Preceding the Yes Is More lecture at the Chan Centre last April, Ian Gillespie of Westbank introduced architect Bjarke Ingels' concept for a development on a parcel of land at Howe and Beach in Vancouver as "An amazing solution to a really difficult site". This rendering below shows an exciting tower design on the right - just on the North end of the Granville bridge - but what it doesn't show is that there it's sitting on one large lot that extends from the West side of the bridge to the East but is effectively broken up into a number of smaller lots by the main structure as well as the on/off ramps. It also doesn't show why the tower is shaped the way it is, and it doesn't show how the public space around and under the bridge could be transformed, but when you dig into the videos below I promise more than one "Aha!" moment.
More than a thousand people gathered to hear the celebrated Danish architect talk about this individual design and were treated to insight into many of his other projects, some of which are so thoughtful and innovative that it's almost impossible to imagine how they made it to the point of being constructed.
I was invited to attend Yes Is More by one of our ADVISORY BOARD members, architect Michael Green, and have since repeatedly thanked him for what was bar none the best speaking engagement I have ever attended. Following Bjarke's talk there was a moderated jam session where some of Vancouver's leading architects, designers, artists and city proponents answered the question "If you were Chief Architect of Vancouver, what would you top priority be?". To top it off, Michael did a one-on-one chat on stage with Bjarke about our city and his thoughts on the past, present and future of its architecture.
Below are videos encapsulating the entire event. If you're remotely interested in city building, sustainability, design and the future of Vancouver, then you're not going to want to miss this.
Introduction by Professor Stephen J Toope, President and Vice-Chancellor of UBC
http://vimeo.com/45347737
Introduction by Ian Gillespie of Westbank
http://vimeo.com/45348000
Introduction by professor Leslie Van Duzer, Director of the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
http://vimeo.com/45413539
Bjarke Lecture Part 1
http://vimeo.com/46460745
Bjarke Lecture Part 2
http://vimeo.com/46497820
Bjarke Lecture Part 3
http://vimeo.com/46513644
Michael Green moderates "If you were Chief Architect of Vancouver, what would you top priority be?"
http://vimeo.com/45455872
Michael Green and Bjarke one-on-one
http://vimeo.com/45413538
