Kia ora Koutou
I’m Carolina, and this is my little Maria. If you want to know about my professional experience, visit the people link to know more about it 🙂
I have some passions and a huge desire to share them with you. It took me a while to understand that my place was always pre-defined by the Placemaking profession. And I graduated from it, coincidentally. Because when you’re a teenager, you have no idea what a university is, and I ended up being happy with my choices. Let’s understand what this profession is!
The power of Placemaking: creating vibrant and inclusive spaces
Welcome to our newspaper! Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of Placemaking and exploring how it shapes quality spaces that attract people to live, work, play and learn. If you’ve ever wondered what makes a place truly special, with a strong sense of belonging and community, then you’ve come to the right place.
Placemaking is the art of creating spaces that respond to our human needs and desires. It goes beyond mere functionality and embraces the idea of designing places that promote connectivity, diversity and a sense of belonging. From mixed-use spaces to well-designed public areas, Placemaking projects span the entire environment, including considerations such as transportation access, preservation of historic structures, and respect for community heritage.
Creating Welcoming Spaces: Quality venues created through Placemaking are not only visually appealing, but also embody public art and prioritize human-scale design. These spaces are inviting, allowing for authentic experiences and encouraging civic engagement. Accessibility, comfort and friendliness are key aspects, allowing people to easily connect and establish meaningful bonds.
The Magic Formula: Creating a strong sense of place involves finding the perfect balance of physical form, function, and purpose. By carefully combining a mix of uses and functions, Placemaking generates positive activity and contributes to the economic prosperity of nearby businesses. The interplay between structure, training, response and end result determines a place’s strength and impact in its community.
Placemaking is a powerful force that can transform ordinary spaces into vibrant and inclusive environments. By adopting its principles, we can create places where people feel a deep sense of belonging and where communities thrive. Join us as we explore the many aspects of Placemaking and unlock the secrets to creating remarkable spaces that enrich our lives.
Rebuilding the City: Health Professionals Call for Action
Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy addressed the issue of loneliness and isolation in the United States, comparing it to a national health concern. Factors like declining religiosity and the rise of social media have contributed to increased loneliness. The pandemic exacerbated these issues, affecting nearly everyone to some degree.
The report emphasizes the importance of rebuilding the social infrastructure of communities. While planning plays a role in promoting social connections through outdoor spaces and transportation, there is a need for a cohesive vision in pandemic recovery. Public spaces have suffered, and social issues like mental health, addiction, and homelessness have worsened. Building kindness, respect, and commitment to one another is essential in cultivating social connections.
It would be beneficial if the federal government provided financial support for community events to help heal and bring people together. The aftermath of the pandemic has been challenging, impacting social and emotional well-being. Traffic safety is not solely a design issue but also influenced by our social and emotional health.
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Murthy’s vision encourages individuals to get involved in their communities and build healthy social ties. Those working in planning can contribute to creating a healthier social infrastructure of community alongside dedicated individuals.
Creating an Inclusive and Safe Urban Environment: Enhancing City Accessibility for Women
In this publication, I intend to explore the importance of creating more inclusive and safe urban spaces, meeting the needs of women, including mothers and adolescents, and emphasising the importance of improving city accessibility to ensure a safe and comfortable experience, contributing to a more inclusive and empowering urban environment.
Improving security in urban spaces requires a comprehensive approach. It involves enhancing infrastructure aspects such as public lighting to eliminate hidden or dark areas and promoting community involvement to encourage a collective sense of responsibility for safety. In addition, urban planning should include the creation of well-maintained, visible and inviting public spaces, allowing women to feel safe and confident when moving around the city.
Creating an inclusive city involves focusing on the specific needs of mothers with children and girls and providing them with affordable and safe transport options. It includes designing pathways that accommodate strollers, implementing barrier-free design, improving environmentally friendly public transport, and prioritising people over cars. By improving city accessibility, women can participate fully in urban life and ensure their right to safe and convenient mobility.
Involving communities in urban planning is vital to creating inclusive cities. Encouraging participatory approaches such as community workshops, surveys, and consultations can provide valuable insight into women’s experiences and needs. Collaboration with local organisations, community leaders and advocacy groups can bridge the gap between urban planning initiatives and women’s experiences, leading to more effective and sustainable solutions.
Creating more inclusive and safe cities for women, including mothers with children, or even a simple safe bus ride for girls, requires a holistic approach that addresses safety issues and improves city accessibility. By improving lighting, transportation and infrastructure and involving communities in planning, we can create welcoming and inclusive urban spaces and empower women to move freely and confidently.
