| This Big City

Mar

Twitter Mashup: Global #cityheritage Chat on Reusing Urban Spaces and Places

Categories: Buildings, Non-residential, Residential

by Kayla Jonas Galvin

Many buildings, landscapes, and structures in cities are built for specific purposes. Yet they might become valuable in some other way over the course of their lives. As such, instead of being demolished or built over once their original use ceases, they can be adapted to a new use. Read more

Nov

Saving Historic Buildings by Creating Opportunities for New Memories

Categories: Buildings, Non-residential, USA and Canada

Tags: Buffalo, cc, heritage

Comments: 3

by Kayla Jonas Galvin

One of the common challenges of historic preservation is how to get public buy-in to save historic buildings. A recent event in Buffalo, New York, aimed to address this challenge by inviting people to explore a derelict development. Read more

Mar

Discovering the History of Toronto Below Ground Level

Categories: Buildings, USA and Canada

Tags: cc, cities above and below, cities below, heritage, Toronto

Comments: No

by Kayla Jonas Galvin

Most of the history of cities is underground. Evidence of foundations below the surface can tell us what buildings used to be on the site, and artifacts could reveal what life was like for a building’s occupants. These discoveries don't just provide historical insight - they can also influence current urban development. Read more

Oct

Three Threats to Asia’s Urban Heritage

Categories: Asia and the Pacific, Planning, Urban Scale

Tags: cc, heritage, natural disasters, urban asia

Comments: 1

by Kayla Jonas Galvin

Asia’s urban heritage faces unique challenges. Whilst there is a strong will to protect the history of Asian countries, there are also some major threats, including natural disasters, differing concepts of heritage, and pressure from urbanization. Read more

Apr

Interacting with the History of your City

Categories: Arts and Culture, Blog, USA and Canada

Tags: cc

Comments: 2

by Kayla Jonas Galvin

Historic buildings and cultural places all over the world are opening their doors to the public, offering visitors the chance to to interact with the varied history of their city, and play a role in their ongoing place making. Read more

Jan

Transforming Industrial Complexes from Private to Public Spaces

Categories: Blog, Buildings, Non-residential, USA and Canada

Tags: cc

Comments: 2

by Kayla Jonas Galvin

In Toronto, Canada there is a trend emerging; converting former industrial sites into spaces that are open to the public. These sites are being turned into showcases of creativity, sustainability and successful commercial businesses. Read more

Dec

Downtown Revitalization in James Street North, Canada

Categories: Placemaking, Planning, USA and Canada

Tags: cc

Comments: No

by Kayla Jonas Galvin

Many historic cores of downtown urban areas were abandoned for the spacious suburbs, but recently there has been a movement to revitalize these areas. Read more