Untitled Planning

If you’ve ever wondered why finding an affordable place to live feels like searching for a needle in a haystack, and wondered what we can do about it, then this episode is for you! We’re thrilled to have Mark Richardson  the Senior Technical Leader of Housing Now Toronto and Chief Technology Officer at Rich Analytics. We spoke with him back in June 2024 to get insights on how data and technology are helping to address Toronto’s housing crisis. From innovative solutions to tracking progress, Mark will shed light on how Housing Now is paving the way for a more affordable future and how Toronto can hit its ambitious targets. Learn More: To find out more about the guests, this series, and access show notes visit: www.untitledplanning.com Credits:Production: Untitled Planning Recording Date: June 2024

In this episode, we sit down with Mehedi Khan, a planner and one of the visionaries behind Muslims in Public Space (MiPS). We dive into the role of identity in urban design, the importance of community involvement in placemaking, and how MiPS is using art and public spaces to challenge Islamophobia. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on creating more inclusive cities. Time Stamps:  0:00 Video Summary  1:00 What Is MIPS  3:00 Partnerships & Challenges   12:00 Challenges   16:00 Islamophobia and Space 35:00 Advice for Aspiring Civic Leaders 47:00 Final Remarks  48:00 Outro : This episode is brought to you by Untitled Planning  To find out more about the guests, this series, and access show notes visit: www.untitledplanning.com

With a diverse background spanning architecture, neuroscience, and psychology, Dela shares insights into her unique journey and the inspirations behind her work, and valuable insights and advice to urban planners, architects, and urbanists on creating mentally and emotionally supportive spaces for diverse communities within cities. Key themes of this episode include: - The rise of urban isolation and the epidemic of loneliness - The importance of considering immigrants' experiences in urban environments - The neurocognitive aspects of creativity and mental wellness and their impact on the design of our cities Guest Bio: Delaram Farzanfar, a Ph.D. candidate in Psychology at the University of Toronto, brings a multifaceted background to her research. Focused on the neurocognitive elements of human creativity and its relation to well-being, she also serves as a registered psychotherapist in Ontario, dedicated to improving mental health accessibility. With expertise spanning architecture and neuroscience, Delaram contributes a distinctive viewpoint as a junior fellow at Massey College and a graduate fellow at the School of Cities, University of Toronto. Untitled Planning Information: LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/untitledplanning Instagram:   / untitledplanning   Youtube:    / @untitledplanning   Time Stamps: 0:00 Intro to Untitled Planning 2:00 Dela Introduces Herself 6:50 Neurocognitive Impact on Creativity 9:00 Cognitive Impact examples 12:00 Literature on Urban Counter and the Impact on the Brain 23:00 Impact of the Daily Commute 33:00 Place Attachment and Immigrants 36:00 Universal Urban Canvas 42:00 The New Function of Architecture 46:30 Rise of Urban Isolation 52:00 Heritage Buildings Overrated 55:00 Immigrants Experience in the Suburbs 56:00 Takeaway for Urbanists 58:30 Wrap Up

