Architect's hands: how can we design better streets | Evelina Ozola | TEDxRiga

In her TEDxRiga talk, Evelīna Ozola speaks about the importance of the street as a public space and ways of reclaiming it. Evelīna comes up with an attractive and thought-provoking method of prototyping street space and involving the society in the designing process of it.
Evelina Ozola is a practicing architect who likes to get her hands dirty by trying out her in crowded streets of Riga. She has worked as an architect and urban designer at “SVESMI” in Rotterdam and “MADE arhitekti” in Riga.
Next to design work, for the last 7 years Evelina has been writing for online and printed press, and is currently responsible for the Latvian creative industries website FOLD. Together with Toms Kokins, she runs design studio Fine Young Urbanists, a practice that mainly operates in the field of tactical urbanism.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@ZacharySalman]

I have been accepted to Cornell University for Urban and Regional Planning, I love the ideas presented here. When I visit a city, I don't care about the iconic buildings. I care about the ordinary buildings, the people, and the street life.

[@SWEmanque]

Cool! Do pay a lot of attention to streets and roads. It seem like it is often forgotten just how important it is, even among the people working with it every day. Most focus is put on the buildings, but a bad building with a good street can be better than a good building with a bad street.

[@johanwittens7712]

In the Netherlands, and the last decades in Belgium too, we've been putting these ideas into practice. And they've been proven to work many times over. Give the streets back to people, design public space for people and not cars, and the city comes alive again with human life and interaction. The car had been the death of the city and city life. The only way to revive a city is to get rid of motor traffic as much as possible. Not entirely, but as much as possible. But what most people don't realise is that it is far more possible than they think...

[@swausgebouwen143]

I have finally watched this video in my watch later. Amazing team. I dont think I realised precisely WHAT urban design was, how many opportunities they can have. When they set up the light-blue mock-up of their new street proportions, it reminded me of humans putting out a cardboard box and a cat instantly moving in; what a powerful profession, to nudge human behaviour like that.

[@shehrlock5780]

one step at a time ONE STREET AT A TIME. Loved everything about this Ted Talk.

[@rosasuee]

It's a bit of shame that we don't comment any of an Anthropologist's contribution in this type of urban project ! A specialist of observing and interpreting people's daily life in proximity, anthropologist's point of view in urban planning is just exactly what suggests Evelina in this Talk. Currently involving in urban project with biologists, architects, the talk was not something very new for one from this discipline, but it brought me to convince for myself the role of anthropologist in our interdisciplinary project. Thank you for the talk !

[@IbizanHound2]

The first 5 mins of this talk felt like someone was reading my mind!! I have no relation to urban planning , besides being really interested in it, and to hear the same observations I've made as a citizen, coming from an urban planner on a TEDtalk makes the disappointment that cities make me feel, a little bit more bearable. I am glad its not just me who has noticed how bare and sad most city streets are. Especially the ones that are meant for the masses. I wish more people would care about the way streets look and not consider it as something trivial. What is the point of people congregating into a city, if it results in turning that city into be a dystopic urban center? Governments, mayors and urban planners should take more care when planning cities, and consider more the human phychology of the citizens and not just maximizing rates, performance and profits.

[@johanwittens7712]

As soon as, as a government and city planner, you start treating the street as a destination in itself instead of just a way to get from a to b, the street comes alive again and people will want to be there and use it...

[@madara-fc4ki]

This is the best ted talk I've seen in a while. Thank you for your work and contribution to the world!

[@kurtjensen7264]

I was born in Denmark on the island of FYN our downtown has a walking straight and is frequented with storekeepers putting their wares on the sidewalks and people walking on the streets also restaurants put out their table and chairs on the sidewalks so I know what you're talking about and I look forward to your results

[@lw6131]

Very inspirational talk! Especially for an architecture student.

[@TipLovingPrincess]

I want to become one but how do I know it’s right I’ve changed my mind so many times about what I want to pursue academically

[@johanwittens7712]

@@TipLovingPrincess If you're interested in architecture, look up some great architects like le Corbusier, mies Vanden rohe, OMA, ... That will get you started on what modern architecture is about and will lead you to other modernists and more modern architects. But go in depth. Look at their publications, studies, what they do. Don't just look at the pretty pictures of their finished buildings on the web. Look at their design process. And if that's too much for you, but you simply want to learn about the design process of architecture, I advise looking at "form, space, and order" by Francis d.k. Ching. It's basically a Bible of how to work with form and space to create architecture. I used it to learn how to design as an architect myself, and I use it in my classes to this day. It is a very good introduction into the world of architectural design... If this book speaks to you and looks interesting to you, architecture or interior design are for you. If this book doesn't interest you or captivate you, architecture or interior design probably aren't for you.

