In this lecture, Canadian urbanist Larry Beasley reflected on good and smart growth of the city, in the light of the current Covid-19 crisis. Larry Beasley: ‘Continued belief in the city’ was streamed on November 27th, during SMC20.
Watch the lecture
For the past decades, there’s a growing belief in cities as meaningful places for socio-economic and spatial development and change. What core values and qualities are being highlighted in these times of Covid-19? Based on his own practice and latest book “Vancouverism”, Larry Beasley shares his ideas on making liveable cities in a post-Covid-era.
Continued belief in the city
Beasley’s lecture was followed by a Q&A and open debate with Rotterdam city makers about good and smart growth of Rotterdam. Thanks to those who participated!
Guest Urban Critic
In 2009, Larry Beasley was SMC’s first Guest Urban Critic. AIR and Van der Leeuwkring have been inviting international guest to open up new perspectives on important urban challenges and opportunities for the city. Inspired by its first lecturer Aldo Rossi, AIR (re-)introduced the Guest Urban Critic program ten years ago. Larry Beasley, chief urban planner for the city of Vancouver (Canada) was the first critic. With his keynote speech Beasley reflected on the development of Rotterdam from his ‘Vancouverism’ experience, kick-starting a city-wide debate on the quality of public space. Following his visit he was invited to join the Rotterdam International Advisory Board (IAB), an expert panel headed by former prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende. Alan Jacobs (Berkeley Univ. California, USA) and Patrick Janssens (Mayor of Antwerp, Belgium) were invited the following years to deepen the topics introduced by Beasley.
About Larry Beasley
Larry Beasley is a senior Canadian urbanist: a city planner, urban designer, teacher, and author. He is the ‘Distinguished Practice’ Professor of Planning at the University of British Columbia, and founding principal of Beasley and Associates. For many years, he was the Chief Planner for the City of Vancouver.
Among many appointments, he sits on the Board of TransLink in Metro Vancouver and is a Commissioner on the National Capital Commission in Ottawa. He has a long association with the International Economic Advisory Board in Rotterdam. Working in cities around the world, he has completed game-changing assignments in Abu Dhabi, Moscow, Dallas, Scandinavia, and across Canada.
He has authored two popular books – “Vancouverism”, and, “Ecodesign for Cities and Suburbs”. He teaches extensively and his on-line course has had a world-wide reach.
Larry Beasley has received several Honourary Doctorates as well as the Kevin Lynch Prize from MIT and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He is a Member of the Order of Canada, his country’s highest honour for lifetime achievement.