Claude Cormier was one of our great landscape architects. How can we preserve his work? And what can it teach us about public space? www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/5208e12... - ThreadSky

alexbozikovic.bsky.social • 4 days ago

Claude Cormier was one of our great landscape architects. How can we preserve his work? And what can it teach us about public space? https://www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/5208e122e460c436e748f8b9681c5f871eaf70ef2d7f6d32c0338e8e95eff563/CN77VBMUORERTJOT5FENOOQMNM/

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alexbozikovic.bsky.social•4 days ago

“In his parks, there are places to sit. There is shade. There are usually big trees. There’s something to look at – a colourful spectacle to be appreciated alongside other people. He delivered these fundamentals (which are often neglected) along with technical expertise and a huge dash of wit."

alexbozikovic.bsky.social•4 days ago

His magic "is hard to reproduce. But the simpler aspects of Cormier’s method are not; they are the recipe of every good big-city park... Seating, including movable chairs. Shade. Water, where possible. Plants that are well-chosen and protected."

Why do we keep getting this wrong?

kestra.bsky.social•4 days ago

Because of NIMBY/cop objection to having a place for people to linger. That's why: fear of unhoused people/"drug deals". I lived by a small park that had all benches removed for those reasons. It was useless until an artist did a guerilla bench installation. 1/2

kestra.bsky.social•4 days ago

Then the city got involved and it was redesigned with stupid little "pod" seats that were angle so you couldn't even sit, just perch, and placed apart so no one could sleep on them. Hard poured concrete surface (and some nice rain gardens) so no one could dig up the bricks to throw/steal. 2/2

alexbozikovic.bsky.social•4 days ago

Build the Cat Promenade. https://bsky.app/profile/alexbozikovic.bsky.social/post/3ljpusiudts2z

joelleondanis.bsky.social•3 days ago

This needs to happen, even if their needs to be private fundraising to make it happen.

alexbozikovic.bsky.social•3 days ago

Damn straight.

kristaelliott.bsky.social•4 days ago

I LOVED this park when we visited Toronto. What a delightful little gem!

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