[@TipLovingPrincess]

Johan Wittens thanks for the awesome suggestions I can’t wait to dive deep into it

[@johanwittens7712]

@@TipLovingPrincess There's probably many more suggestions and other people might suggest other things, but for me Ching was the introduction into true architectural design... I too was completely oblivious to what architecture was really about when I went to university. But it turned out to be something that really interested me, and captivated me. So I understand your hesitation. And even though I studied architecture, I'm a teacher now who prefers to do more drawing, painting and graphical printing than actual architecture. And many former fellow students went in other directions too, like arts, theater stage design, urban planning, working for a large architecture firm, and so on. Some end up doing urban experiments in city planning and making ted talks about it... :) So rest assured, since architecture is a master's degree, it leaves you many options once you graduate. You can add a doctorate, add another master on urban planning, and so on... It's not because you studied architecture you're stuck for life working as an architect. At least not here in Europe...

[@TipLovingPrincess]

Johan Wittens you’ve been a true help to be honest ive had so many questions as too what I’d be going into but I know I love being creative and get ideas that I must draw or explain in detail as best as possible to create and mental image

[@peterrobertnixon2243]

Start with just one street - what a great idea

[@johanwittens7712]

Start with one street, but do make it policy. That's how the Dutch got their cycling infra. Make it universal policy, and as soon as a street is renovated, make it confirm to the new standard. And in a matter of a decade or two, you have extensive infrastructure for biking, walking and people again...

[@chikientran8742]

I'm in love with architect, city planning since high school but due to some problems I have to choose Marketing. I wish I got a chance I would have chosen City-planning related major :( This idea is just lovely!

[@arin2250]

You can still take it as a grad student!! They have programs all over the world where you can join even with a different undergraduate major.

[@wikhidopediaarchitect.for.3045]

The best TED talks so far especially on Architecture and Urban Design topics

[@seasong7655]

This woman knows what she is talking about, wish she would also work in Germany

[@allessfyrdikaz1482]

Best talk about urban streets conversion i heard so far! Thank you!

[@SadiqulIslamShehab]

Brilliant talk indeed!

[@DougGrinbergs]

Full-scale models in bold colors - how novel! Having trouble finding Mierīgi project video she mentioned. (:-(

[@user-ip3mr1vx8i]

Good lecture!

[@isamali1976]

That was amazing ! thank you

[@lihuan5696]

Great Speech, learnt a lot from this.

[@lunafairy18]

τι υπέροχη που είσαι! This is absolutely making so much sense to what a lot of young architects that are underestimated or mislead of how architecture becomes so essential in this materialistic world of add-riddled realm that impudently neglets public space quality in order to promote the solution private unhumanising constructions and mega-structures. We need space we need contact with individuals and spaces that worth our attention to get us out of the technocratic world we already live in.

[@liamaula8868]

one of my favourite talks on urban planning, where i can find more info about the summer school program?

[@ed9910]

Love it!

[@ahriahnamoon6237]

YES 🙌!!! 💚💚💚

[@davidbasset7557]

this was awesome

[@casheddy8922]

Cool lady, awesome work!

[@allardfreichmann3733]

People first. Get cities car free.

[@TratiPL]

Allard Freichmann Right. Why can't everybody just use public transport? It's more efficent, cheaper and it don't hurt the enviroment as much as cars.

[@ddan7538]

@@TratiPL american dream

[@anirbanpatra3017]

Great Calmness

[@triphide]

15:20 "we teach them that (...) urbanism is not just the space between buildings." I was wondering how unusual it was that she did not mention Jan Gehl at any point, now I wonder if it was intentional. I'm merely speculating here, but she did not mention Jane Jacobs either which makes it appear for those that are new to the subject that she is a pioneering architect/urbanist to notice or care about how to analyze and improve our streets and public spaces through pilot projects. I like the speech though, the point she makes are good and it is lovely too see the commitment in building all these pilot projects. I just would like a more open picture of the field she is describing. Letting people know about her influences, where she got her knowledge from, it would make her seem more humble, honest and trustworthy, because I'm sure she is all of those things.

[@myell5735]

She is defending ideas, not placing herself as an original thinker. Talking about every author that initiated these ideas would have made this more of an urban history lecture than a TED talk, where you need to make your speech short, easy to follow and understandable for people who do not have a formation on the subject. Sure, mentioning Jane Jacobs and Gehl would have been necessary in university; but here, probably not.

[@saranbhatia8809]

Way to go!

[@user-lc5my2ey5v]

❤

[@sree_raj7567]

😍

[@keleniengaluafe2600]

❤❤❤❤

[@linmillson7882]

as long as cars, trucks, motorcycles, buses etc. are wizzing 10 feet away loud and stinky and fast, no amount of benches, trees, tables and bicycle lanes will help you relax.

