Saturday, 3 November 2007 | Levent OZLER
Infrastructure and Community: Michael Singer and Signe Nielsen
Van Alen Institute and Environmental Defense present Michael Singer (Environmental Artist and Designer, Michael Singer Studio) and Signe Nielsen (Partner, Mathews Nielsen) on the integration of infrastructure facilities and public amenities. Can waste, power and water treatment facilities provide cultural, educational, aesthetic or recreational assets for their surrounding communities? Who takes the lead in the planning, engineering and design of public works today?
Van Alen Institute's In Conversation series pairs diverse practitioners in spontaneous, unscripted dialogue to bridge work in contemporary architecture and urbanism with other disciplines that engage the public realm. This conversation is presented in conjunction with the launch of "Infrastructure and Community: How can we live with what sustains us?", a new report issued by Environmental Defense and Michael Singer Studio.
The report proposes a radical rethinking of urban infrastructure, to bring the best of design to bear on making the siting of these facilities not something to be opposed, but to be embraced. Design, technology and community come together in a shared vision for how to build infrastructure in a way that also benefits neighborhoods.
The world's mega-cities are growing fast. By 2030, New York's population will grow by an estimated one million people. The demand for additional waste transfer stations, power plants and water treatment facilities will follow, yet this kind of infrastructure can be extraordinarily difficult to site: community opposition to poorly designed facilities runs strong. Can design and environmental technology break this pattern?
Renowned landscape architect Signe Nielsen will join report co-author Michael Singer for a vibrant conversation about new directions for infrastructure design. Environmental Defense's Ramon Cruz, co-author with Singer, will introduce the report. Copies will be available during the reception.
This event is free and open to the public, however space is limited. Please RSVP to rsvp@vanalen.org by 5pm on Tuesday, November 13.
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