Upcycled Urbanism – ‘Designing Together’ Kickoff Jam

Upcycled Urbanism was a participatory design project that empowered participants to reimagine Vancouver’s public spaces. Teams designed and built prototypes using modular blocks of polystyrene containing material salvaged from the construction of the Port Mann Bridge. The project began with an introduction to Upcycled Urbanism, followed by four workshops where participants brainstormed, sketched, and modeled new public space ideas. Then, in July, teams came together again to build their creations in a large-scale outdoor event!

This kickoff event focused on how to hold a design charrette: a fun, engaging, and inclusive workshop in which experts and community members work together to turn their ideas into pictures and plans. With guidance from the Vancouver Design Nerds, we brainstormed how to bring an underutilized public space to life.

Upcycled Urbanism is a partnership between MOV, the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA) at the University of British Columbia, the Vancouver Public Space Network, Maker Faire Vancouver, and Spacing Magazine.

With generous support from Mansonville Plastics.