October 25, 2011

Placemaking in a Sustainable Urban Core Lecture

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Tomorrow is the Placemaking in a Sustainable Urban Core lecture, the first in a fall/spring series called Sustainable Communities Lecture Series organized by Women Design Arizona and Blooming Rock. The purpose of the lecture series is to bring key sustainability issues in Phoenix, such as urban real estate development, the canals, Latino Urbanism and urban farming to the attention of the general public. The idea behind the lecture series is to raise awareness, to educate and to empower the people of Phoenix about these critical issues in order to help make our city a better place. Through the Sustainable…

October 19, 2011

Trees, Zoning, Urban Heat Island and Social Equity on Monterosa Street

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet “The more money you have, the more vegetation you have and the less urban heat island you experience”, said Chris Martin, a landscape horticulturist and ecosystem stress plant physiologist, at an urban heat island panel discussion I attended yesterday in Tempe organized by ASU’s Sustainable Cities Network. Another panelist, Professor Harvey Bryan, a building technology expert with the ASU School of Sustainability, confirmed Martin’s sentiment saying, “wealthier communities are cooler than poorer ones.” The fact that wealthier communities enjoy a cooler summertime temperatures than their poorer neighbors resonated deeply with me because I see it everyday in my own…

October 18, 2011

Win 2 Tickets to the 2011 Grand Avenue ReDapt Tours!

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet I am a big fan of Grand Avenue, it’s biggest proponent – Beatrice Moore, and all the artists and small businesses that choose to be on this great, mysterious, sometimes sketchy, yet always fascinating and fun diagonal avenue of Phoenix. What gives Grand Avenue it’s edge is that it’s hub for talented artists, architects, crafts people, and a number of other unique and funky small businesses AND it’s a hub for homeless people, up to no good teenagers and other people with questionable intentions. So, it’s a mix. But don’t be scared off by the dark side of Grand,…

October 12, 2011

A Call to Action: Cultivate Goodness

by: Lysistrata Hall

Tweet This is a special guest post by Lysistrata “Lyssa” Hall, a Landscape Architect I with the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department and one of the principal authors of the Tree and Shade Master Plan as well as the lead designer of the Rio Salado Audubon Center Gardens. Lyssa is an Arizona native that was born and raised in Jerome, Arizona. There is no denying times are tough and resources are limited, this is especially true for pollinators. A pollinator, at it’s most basic, is a living being that moves pollen from the male anthers of a flower…

October 11, 2011

Castaway House Begins Construction

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet I am happy to announce that the Castaway House, a project that I’m working on with The Ranch Mine, Jeremy Stapleton and RC Green Builders, began construction last week! I am also proud to say that it is the very first project to get permitted through the Phoenix Green Construction Code which is a voluntary program recently adopted by the City of Phoenix that aims to take a holistic approach to rating sustainable projects. I’ll be posting updates on the construction to keep you posted on the progress. Here’s what’s happening on site right now: Demo: All the existing…

October 05, 2011

Landmark Shmandmark

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer Ryan Glass: In August I wrote about “what is Phoenix’s landmark building”, and my questioning what it was that people would think of a snapshot-worthy sites in our fair city. The response that you guys gave was fantastic and particularly thoughtful. From agreeing about the Security Building to lauding the Luhr’s tower and even trying to buy my friendship by complimenting my favorite topic, Metro Lightrail, I enjoyed reading all your comments so much, that I actually decided to do something about it. Before I get there, though, do me a favor. Go…

October 04, 2011

Let’s Bring the Paris-Plage to Phoenix

by: Will Novak

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer Will Novak: Fred Kent, President of the Project for Public Spaces, has said that in his opinion the best public space in the world is an annual month long summer program along the Seine in Paris, the Paris-Plage (Paris Beach). For one month each summer the roadways near the Seine are closed down, covered in sand and turned into man made beaches full of programs, events and games. Every year millions of Parisians who are unable to leave the City for the summer enjoy the man made Riviera on the Seine. Paris’ Plage…

September 28, 2011

An Essay by Will Bruder: What Can We Aim For?

by: Will Bruder

Tweet This week I am posting Will Bruder’s excellent essay for the 98th Arizona Town Hall meeting, “Capitalizing on Arizona’s Arts and Culture”. I’ve posted the essay in 3 parts. In today’s post, which is the third and final part, Will gives us a 6-point plan on how to move forward in Arizona in ways that we can tap into our unique local resources and plug into the sustainability progress happening globally. Make sure to read Part I and Part II of this essay if you haven’t yet. If you’d like to read Will’s entire essay in one sitting, you…

September 27, 2011

An Essay by Will Bruder: Arizona’s Architecture – The First 100 years

by: Will Bruder

Tweet This week I am posting Will Bruder’s excellent essay for the 98th Arizona Town Hall meeting, “Capitalizing on Arizona’s Arts and Culture”. I’ll be posting the essay in 3 parts. In today’s post, which is the second part, Will gives an extraordinary account of the history of architecture in Arizona. If you missed part I, where Will defines architecture and the urban fabric, catch it here. If you’d like to read Will’s entire essay in one sitting, you can find it on the Arizona Town Hall report starting on page 76. Arizona’s architectural identity is built on a foundation…

September 26, 2011

An Essay by Will Bruder: Architecture – Defining Our Sense of Place

by: Will Bruder

Tweet This week I am posting Will Bruder’s excellent essay for the 98th Arizona Town Hall meeting, “Capitalizing on Arizona’s Arts and Culture”. I’ll be posting the essay in 3 parts. In today’s post, Will defines architecture and the urban fabric. How does Arizona’s unique architectural character add value to the lives of our residents/visitors and how can the urban fabric of its towns and cities help move our state forward in a distinctive and sustainable way? In this essay I will address these questions and suggest ways that we can protect and sustain our already unique heritage while embracing…