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Rob Garrett - Public Art Plan for Hamilton 2010-2020 - Wednesday, 2 June
Hamilton’s Public Art Plan 2010-2020 provides a guide for future investment and acquisition of public art in the city. It prioritises precincts, outlines themes and types of approaches. Cities are increasingly using public art for various planning purposes because it contributes to economic development; gives expression to place in distinctive ways; reflects the diverse identity of its citizens; and solves many urban planning problems. Public art has the power to energize our public spaces, stimulate our thinking, and transform the places where we live, work, and play into more welcoming and beautiful environments that invite interaction. It demonstrates a civic and corporate pride by reflecting a city’s positive sense of identity and values. Rob's presentation outlined the key aspects of the plan and how it can be applied and provide examples of the types of public art approaches that might suit specific sites.
Rob Garrett, BFA (Elam) and MA (Otago) is the founding Director of the Auckland-based art management company Rob Garrett Contemporary Fine Art Ltd. Rob Garrett has more than 30 years experience in the visual arts (as artist, educator, writer, curator, arts manager and government advisor) and has long experience especially in commissioning artist projects, and in curating and project managing public art projects and installations by a wide range of visual artists. Rob is currently contracted to work with a number of city councils in New Zealand to plan, curate and advise on public art programmes; is again guest curator for the 2010 outdoor exhibition NZ Sculpture OnShore which raises funds for NZ Women’s Refugees; and in September 2010 will judge Wanganui District Council’s inaugural public sculpture award. His notable former roles include Head of School, Dunedin School of Art; Senior Manager, Creative New Zealand; and Government-appointed Council Member, Arts Council of New Zealand Aotearoa.
Living Roofs - Thursday 13 May
Green roofs and walls
In this presentation, Zoë and Graham explained the benefits of living roofs; design considerations; perceived barriers; London and New Zealand examples; why green roofs are being promoted and required overseas; and briefly explain the multifunctional benefits (economic, social and environmental) they provide.
Zoë Zimmerman from Living Roofs
Living Roofs is an independent organisation that is promoting the uptake of green roofs and walls in NZ providing independent resource for information on living roofs and walls, supported and sponsored by leading companies, authorities and organisations.
Zoe has worked for the Environment Agency in London as Major Projects Officer and was instrumental in the installation of a number of green roofs in London and the development of a Green Roof Toolkit, which received an Royal Town Planning Award. She has had articles published in Planning in London magazine on green roofs and effects-based planning, and Architecture NZ magazine.
Graham Cleary from Natural Habitats
Graham founded Natural Habitats which is one of the leading design and construct companies in the green technology and landscape fields.
Natural Habitats designed and built the first large commercial green roof in NZ for Mirvac’s Quay West development. This was followed by the intensive landmark “Parc” development in Auckland’s Viaduct and a host of other roofs and podiums. Recently Graham has adapted green wall technology with indigenous New Zealand flora and installed the countries first two green walls.
Dr Jason Gilliland - Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Healthy by Design: Planning for Children's Well-Being. Dr Gilliland presented ways in which the planning and design of cities can positively or negatively impact children’s health and some recommendations for how planners and policymakers can advance the agenda for creating child-friendly cities.
Dr. Jason Gilliland is Director of the Urban Development Program and Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Western Ontario. He is also a Public Associate with the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and Canadian Institute of Planners, as well as a Scientist with both the Children's Health Research Institute and the Lawson Health Research Institute in Canada. He was an elected member of the inaugural Urban Design Steering Committee for the City of London, Ontario and helped establish that city’s first Urban Design Review Panel. He is a regular consultant for municipal and provincial departments of planning, transportation, engineering, housing, children’s services, and public health. He is also an active volunteer, currently serving on over two dozen boards and committees of non-profit organisations across Canada.
Pontus Kyander - Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Art for all? The place and role of public art - Pontus Kyander discussed how Art has changed dramatically through the last fifty years, but most public art still remains unchanged in regards to materials and ways of relating to places and the public. How can we achieve better public art, more in touch with the best art in the galleries, and more in touch with the many audiences it is expected to serve? When looking for best practice, it is useful to look internationally on how aspects of "public" as well as "art" has been dealt with. Pontus Kyander is Auckland City Council’s public art manager and has been engaged with public art in the roles as academic, art critic and curator. He has been active as a university lecturer, free lance curator and art critic for one of Sweden's major newspapers since 1994.
