Architecture and Childhood: On structures of age and space

Amalie Lambert, Architecture
Monday, October 30, 8-9 pm

In the 20th century, ideas about children and families became a driving force in design, influencing the architecture of homes and schools, as well as the organization of the modern city. In Vancouver, the impact of child-centered thinking is particularly visible in housing projects and municipal legislation from the late 1980s and early 1990s, part of an urban approach now celebrated as ‘Vancouverism.’ Housing from this period addresses several of the ongoing challenges of urban density: how to live in close quarters, how to interact with strangers and neighbours, and how to connect to the outdoors. This talk will examine Vancouver case studies from that period, as well as current interdisciplinary research linking neighborhood design and children's development.

Amalie Lambert is a M.Arch student at UBC, with a B.Sc.Arch degree from McGill University. She has worked in the construction and management of playgrounds in Quebec and the UK, and is interested in the connections between history, policy and design.