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Wednesday November 23, 2022

November 23, 2022 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday November 23, 2022

Humanizing The Way Cities Are Built

Remember when you rented or bought your first apartment? Maybe it was a small studio, or perhaps you roomed with a few friends. The location mattered—maybe being close to nightlife was mandatory. As time went on, your need for nightlife dimmed in favour of a bigger apartment for the family in the suburbs.

November 9, 2022

Imagine buying space in a building as part of a community with shared spaces and opportunities to interact with others. You don’t have to move as your life changes. Instead, your space changes to suit your needs. Initially, you may want a lot of open space and just a small kitchen. When your partner moves in, you reconfigure your space and replace a minimalistic kitchen with a fully functional kitchen where you and your partner cook together. Then, you create one more bedroom and add a bath. You stay in the same community and the same space, but your space adjusts as your life evolves.

This is the world of modular living in the making.

When I was growing up in Warsaw, Poland, modular construction was a synonym for high-cost, low-quality construction and tasteless, cookie-cutter neighbuorhoods. Now, modular construction and business models can give us unique, soulful living as part of a community, where our surroundings evolve with us. Modular construction is attractive, cost-effective and sustainable.

May 7, 2014

Globally, over half of humans already live in cities, and by 2100 the figure is expected to rise to 85% (or to about 9 billion people). This change can place strain on the small patches of land cities occupy. Can we live in cities but still stay connected to nature? As Neri Oxman discussed in a recent podcast, urban and natural, convenience and community do not have to be mutually exclusive. And modular construction plays a key role in accomplishing such a balance.

So, what’s the formula for the most sustainable and livable urban future? In my view, we need to start with modernizing and adapting existing buildings to future needs, balancing old charm and new conveniences, integrating nature and creating communities. When we end up building new structures, we can take advantage of modular construction and innovative building methods and tools to construct them more efficiently and to build in modularity from the start.

August 12, 2022

Are you drawn to older, historic buildings with their “lumps and bumps”? The quirks of these old buildings captivate us and draw us in. When we feel an emotional connection to a building, we cherish it and want to maintain and evolve it while preserving its character.

Eighty-five percent to 95% of the buildings that exist today will still be standing in 2050. It is not uncommon to upgrade buildings, especially office spaces, that are just seven years old. Especially now, many developers and tenants look for ways to entice employees to come to offices to collaborate and innovate. Thus, they implement new technologies and boost energy efficiency. Increasingly, however, they also build flexibility into their design, anticipating a building’s evolution and thus preserving its value, making it future-proof.

A people-centric view of construction results in buildings that are more flexible, affordable and personal. The most functional residential buildings are customizable to our needs at every stage in our lives. Modular construction and buildings bring a multitude of benefits, including reduced waste, speedy building, cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness and flexibility.

May 12, 2022

Modular construction is both profitable and sustainable: The market is projected to grow from $76 billion in 2021 to $115 billion in 2028.

One big benefit of the modular home approach is that it addresses the need for affordable housing. “Expandable” house projects are built from local, inexpensive materials and are designed for changeable configurations. Some modular housing can expand horizontally and vertically (up to three stories) and features resources such as safe roof-water harvesting, green electricity and Wi-Fi.

Forward-thinking architects are designing buildings that respond to external circumstances, such as this “operable, interactive village hut” in China that opens and closes depending on the temperature. In Helsinki, Little Finland was built to serve as a temporary modular conference space during a three-year renovation of the neighboring Finlandia Hall. This adaptable space will be repurposed for new uses after the renovation is complete.

December 1, 2021

The construction industry is currently responsible for 38% of overall greenhouse gas emissions. Modular building projects can significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions because they’re typically completed 30% to 50% faster than traditional construction.

We all want to feel connected and have a sense of belonging to where we live. Our living spaces don’t have to be our bespoke castles; they can integrate us into vibrant communities. Our homes should evolve as our needs evolve, bond us with our history and keep us emotionally connected to nature. Welcome to the future of construction—welcome to the future of living. (Forbes)

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro … These sped up clips are posted to encourage others to be creative, to take advantage of the technology many of us already have and to use it to produce satire. Comfort the afflicted. Afflict the comforted.

https://mackaycartoons.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022-1123-ONTlong.mp4
Posted in: Canada, International, Ontario Tagged: 2022-39, design, developer, development, Doug Ford, greenbelt, housing, Ontario, sprawl, suburbs

Saturday December 9, 2017

December 8, 2017 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday December 9, 2017

 

Posted in: Canada Tagged: christmas, design, healthy, interior, kale, skinny, tree, trends, xmas

Friday August 25, 2017

August 24, 2017 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday August 25, 2017

Concept Designs unveiled for Pier 8 Promenade Park?