Ethan Kent and Renee Espiau - Thursday 29 October 2009
Transforming Garden Place: Project for Public Spaces (PPS) is an internationally renowned organisation whose efforts have transformed public spaces around the world. PPS Vice President Ethan Kent and Senior Associate Renee Espiau have been invited by Hamilton Mayor Bob Simcock and will give a presentation on the qualities of great squares and the benefits that they generate. As part of this presentation, PPS will facilitate a conversation about how to transform Garden Place from an underperforming space to an economic asset for public and private benefit.
Phil Jones - 11 September 2009
Phil outlined the global picture on place making before he looked at our national situation and Hamilton's own plans. Phil Jones has extensive experience in the planning and design of highway and other infrastructure, with particular expertise in traffic analysis and transport planning.
He is part of the team that produced Manual for Streets for the UK’s Department for Transport, the comprehensive guide to the design of urban, residential and lightly trafficked streets. Phil is also part of the CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) Space Enabling Panel, which provides direct advice to public sector organisations to help them deliver excellence in public realm projects, with particular emphasis on designing street networks and masterplanning.
Involved in the development of Home Zones in the UK since 1999, and the lead author of the IHIE (Institute of Highway Incorporated Engineers) Home Zone Design Guidelines, Phil continues to chair the IHIE working group, which is responsible for www.homezones.org.uk and is involved in ongoing research into the use of Home Zones by disabled and elderly people.
Jonathon Smales - 24 August 2009
If sustainability is starting to sound like a tired out catch phrase, lend Jonathon Smales you ear. The fourth speaker in Council’s free public series on shaping Hamilton intelligently, sustainably and creatively, Jonathon takes sustainability to a whole new level- reflecting on the need to do everything a wee bit, well…differently.
Most recently as the group chief executive for UK-based Beyond Green, Jonathon has been involved in developing Manchester City Council’s climate change Call to Action, a sustainability strategy for the 2012 Olympics, and urban regeneration plans in cities including London, Newcastle and Dublin. Beyond Green also runs programmes for organisational and personal behaviour change, with projects including greening the English football Premier League and a sustainability strategy for Audi, as well as books and television programmes about sustainable living.
David Engwicht - 9 July 2009
David spoke in Hamilton about his experiences as Place Maker for Wodonga, a rural city in Victoria, Australia where he was charged with turning a run down main street into the vibrant heart of the city. David shared his unique and ground-breaking approach which integrated urban psychology, social programmes, economic development and urban design. He argued that many urban revitalisation programmes fail because they do not take into account urban psychology. He discussed the design principles of shared space and some of the common pitfalls.
David Engwicht is author of four books on transport and urban design, his latest being Mental Speed Bumps: the smarter way to tame traffic. David is perhaps best known as the inventor of the Walking School Bus which has been adopted world-wide. He is considered one of the world’s most innovative thinkers about cities, traffic, urban design, community development and place making. David is a writer, sculptor and street philosopher.
Daniel Moylan - 8 April 2009
Councillor Daniel Moylan is Deputy Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Deputy Chairman of Transport for London (TfL). Daniel is also the Co-chair of Urban Design London; a group dedicated to improving urban design practice in London's public realm. This presentation was an ideal opportunity to meet with the most influential design champion in London and to learn from his experience in creating ground breaking public realm projects while working in the political arena.
Clr. Moylan is a pioneer for a new approach to public space design in the UK. He has put theory into practice in the Royal Borough - the transformation of Kensington High Street has garnered multiple awards while ambitious schemes for Exhibition Road have just been approved to go ahead. Cr Moylan told how the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea reviewed and planned their public spaces and streets. He also gave us his vision for Transport in London in his new role as well as providing us with some possible insights on city governance and structures.
Paul Bedford - 7 August 2008
This timely visit from one of Canada’s leading planners provided an insight into the role of bureaucracy as a creative agent of change. As Chief Planner at the City of Toronto, Paul made the brave decision to give the city’s Official Plan an overhaul, thereby creating a new and visionary document for the city.
Paul talked about the review process itself, and how the results have helped Toronto address common issues such as public transport, population growth, sustainability and urban design. A Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners, Paul has more than 35 years of experience in urban planning and city building. He has been integral to the development of Toronto’s groundbreaking new Official Plan, and gained unanimous council approval of the city’s Central Waterfront Principles Plan.
Paul has now retired from Toronto City Council and has been appointed as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto and at Ryerson University Planning School. He also serves on multiple public boards, and writes a regular column for the Ontario Planning Journal.
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