Champlain Room, Second Floor, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West

This in-person lecture is being held in a City facility and will follow proper COVID Protocols.

Urban Forum is very excited to invite you to attend our first in-person lecture in 3 years.

Michael von Hausen will present the key ingredients to developing next-generation public realm design that embraces both the past and the future. Based on his most recent book: Public Realm: The Next Makers Handbook (Tellwell, 2022) and through extensive illustrations and examples, he will provide both the theoretical foundation and forward-thinking ideas for the many components of public realm design, from streets and pathways to squares and parks. He will talk about a new attitude and process that inspires the design of fun, captivating, and complete places. This advanced public realm can be our common ground for building a renewed and healthier community in post-pandemic times that is inclusive, equitable, and exciting.

Michael von Hausen

Michael is a native of Ottawa and brings 40 years in public and private practice as both a professional planner and landscape architect. His global consulting practice is now based in Vancouver, British Columbia and has won many local, provincial, and international awards for its innovation and sensitivity. Michael combines his practice with university teaching as an adjunct professor at both Simon Fraser University and Vancouver Island University. He directed the award-winning certificate in Urban Design Program at Simon Fraser University for 20 years. Michael is a fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners and a past President of the BC Society of Landscape Architects. He is a Harvard-trained urban designer and development economics specialist. In 2020, he received the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects Award for Research and Innovation. In 2021, Michael co-founded the Great Communities Institute and is the Chief Executive Officer.

His four recent books include: Public Realm: The New Makers Handbook (2022); New Pathways to Approvals: Developing Better Communities Together (2021); Small is Big: Creating the Next Great Small to Mid-Size Downtowns (2019); and Dynamic Urban Design: A Handbook for Creating Sustainable Communities Worldwide (2013). These books are available on his website www.mvhinc.com or www.amazon.ca. See web link for his recent book’s short video: New Pathways to Approvals: Web link: https://youtu.be/Kky7WMdE5qU.