in the same way these kind of squares centralize the focus of an individual city and its inhabitants. why do you think tourists always head to grand squares? because they are concentrated way-finding nodes. seeing as though vancouver is trying to actualize ideas of eco-density by creating smaller focal points within the city’s fabric, why should we focus our efforts on a single monolithic open space?

let’s instead do that song and dance thing.

i also feel that such projects are anti-solar urticaria sufferers. = )

Where’s the Square? Visionaries wanted.

The Vancouver Public Space Network is currently running a Design Ideas Competition. The “Where’s the Square?” contest is open to anyone who feels like they have a plan for a grand gathering place inside the city boundaries.

We’re looking for ideas from city-lovers, planners, artists, philosophers, architects, urbanists, students of any discipline and visionaries from all walks of life. The competition has some fairly straightforward parameters covering the size,accessibility,
programming and utility of the square… but after that, it’s all up to you. Most importantly, we don’t have a set location in mind. Instead, we’re looking for entrants to come up with a plan for where the square could be situated.

The “Where’s the Square?” Competition runs until March 20, 2009 and is open to individuals or teams. There will be two prizes, based on a juried review of the entries as well as a “people’s choice award.”
A variety of other supporting events will also be taking place throughout February, March and April.

Interested in participating? The Competition Brief and other related materials can be accessed at the VPSN’s “Where’s The Square?”
webpages: http://www.WheresTheSquare.ca.

Links:

“Where’s the Square?” Competition Brief:
http://vancouverpublicspace.ca/uploads/WTS-competitionbrief.pdf

For more information:

Email:
info@vancouverpublicspace.ca

Mail:
Vancouver Public Space Network
Box 2754, Station Terminal
349 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 3X2

And, hey, if you want to lead a band of heathen Sun worshipers in a massacre of sexy Swedish tourists in the middle of some Burgessonian square (I sorta skimmed the other comments), well, that’s totally your prerogative.

All I’m saying is that I won’t be a part of it.

A tres bientot, Sunny.

You had me at “naked angels”. Here at UBC the students complain once a year about the lack of a square/courtyard/open space. So, is this a Vancouver phenomenon? Is it a North American phenomenon? Is it really even a problem?

Personally, I hate squares. And do you wanna know why? Because they’re outside, open and sunny. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule, but, for the most part, Squares are not about shade. And, even if there is shade (like with a few trees or umbrellas), man, the UV just gets right in there and cooks people.

Now, I might not be the majority (de Tocqueville told us to fear your tyranny, anyway), but this is what I think and this is how I feel. Wide open squares invite Sun worship, and nothing good has ever come from that. Just ask the Aztecs, or 24-year-old fake ‘n’ bakers who look 40 and will get a new, stylish kind of skin cancer very soon.

In conclusion, I am anti-square (unless it’s totally covered). I am also anti-Sun. And I am more pro-square than anti-square, but I really only sway from anti-to-pro on the square issue if the Sun gets taken out of the picture somehow.

And I’m working on that one…

- John

On another note, I have hung out in squares as a tourist…and so it would be wrong of me (and us) to get frustrated with tourists hanging out in our squares. Plus, sometimes tourists can be hotties (those Swedes aren’t always super friendly…but man are they ever sexy)!

k-ho

Hmmm, maybe that’s the solution to creating epi-centers of community…. breaking out into song and dance in random back alleys and underneath bridges, singing about how squares are so cool… “play it cool boy… reeeeal cooooooool.”