy left by the French in this region. Furthermore, from a sustainability standpoint, demolishing buildings outright and using completely new materials is not environmentally friendly. As an architect, it's crucial, both for environmental reasons and budget considerations, to reconsider the materials that can be reused from existing buildings.
Great quick read by Eric Rodrigues on the various ways that built heritage adds value as part of urban planning and architectural development.
“In a rapidly evolving world, where modernity often takes precedence, the importance of preserving heritage architecture cannot be overstated. Heritage architecture serves as a tangible link to our past, embodying the cultural, historical, and architectural essence of a bygone era. This article delves into the profound cultural significance of heritage architecture and why its preservation is crucial for maintaining our connection with the past”
#Europan#E17 Winner in Courcy Grand-Reims (FR)
-- Solstice, ou Le Contrat Vivant --
by Manon Vandenbussche (DE) – landscape-designer, Olivier Chenevier (FR) – architect and landscape-designer
"By questioning the notion of milieus, the second edition of the theme "Living Cities" exposes a clear fragility regarding the consideration of life at all its scales of understanding. The Solstice project strives to examine the necessity of a plurality of environments within the BA 112, but also on the scale of Grand Reims, and then at the regional level. This transgression of administrative boundaries thus involves resonating the operation of the base with the territorial structure and instigating the systemic mutation of human and non-human living spaces."
#europan17#livingcities2#architecture#urbanplanning#urbanism#landscape#architecturecompetition#competition#architecturaldrawings#archilovers#axonometrics#courcy#france
“Form not Content Dictates the “Smart” City” by Dhiru A. Thadani.
“Future neighborhoods and cities must be designed as if there is no or little external energy available, similar to the places that tourists continue to admire and visit. Places that are livable without excessive energy demands and where beauty prevails. Environments where the urban pattern encourages walking as the primary form of transportation to access human needs. Where civic life thrives and daily human interaction is serendipitous.”
Read the article:
https://lnkd.in/dJQFCzdF#urbanism#traditionalarchitecture#traditionalurbanism#urbandesign#urbanplanning#smartcity#citymaking#architecture
#Europan#E17 Runner-up in Guérande (FR)
-- le héron qui voulait voir l'océan --
by AS: Esther Morin (FR), Robinson Mangematin (FR), Myriam Richter (FR) – architects urbanists
"Environments change with the seasons. In Guérande, this means paying particular attention to the seasonal nature of the urban and architectural project. The landscape and hydrological aspects have structured our thinking, materialised in the project by the green and blue path running through the town. The uses of public and private spaces are designed to evolve, adapting to the high and low tourist seasons."
#europan17#livingcities2#architecturecompetition#urbanplanning#urbanism#landscape#competition#architecturaldrawings#archilovers#axonometrics#guérande#france
Business Strategy & Innovation
2moAlways good to see how these structures can have other uses. Thanks Eric to keep heritage and adaptive reuse top of mind.