Mark Lakeman is the cofounder of the City Repair project and the Village Building Convergence, both place-making organizations based in Portland, Oregon. In this interview, we discuss what place-making is and why it is important, how it relates to vertical cities, the Roman Grid vs geomorphic city design, and much more.
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"We have designed our own isolation." - Mark Lakeman
Show Notes:
- What the City Repair project is
- All about place-making
- The annual place-making festival that happens in Portland, Oregon
- How neighborhoods in America are different from those in Europe
- Why public space is perceived as a political issue
- How the Roman Grid has been used in many American cities
- Why block parties are so important
- How zoning laws keep people from getting to know each other
- The history of the Colonial Grid
"If we’re talking about sustainability, we want to be geomorphic because it means we are adapting to our environment rather than forcing it to serve us." - Mark Lakeman
- Why geomorphic city design is the best way
- How medieval towns were designed
- The example of Siena, Italy
- The history of Portland, Oregon’s design and what to do about design problems in American cities
- The many advantages of Vertical Cities
- The six essential ingredients of the best villages in the world
- Why space is a commodity in America
- How developers have an opportunity to leave a legacy behind when they create something, and not just profit
Links Mentioned:
"We walk around asking ourselves what is the meaning of life. And that does not happen in other places where they are part of networks and where the aesthetic experience of being alive is so fulfilling that you would never ask such a question." - Mark Lakeman