A new publication, "In-Between Infrastructure:  Urban Connectivity in an Age of Vulnerability", is out in the form of a free electronic book.  The editors are from the urban studies department at York University.  I would like to give a nod to University of Manitoba's head of City Planning, Richard Milgrom, whose chapter (Slow Growth versus the Sprawl Machine) starts on page 87.  There Milgrom concisely explains the true state of the city.  Milgrom writes, "one might be forgiven for thinking that Winnipeg is a rapidly growing city.  But it is not, and it has not been for several decades".

 

Edit/ My question is how awareness can begin with the general populous that is only concerned with bare necessities.  I brought up the "hierarchy of needs" when I had the opportunity to sit in at Tessa Vanderhart's Winnipeg Internet Pundits (I am far from a pundit) show about women blogging and the North End.  It is evident there are tough critics and a great amount of Winnipeggers online concerned with these issues, but how do you reach out to those that are merely figuring out how to survive? Or if they're not concerned, why should they be?  I think the answer lies in problems.  When you have experienced a problem directly or know someone that has, there is all the more reason to seek a solution. Then we begin individually.

Thanks to @UrbanSherpa on twitter for the link.  The book can be viewed or downloaded after the jump. 

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Photographer Mike Grandmaison brought it to our attention at PKN Vol. 5 last week (with his stunning water imagery) that CBC will be airing a special on our Lake Winnipeg on the Nature of Things in April.  Graham over at Progressive Winnipeg has a wealth of information on this topic as he has a Save my Lake feature (named after the documentary feature) between March 9-27, 2011.

Along similar lines of biodiversity, I thought I'd share an installation I spotted today on Designboom since I've been spending a lot of time researching exhibition/display precedents for my last project. 

The video above is a quick glimpse of an industrial design process where "thermo-welded" clothing has been made for translucent, cut-out endangered animals.  The technology is that different areas of a fabric's fibre are sewn together without any actual sewing occuring.  Inspired by Noah's Ark, the installation was a partnership between EID and Milan-based Dyloan Studio.  It may seem bizarre at first, but the message is quite literal:

 

Proposing that if we are able to create such high technology for ourselves as offered by the bond-in project, we should be able to create such technology to save the lives of these animals and increase bio-diversity in the world.

- Designboom on Tomita Kazuhiko's Bond-in Diversity Installation

 

 

 

Image Sources: 1 2

Thirteen years ago, Heidi Reimer-Epp and her mother were working on a publication called 300 Papermaking recipes. Along their way of exploring different styles of paper they decided to throw in some seeds. This was the beginning of Botanical Paperworks, a major eco-friendly paper company based here in Winnipeg.  They have been recently cited along with Google's Adsense Letters, which have wildflower seeds incorporated in them.  This morning in particular I was surprised to see today's issue of Dan Lewis' "Now I Know" newsletter remind me about this local company that has many global clients.  See Botanical Paperworks' latest Valentine's Day tips via youtube after the jump.

"I had a passion for paper all my life, and the opportunity came my way to start a company that specializes in handmade papers."

- Heidi Reimer-Epp, President of Botanical Paperworks

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A late congratulations to local firm (and my former instructors) on a past successful year of awards and recognition.  The project on the cover is Bloc 10.  

5468796 Architecture Inc. is a Winnipeg architecture studio with a diverse range of interests and design expertise. The firm was established in 2007 to challenge convention at all scales, from branding, architecture and design, to detailing and engineering systems.

- Canadian Architect, December 2010

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