A new perspective on developing shared joy in urban spaces.
Our divided society is quickly reaching crisis level. We are no longer able to sustain social and economic prosperity nor ensure democracy. Fuelling this crisis is a growing sense of social isolation caused by the divisive nature of social media and the decline of infrastructure that used to bring communities together.
But there is hope for rebuilding our collaborative society, and it is found in our mid-sized urban areas. These towns and cities offer a scale that can tangibly change the quality of our lives and an intimacy that allows us to influence what our communities can become. Changing cities can change the world!
In The Joy Experiments, real estate developer Scott Higgins and creative mind Paul Kalbfleisch use their own mid-sized city-building experiences to present a new way for citizens to engage with their city, and an urban planning strategy that prioritizes infrastructure for the human spirit.
Our divided society is quickly reaching crisis level. We are no longer able to sustain social and economic prosperity nor ensure democracy. Fuelling this crisis is a growing sense of social isolation caused by the divisive nature of social media and the decline of infrastructure that used to bring communities together.
But there is hope for rebuilding our collaborative society, and it is found in our mid-sized urban areas. These towns and cities offer a scale that can tangibly change the quality of our lives and an intimacy that allows us to influence what our communities can become. Changing cities can change the world!
In The Joy Experiments, real estate developer Scott Higgins and creative mind Paul Kalbfleisch use their own mid-sized city-building experiences to present a new way for citizens to engage with their city, and an urban planning strategy that prioritizes infrastructure for the human spirit.
Authors
Melissa Mongiat, Paul Kalbfleisch, Scott Higgins, Mouna Andraos
- Pages
- 224
- Published in
- Toronto, CA
Table of Contents
- Cover 1
- Title 5
- Copyright 4
- A Note from the Authors 11
- Contents 12
- Foreword 15
- Before You Begin 17
- Introduction: Because Cities Are Important 18
- One: Under Attack: The Decline of the City Habitat 22
- Two: The Redesign of "We" 36
- Three: Starting the Journey 46
- Four: Bring Your Own City 56
- Five: Cities that Offer Joy Win 70
- Six: The Elevator Pitch of a City 82
- Seven: You Attract What You Celebrate: Learning How to Claim Our Identity 98
- Eight: The Yardstick Is Youth 114
- Nine: Experimental Journeys: Eliminating Old Ideas that Obstruct New Ones 126
- Ten: There Is Nothing Wrong with a Big Idea 136
- Eleven: Fifty Bright Ideas Are Better Than One 150
- Twelve: The Streets Should Be Free 164
- Thirteen: Becoming a Congregation 176
- Fourteen: The 15-Minute City: How Can We Get There from Here? 190
- Fifteen Community Is the New Faith 202
- In Closing: Joy Is Practical 212
- Acknowledgements 217
- Appendix: The Joy Shift: A New Model for Thinking About, Designing, and Building Cities Differently 219
- About the Authors and Illustrator 225
