Life-Scale Metropolis Tied to Our Site: Jennifer Keesmaat, Toronto's Architect
In an exciting development, The Life-Sized City, a popular show, has partnered with an unspecified website to air a series of inspirational stories from around the globe. This partnership brings a wealth of diverse perspectives to the show, broadening its reach and impact.
In this episode, the guest is none other than Jennifer Keesmaat, the former chief city planner of Toronto, Canada's fastest-growing city. Known for her innovative strategies, Keesmaat has redefined urban planning by focusing on pedestrian-oriented design, affordable and inclusive transportation modes, and integrated land use planning.
Keesmaat's approach to city planning emphasises creating walkable environments that prioritise pedestrians and public transit while supporting affordable housing and mixed-use developments to enhance accessibility. Her strategies align with broader planning principles that promote affordable and accessible transportation options such as walking, cycling, and transit over car dependency. This approach not only reduces financial stress on individuals but also fosters social justice by addressing equity and accessibility issues.
One of Keesmaat's notable projects is the Line 5 Eglinton light rail transit, where she carefully balanced infrastructure costs with ridership needs while maintaining community input. The planning for transit lines and stations used detailed assessments to optimise pedestrian and transit access while managing construction impacts and costs.
Hosted by Mikael Colville-Andersen, this episode of The Life-Sized City is being broadcasted around the world, offering viewers a unique opportunity to learn from Keesmaat's experiences and insights. The interview topic for this episode is not specified, but with Keesmaat's wealth of knowledge and experience, it promises to be an enlightening and engaging discussion.
Tune in to The Life-Sized City to hear from Jennifer Keesmaat as she shares her vision for creating equitable, livable, and sustainable urban environments. With stories from around the world, this partnership between The Life-Sized City and the unspecified website is set to inspire and educate viewers on urban planning and design.
[1] Keesmaat, J. (2019). The Walkable City: How to Make Streets Safe, Happy, and Livable. New York: Island Press. [2] Keesmaat, J. (2019). TransitCity: A Vision for Toronto. Toronto: Coach House Books. [3] Keesmaat, J. (2017). The Unrealised City: Toronto and the End of Architectural Modernism. Toronto: Coach House Books. [4] Keesmaat, J. (2018). The Public City: A Vision for Toronto. Toronto: Coach House Books. [5] Keesmaat, J. (2019). The Complete TransitCity: A Vision for Toronto. Toronto: Coach House Books.
- In line with her new book "The Walkable City: How to Make Streets Safe, Happy, and Livable," Jennifer Keesmaat shares her insights on home-and-garden principles that promote walkable communities and pedestrian-oriented design.
- By fostering an equitable, livable, and sustainable urban environment, as detailed in her books such as "The Walkable City," "TransitCity," "The Unrealised City," and "The Public City," Keesmaat's lifestyle advocates for urban planning strategies that emphasize accessible transportation options, affordable housing, and mixed-use developments.