This publication serves as a call to action for urban planners, policymakers and stakeholders to work towards creating cities that prioritise the well-being and safety of all women.
Turn empty spaces into busy areas
For us: Unleash the transformative power of vacant mall spaces by turning them into vibrant pop-up centres of creativity. This innovative approach breathes new life into our communities, attracting customers and driving economic growth. By repurposing these empty stores as temporary venues for art exhibitions, local markets, interactive workshops, and cultural events, we create dynamic spaces that captivate and inspire residents and visitors alike. This collaborative effort fosters a sense of community pride and active participation, propelling our neighbourhoods’ overall improvement and development.
For your business: Seize a unique opportunity to unlock your business’s full potential by embracing the concept of transforming vacant mall spaces into vibrant pop-up centres of creativity. Engage with a captive audience of enthusiastic customers drawn to these pop-up spaces’ dynamic and experiential nature. Curated events and innovative experiences generate a surge in foot traffic, translating into increased sales, heightened brand visibility, and valuable networking opportunities. Participating in this community-driven initiative demonstrates a commitment to revitalising the local economy and strengthening community bonds. Embrace the possibilities of these pop-up spaces to elevate your business and contribute to the overall improvement and prosperity of the surrounding community.
Empowering Urban Spaces: A Journey in Architecture and Community Development
In pursuing architecture and urban planning, I quickly realised that the scope of projects extends beyond design. A profound understanding of the city’s intricacies is fundamental to enhancing community well-being. Thus, I embarked on a journey of research and practical exploration, spanning diverse countries across Europe, states in Brazil, and regions such as Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Australia.
The genesis of my aspiration to contribute to New Zealand can be traced to the aftermath of earthquakes, trauma, and the intricate process of colonising. These experiences taught me the importance of placing community needs at the forefront of every project. It became apparent that weaving a sense of identity and belonging into contemporary urban design is paramount, regardless of the city’s context.
Presently, my endeavours are centred around crafting transformative projects in collaboration with various groups within the city, all aimed at elevating the quality of urban life.
I’ve instituted a series of culturally rooted workshops to actualise this vision. These workshops inspire creativity and understanding, fostering profound communication among participants. The culmination of these efforts is a culminating event showcasing the fruits of these workshops. This event fosters deeper connections within the community and cultivates a richer appreciation and comprehension of one another.
Through these endeavours, I am dedicated to orchestrating positive change within urban landscapes, enriching the lives of those who inhabit them. As I continue on this path, I remain steadfast in my commitment to making our cities more livable, vibrant, and harmonious.
Empowering Immigrant Women through Brazilian Culture
Our Amazing Journey:
Hey there, beautiful folks! We’re over the moon to share the fantastic journey of our project, “Embracing Immigrant Women through Brazilian Culture.” Buckle up because this was one unforgettable ride!
The Lowdown:
Our mission was crystal clear: to lift immigrant women, sprinkle some well-being magic, and create a tight-knit community, all wrapped up in the colourful world of Brazilian culture. Think of it as a recipe for awesomeness with four main ingredients:
Boosting Well-being: We’re all about that total well-being package! We dished out various activities and workshops covering physical, mental, and social health.
Building Bonds: It’s all about the sisterhood (and a little brotherhood, too)! We have folks mingling and forming connections likely to last a lifetime.
Getting Groovy with Brazil: Brazilian culture became our muse, inspiring everyone to explore its vibrant and diverse flavours.
The Greatest Hits:
What made our project extra special? It’s got to be how it evolved based on what the community wanted. Drumroll, please! The dance workshops became the show’s superstar, proving that magic happens when the community leads.
Impact and Beyond:
But this wasn’t just a project; it was a movement. We tackled racism head-on, bringing cultures closer and celebrating our beautiful differences. The love for Brazilian culture grew more assertive, too.
Mission Accomplished: You betcha, this project was a wild success! Our immigrant sisters and brothers are feeling empowered, our community is thriving, and we’re riding the wave of a job well done.
As we wrap up this chapter, we want to send a massive shout-out to all who joined us on this journey. Your support, your energy, and your passion made it all possible.
Keep your antennas up for our next adventures because we’re not done yet! Together, we’ll keep lifting each other.
We want to give a massive shout-out to our incredible partners at the Canterbury Refugee Resettlement and Resource Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand.
This project wouldn’t have been possible without their generous funding. Their mission is all about promoting well-being within the community, and we’re thrilled to have their support. 🙌🌟
Date: From 08 July 2023 until 30 September, every Saturday
Location: Phillipstown Community Hub
Time: From 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Event: same local from 12 noon to 4:00 pm
Artecture 