Monthly Archives: September 2012

Gilda Haas, Sept. 24: Complicated things. Simply Explained.

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As Gilda describes on her @Dr_Pop Twitter id, “We live in a complicated and confusing world. Dr. Pop is here to break it and down and tell it like it is.” That ideal iswhat inspired her to create her alter-ego, Dr. Pop. Like the Center for Urban Pedagogy, Dr. Pop is part of an activist wave who recognize that to facilitate social, economic, and environmental justice people need help to understanding complex systems in order to negotiate them. Gilda has also been an advocate for the contributions of graphic designer as part of this effort at “explaining” and thus an example of important and fruitful collaborations.

Her official bio:
Gilda Haas is an organizer and educator who has been helping grassroots organizations build economic development from the ground up for the past thirty-five years. Ms. Haas been teaching community economic development at UCLA’s Department of Urban Planning for about 30 years, where she also established the Community Scholars Program. She was the founding Executive Director of Strategic Actions for a Just Economy, a founder of the national Right to the City Alliance, and has developed business plans for democratic enterprises such as a credit union and land trust. Gilda currently works as a core faculty member in Antioch University’s new Urban Sustainability program; as her alter-ego, Dr. Pop (drpop.org); and coaching the next generation of leaders in the movement for social, economic, and environmental justice.

A video about Gilda explaining her work and interests can be found here.

To prepare for Gilda’s visit:
Take a look at Dr. Pop’s review of the book, The City and the City by China Mieville AND view the the film: Bogota, Change ( a Danish documentary with English sub-titles; about an hour long). Dr. Pop said she was inspired by Antanas Mockus’ creative strategies when he was mayor.

Documentation of Gilda’s visit by Tara Tannebaum here:
Gilda Haas_Tara Tannenbaum

 

John Kaliski’s presentation, “What is urban design?”

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Monday, September 17, John visited the “Devils” class and spoke about his practice and his work as centered in collaboration — often with community groups. What was immediately notable about John was his engagement with the class — in particular asking everyone about who they were.  This ability to engage and connect with others seems crucial to any designer hoping to succeed doing work with a “client” who isn’t just one individual, but many. John spoke about his background designing skyscrapers and the challenge of designing the look of things without understanding why that ultimately led him to his interest in urban design. His presentation defines urban design while it also describes its origins. What was revealed most significantly was the way in which different community participate in the process of set the right balance for their desires and needs, driven most significantly in trying to achieve balance between efficiency and justice. The process of a community-based collaboration was demonstrated through a case study — the Green Street Project.

Below is a pdf of John’s presentation, “What is Urban Design?”

JKaliski_What is Urban Design

John Kaliski to visit September 17

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John Kaliski, AIA, Principal, John Kaliski Architects, Los Angeles, California

John Kaliski integrates public concerns and narratives into urban design and architecture. Founder in 2000 of John Kaliski Architects, an architecture and urban design practice located in Los Angeles, California, his projects include affordable housing, urban design plans, and environmental design consulting for government agencies. Present projects include design of the Ocean Park Boulevard Complete Green Street in Santa Monica, the preparation of multi-family and ,mixed-use citywide design guidelines for this same city, and the design and urban design alternatives components of Metro’s East San Fernando Valley Rapidway located on Van Nuys Boulevard in the City of Los Angeles. In 1999 and 2009 Random House published his essays in Everyday Urbanism. This book posits the “everyday” as an interactive framework to critique normative and avant-garde theories of architecture, urban design, and urbanism. A graduate of Yale University (B.A., M.Arch.), Kaliski has taught at the University of Houston, SCI-Arc, The University of Michigan, Cal Poly Pomona, and USC. He resides in mid-city Los Angeles where his civic activities include service as the 2009 president of the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles Chapter, member of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council Land Use Committee, appointed member of the Mayor’s Design Advisory Panel, and architect to the Hollywood Farmer’s Market.

His website.

The reading John offered for his visit is Jonathan Barnett’s essay “Designing Cities without Designing Buildings.”