Commonly used and designed open spaces are anchor points in the city and a possible response to the consequences of urbanization and climate change, as well as to the presence of social and cultural differences. Urban Open Space + Strategies in between Architecture and Open Space Planning, edited by Dr. Carolin Mees, provides a unique interdisciplinary discourse of scientific texts and opinion papers by international experts depicting the diversity of add-ons from a range of micro- and macro-perspectives, and offering strategies for collaborative, multi-coded urban spaces at the intersection of architecture and open space planning. This book explores the role of add-ons in urban open spaces: specific components for the production of food, water, energy and materials, as well as for economic and social resources. Urban Open Space + Strategies asks how these added elements create more resilient and sustainable urban spaces by responding to the needs and preferences of residents and by forming connections to the surrounding urban environment. 

Join us for a discussion with the authors of this important new work. The event will begin with an overview of the volume, followed by short readings by several chapter authors, focusing on urban agriculture, urban open spaces, and participatory design. The author readings will be followed by a moderated panel and questions from the audience.

The panel will be moderated by Dr. Carolin Mees, Part-Time Assistant Professor in the Food Studies Program at the Schools of Public Engagement and at Parsons School of Design at The New School and introduced by Dr. Kristin Reynolds, Chair of Food Studies within the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students.

Speakers

• Dr. Nevin Cohen, Associate Professor, City University of New York (CUNY), School of Public Health and Director, CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute, New York, NY will speak on Crisis Farming 2020-21.

• Dr. June Komisar, Professor and Associate Chair at the Department of Architectural Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada will speak on The Edible Park

• Prof. Gundula Proksch, Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture and Director of the Circular City and Living Systems Lab, University of Washington, Seattle, USA will speak on Productive Urban Open Spaces: Water, Energy, and Organic Materials for the Circular City

• Dr. Mark Gorgolewski, Professor and Chair of the Department of Architectural Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada will speak on Building from Waste

• Dr. Anne Bellows, Professor of Food Studies, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY and Dr. Carolin Mees, Part-Time Assistant Professor at the School of Public Engagement and Parsons School Design at The New School will speak on Neighborhood Resistance and Participatory Design: Toward a Human Right to Garden

This event is part of the Fall 2021 Food Studies event series “Food and the Public.”