The City of Hamilton has released the six shortlisted designs for the Pier 8 Promenade Park. The public will be able to comment on the proposals after an official unveiling is held Thursday afternoon.

The concepts, part of a contest to design the park, will be assessed by a volunteer jury that will select the winning project based on “design excellence, innovation, response to the vision and goals for the park, and community opinions.”

The six design concepts are found here. 

The winning project will be announced in late September. The jury decision-making process will be explained in a report after the winner is announced.

The park is part of the Pier 7 and 8 Urban Design Study, with the competition being funded by a $185,000 donation from the Patrick J. McNally Charitable Foundation. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Posted in: Hamilton Tagged: bike, concept, design, Hamilton, paths, pedestrian, promenade park, scooter, walking, waterfront

Friday October 12, 2012

October 12, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Friday October 12, 2012

Stadium saga draws to a close

After half-a-dozen potential sites and years of political turmoil and debates that pitted neighbourhoods against one another, Hamiltonians are about to see the stadium that caused so much heartache.

TO2015, the organizing committee for the Pan Am Games, will announce the design of Hamilton’s new stadium Friday. Games officials, as well as representatives from the city, the province and the federal government will officially unveil the details of the $150-million soccer and football field at 2 p.m. at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

The Spectator has learned that Bouygues Building Canada Inc. and Kenaidan Contracting Ltd. beat the two other shortlisted contracting firms and will be in charge of building Hamilton’s stadium, Milton’s velodrome and a stadium at York University.

While Friday’s announcement marks the kickoff of one the biggest construction projects Hamilton has seen in recent years, it’s also tinged with the frustration that has permeated the process.

Councillors, who agreed to put $45 million toward the project, will meet with officials from Infrastructure Ontario (IO) Friday at 10 a.m. for a high-level briefing. However, IO won’t reveal the renderings of the new stadium or the full details of the project until the 2 p.m. news conference at Ivor Wynne.

Some councillors say they won’t attend Friday’s announcement, either due to scheduling conflicts or because of discomfort about the way the process has unfolded. Councillors on the Pan Am stadium subcommittee were forced to sign confidentiality agreements, and the rest of council — along with the constituents they represent — will be in the dark until IO reveals the details to the public. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Posted in: Hamilton Tagged: design, eyewear, Games, Hamilton, Pan Am, protective, stadium, unveiling

Wednesday February 4, 2009

February 4, 2009 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday February 4, 2009

Councillors OK City Hall ‘wow’ factor

City Hall is closer to having an extra $2-million “wow” factor.

Glorious architecture gallery

Councillors on the public works committee voted 5-3 yesterday to add to the project’s $74-million budget to create a glass enclosure in the building’s forecourt.

“I think it’s critically important that we get this right,” said Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who believes the money is well spent to create a “wow” factor. “Let’s not be a penny wise and a pound foolish.”

The enclosure below the council chambers was previously approved by the renovations committee and must still go to council.

Councillor Bob Bratina said the city is kidding itself if it believes the indoor space will make City Hall more of a gathering place.

“I don’t see the value in spending that money,” he said, adding City Hall has never been welcoming.

“It’s just a forlorn place beside a highway.”

Councillor Chad Collins, who joined Bratina and Sam Merulla in opposing the project, said he’d rather see the money spent on other infrastructure work. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

 

Posted in: Hamilton Tagged: architecture, care, city hall, design, fish tank, green house, Hamilton, reno, renovation, show room, smoking, wow factor

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This website contains satirical commentaries of current events going back several decades. Some readers may not share this sense of humour nor the opinions expressed by the artist. To understand editorial cartoons it is important to understand their effectiveness as a counterweight to power. It is presumed readers approach satire with a broad minded foundation and healthy knowledge of objective facts of the subjects depicted.

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