Why is Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland considered one of the nicest public spaces to visit, while the Place de La Concorde in Paris is deemed a dismal failure?
Questions like this will be discussed at an upcoming lecture and day-long workshop at UVic put on by the New York organization called Project for Public Spaces, which is dedicated to creating public spaces that build community.
The sessions are aimed at urban and regional planners, architects, developers, community activists and others involved in the design of community spaces.
The sessions come at a time many area municipalities, including Saanich and Victoria, are discussing redevelopment of public parks and squares or the creation of new public spaces.
Experts will examine the qualities that make public spaces engaging, safe and lively.
A lecture called What Makes a Place Successful? will be held Thursday, Feb. 8, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Cost is $19.08.
It will be followed by a day-long workshop called Shaping Successful Places on Friday, Feb. 9, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost of the workshop is $265.
Both events are offered in co-operation with the City of Victoria, the District of Saanich, the Downtown Victoria Business Association, the Planning Institute of British Columbia, de Hoog and Kierulf Architects and D'Ambrosio architecture + urbanism.
To register call 472-4747, e-mail to register@uvcs.uvic.ca or online at www.continuingstudies.uvic.ca/register. Further information on these events is available at www.uvcs.uvic.ca/crmp under courses/workshops.