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.

[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.

[swausgebouwen]

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.

[shehrlock]

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 !

[madara-fcki]

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

[IbizanHound]

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.

[lw]

Very inspirational talk! Especially for an architecture student.

[wikhidopediaarchitect.for.]

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

[chikientran]

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!

[kurtjensen]

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

[peterrobertnixon]

Start with just one street - what a great idea

[seasong]

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

[allessfyrdikaz]

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

[lunafairy]

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.

[DougGrinbergs]

Full-scale models in bold colors - how novel!

Having trouble finding Mierīgi project video she mentioned. (:-(

[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.

[IndigoPuma]

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

[lihuan]

Great Speech, learnt a lot from this.

[linmillson]

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.

[imaginemachine]

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.