Open urbanism: rethinking public spaces

Open urbanism is an approach to urban design and architecture that incorporates the notions of change and temporality, thinking of the city as an ever-transforming and changing place.

This workshop offers participants the opportunity to test this approach on a park, using the example of Montreal’s Gorilla Park in the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie neighbourhood.

Participants will work with students from the Urban Laboratory on rethinking the park, using moveable elements representing trees, urban furniture and other structures, testing solutions for the park in three design iterations. How can a park be reconceptualized from the perspective of mobility, movement and interaction?

The workshop will be led by Silvano De La Llata and is presented by the Urban Laboratory in the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment in close collaboration with the City of Montreal and Concordia’s City Studio.

About Silvano De la Llata

Silvano De la Llata is a designer, educator, critical thinker and assistant professor at Concordia. His research focuses on public space and examines how alternative uses, such as street vending, graffiti, public assembly and protest, act as planning agents.