[@johanwittens7712]

Narrower streets automatically make drivers slow down. So taking space away from cars also helps calm and slow traffic, making the environment more pleasant. It's been done before and it works. The Dutch are experts on traffic calming measures. In my city too the entire city center has a speed limit of 30km/h, and quite a lot of streets are designed to prevent people from driving faster than that. One measure enforces another. Taking away space from cars and giving it to bikes reduces traffic. This makes the environment more pleasing and reinforces the higher appeal of the redesigned street. All these arguments have been made before decades ago in the Netherlands, and since the 90s in my country too whenever measures and redesigns like this were proposed. And every time they've been proven wrong. Traffic calming works, taking space away from cars works, giving it back to people and bikes works, and so on...

[@JezzaFX]

Nice

[@renzomarsanochumbez3571]

E X T R A O R D I N A R Y thanks

[@janissipkovs]

7 gadi jau!

[@DougGrinbergs]

9:00 urban prototyping: collective imagining

[@imaginemachine4317]

Super nice examples on how to regenerate life in the cities. As Jane Jacobs explained, sidewalks are theater stage for ballet dance, and youve imagined a nice stage. Surely inspiring! I'm sorry to criticize the way you delivered your speech. It made me nervous, but I dont know why? Maybe you were also nervous while presenting this. Your voice is rumbling.

[@davidbasset7557]

thats common for people who dont speak english as their first language. i was actually impressed with her delivery but i get what you mean

[@johanwittens7712]

Jane Jacobs was one of my favorites while studying architecture and urban planning. It's amazing she's been almost completely ignored for so long in the us...

[@isalewis722]

@@johanwittens7712 weird because she wrote about the US

[@johanwittens7712]

@@isalewis722 Yep but many of her ideas were based on traditional, organically grown urban environments like those found in traditional European cities. And even when she was talking about the us she often used the older east coast cities as examples (like NY), and used the traditional local neighbourhood with it's smaller scale and walkability as an example for how to develop new neighbourhoods and cities. It's no surprise she used NY city as an example when it too used to have much smaller locally oriented neighbourhoods, streets for people not cars, and so on. To this day NY is the city with the highest percentage of people not owning a car in the USA (around 45% i think). It's no surprise she loved studying NY for example, and even for someone not living in the USA, NY is super interesting to study. It was basically a people oriented city with great public transit before WW2, and was completely car-ified after WW2 with entire neighbourhoods levelled or being cut through to make way for highways and car traffic... If you look at old maps of new Amsterdam Colony and then later new York, you'll see it very much used to have a traditional city center. Even though that's been gone since the 1800s, you can still feel this in the more chaotic road patterns, overall smaller narrower streets, and smaller block sizes of the tip of Manhattan. But I digress...

[@isalewis722]

Love to hate le Corbussier. That alone would have made me like this

[@kayem3824]

The livelier cities are multi-cultural.

[@samibichumani1176]

Indian Streets Left the Chat

[@edgars5531]

Ceru, ka drīz visa Miera iela būs tāda, kā tas paraugs.

[@eugentomas1922]

Hahaha, i nearly die in Latvia, because i cannot get any job and i get sick so much how i has stay in bed allmost time with hard pain from a lots of sick. I get chance for moove in UK, here i will get extra 15 years for survival. Here is also amazing hard to living because all jobs is so hard how that jobs kill my health, and from NHS i got 0% of help. But anyway UK have jobs, crazy hard, but have jobs in UK. in The same time when in Latvia i cannot find any job. This mean UK is 1 billion times better then Latvia. But i will need moove again in another country for survive. And that will-be most difficult for me, but i think if my brother has moove, then i also should do it.

[@ricardskurba]

Yet Miera street is still the same with parking spaces on sidewalks 🙄

[@mba2ceo]

exploiters DO NOT want the slaves to interact !!!

[@____________________K]

its only work in europe . . .

[@johanwittens7712]

Actually it totally doesn't. Many examples of all over the world where things like this work just fine. Even in the US it works. Just saw a documentary the other day of how neighbourhoods in NY are now using the covid crisis to reclaim parts of the roads to use then for public space, terraces, greenery. And it's bringing the streets to life again there too. It works everywhere. We've been building our cities for people and not cars for 7000 years. And it worked for 7000 years. And it works now.

[@CercoUnCentro]

street are about local amministration not architects

[@dara_1989]

roads w/o footpath .. should be illegal

[@nikk7619]

there is problem with banning cars from the cities... because there are people in those cars... so effectively you are banning people from cities i don't drive my car to the city everyday because i want to kill the environment, i drive, in fact i car pool with 2 people, i drive because its faster than public transit, and much cheaper Cars are the best mode of transportation, and i strongly believe we need to change the car format rather than just ban them. google: Tango T600 this is the size cars should be: 1 Person car draw your own conclusions on how much throughput this can achieve

[@akgupta94]

make transit better so it isnt slower than the far

[@nassimback]

ok i just have to say this : WTF are you wearing ?