Two incredibly interesting blog posts from the Master's in Regenerating Intermediate Landscapes (Catalunya Intl. University)

(The program's good taste is demonstrated by their linking to my blog. And the program is taught in English. If things continue to degrade in the U.S., maybe getting a masters degree in Spain doesn't sound so bad.)

1. 10 INFORMAL CITY PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD

2. 10 WATERFRONT REGENERATION PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD

Very interesting projects that are quite creative and have plenty of application to the U.S.

One of the things that I find interesting about the transit projects in the list is that they recognize the placemaking values of transit infrastructure--if these values and opportunities are properly leveraged.

The Metro Cable transit program in Caracas, Venezuela, incorporates social and cultural program space into the station facilities. (This is something that we could do in DC over the top of the escalators in the urban stations, such as at Eastern Market Metro, and it could be done in Montreal similarly, although the Montreal Metro system does allow placemaking activities on station grounds, which DC does not.)

Both Metro Cable and Medellin’s Cable Transit System specifically focus on using innovative transit infrastructure to connect the disadvantaged not only transportationally, but socially, economically, and culturally into the city and region.

Medillin cable car system. Flickr photo by jgeis.

Similarly, the Manguinhos Complex, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil involves the "manipulation" of transit infrastructure--raising a transit system from the ground level in order to build a "low line" linear park. (Not unlike the proposal for the lakeview neighborhood in Chicago. See the past blog entry, "Chicago Low Line proposal.")

The projects in the two posts remind us that planning, transit systems, and cities can be visionary and bold, not just functional and bureaucratic.