Within the Monocle on Design podcast episode, Kimberly Dowdell, a principal in HOK’s Chicago studio, shared how architects can use design to assist mayors and cities create a greater future.
Whereas taking part within the U.S. of Convention of Mayors annual assembly in January, Dowdell spoke with Monocle’s Chris Cermak about her upcoming AIA presidency, want to grow to be a physician for the constructed surroundings whereas rising up in Detroit, and drive to work with cities to extend fairness and enhance folks’s well being and wellbeing by way of design. Her chat with Cermak is featured on the podcast.
Excerpted from Monocle on Design:
On Her AIA 2024 Presidency:
“One of many causes I’m enthusiastic about being engaged with the AIA on the highest degree of management is our thrust towards social fairness and local weather motion. These are two issues that right here on the U.S. Convention of Mayors we’ve heard so much about. It’s nice to get reinforcement that we’re onto one thing with actual curiosity in and dedication to racial and gender fairness, in addition to sustainability – fostering sustainable development in cities, cities and all areas all through the world.”
On the Significance of Collaboration Between Architects and Mayors:
“Architects have the ability to assist mayors see and create a greater future. [They have] the power…to create a imaginative and prescient that different folks should purchase into. I believe that’s a giant a part of why structure is so worthwhile. Architects have the present of having the ability to bodily translate these ideas, concepts and wishes into shapes, varieties, buildings and different constructed interventions in order that the neighborhood, stakeholders and leaders can see what they’re going to expertise sooner or later.”
On the Worth of Repurposing Buildings:
“Our present buildings are a few of our best property. There’s a saying that essentially the most sustainable constructing is the one which already exists. I’m an enormous advocate of discovering methods to protect our present constructing inventory.
“In terms of altering hearts and minds about demolishing sure buildings or doing issues that might detract from the city constructed surroundings, it’s necessary that we inform the tales that amplify the worth [of that building]. That doesn’t essentially translate into {dollars} and cents, nevertheless it has this higher intrinsic worth. There’s an fairness story there. There’s a sustainability story there.”
On the Duty of Architects to Assist Cities:
“We’ve a lot potential inside our cities. How will we have a look at actually capturing these alternatives as an alternative of constructing outdoors of the town partitions? It’s necessary to know easy methods to be extra strategic with our sources, that are restricted.
“One of many issues I stated to the mayors [at the U.S. Conference of Mayors] yesterday was that ‘architects are the civic downside solvers you didn’t know you wanted.’ I need to advocate for architects and mayors to associate on fixing a few of our best issues: tackling blight; tackling emptiness; discovering methods to make sure that we’re defending the well being, security and welfare of the general public; addressing well being disparities; and, my private mission, enhancing the standard of individuals’s lives by design.”
Encouraging Variety in Structure:
“The constructed surroundings impacts everybody. It’s necessary that the designers who writer our current day and our future replicate the communities that we serve. That’s one of many the explanation why it’s so necessary that communities aren’t simply approached by folks from outdoors however there are influences from throughout the neighborhood. Having a variety of thought is necessary. That variety of thought additionally comes with variety relative to race, gender, ethnicity, faith…it’s worthwhile for architects to return from a really various array of views.”