Join us for our conversation with Devin Tu, the visionary behind one of Toronto's fastest-growing property tech startups, MapYourProperty (MYP). Together we explore how Devin's platforms, MYP and Affordable 360, are revolutionizing the industry by functioning as the 'Zillow' for land development, leveraging AI and cutting-edge technology to streamline development and design processes, drive social impact, and tackle the affordable housing crisis. Tune in to gain valuable insights into the future of urban planning in the AI era and discover resources for planners interested in integrating AI-driven solutions like MYP. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned planner, this video offers invaluable advice and predictions for the evolving property tech landscape. 🔍 Key Discussion Points: - Learn about Map Your Property (MYP), Affordable 360, and other AI apps supporting city-building - Whether or not urban planners should fear AI taking over their jobs - Tips on how to leverage AI in urban planning processes - Guidance for aspiring planning and urban entrepreneurs entering the proptech sector. - MYP's contribution to social impact and housing for underserved communities. Guest Bio: Devin Tu is the founder of MapYourProperty (MYP), a pioneering real estate tech startup in Toronto, leads one of the fastest-growing proptech ventures in the city. Through MYP, he's streamlined planning and development in the Greater Toronto Area, drawing on over a decade of expertise in public policy, housing, and real estate to create smarter cities. To learn more visit: mapyourproperty.com and affordable360.ca. Untitled Planning Information: LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/untitledplanning Instagram:   / untitledplanning   Youtube:    / @untitledplanning   AI Tools Mentioned: - https://www.affordable360.ca - https://www.mapyourproperty.com - https://www.Poe.com - https://www.giraffe.build/ - https://www.Aprao.com Time Stamps: 0:00 Intro Untitled Planning 1:50 Devin Introduces Himself and His Work 4:20 Devin Talks Map Your Property and Its Origins 6:00 How MYP is a Better Zillow for Developers 8:00 Time Saved Using AI Methods 15:45 About Affordable 360 21:00 How These Apps Save Money for Non-profits 22:00 Challenges of Urban Planning and Technology 27:00 AI & Urban Planning 35:00 AI Governance for Planning 40:00 How AI Can Save Small Firms Money 47:00 How to Get Started With AI and Planning 1:02:35 Devin Signing Off and Showing Us the Different AI Apps

In the 6th episode of our interview series, we explore the intersections of psychology, architecture, and urban design with Dr. Colin Ellard and our guest co-host, Rachel Leonardo of ‪@studio.leonardo‬ . Together we dive into the neuroscience behind wellbeing and how to use principles of psychology to design spaces and places for improved health, wayfinding, and community-building, and counter the epidemic of loneliness sweeping urban areas worldwide. About Dr. Colin Ellard Dr. Colin Ellard is a psychogeographer, neuroscientist, design consultant, and director of Urban Realities Lab, where he studies wayfinding, cognition, and emotion in the built environment. He is the author of You Are Here (2009) and Places of the Heart (2015). He is also a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Waterloo. To learn more visit: https://colinellard.com/ About Rachel Watch our previous interview with Rachel:    • Why Cities Fail Without Storytelling ...   Subscribe to Rachel's channel ‪@studio.leonardo‬ 🔍 Key Discussion Points: - What is psychogeography and how to keep in - How neuroscientists use Virtual Reality (VR) to study wayfinding and the impacts of the built environment on our mental and physical health - How residential and retail environments can be designed for wellbeing - Insights from Dr. Ellard's latest books - How architecture, psychology, and urban design intersect - Advice on how to leverage psychology to design better spaces and places ⏳Timestamps 0:00 Introductions 1:30 Dr. Ellard's Background 2:10 Psychogeography of Well-Being in the Built Environment 5:30 Dark Psychology of Retail and IKEA! 7:45 Dr. Ellard's Book: Why We Can Find Our Way To The Moon But Not The Mall 12:30 Places Of The Heart 15:35 Effects Of Tech on our Social Psychology 22:35 Responsive Settings 30:00 Virtual Reality (VR) and Psycho-Urban Research and the Science of Wayfinding 37:00 VR's Limitations in Research 42: 00 Facial Recognition and Neuro Imaging For Built Environments 51:00 Neuro Principles for a Better City 55:00 The Neo-Traditional Movement in Architecture 57:00 What Is The Neo-Traditional Movement? 1:00:03 Psychological Elements of Well-Designed Living Spaces 1:06:00 The Significance of Space and Place on The Person 1:10:00 Technology has Seduced us 1:11:00 Final Comments 1:13:00 Dr. Ellard Signing Off 🔔 Subscribe Now for More Urban Planning Insights! Don't miss out on future episodes where we tackle critical urban challenges and explore innovative solutions. Hit that subscribe button and stay tuned for engaging content that shapes the future of our cities! ⚡ Get Involved & Learn More! To head on over to our website, social media, or propose topics for upcoming videos please visit: https://linktr.ee/untitledplanning

💡In Part 3 of Episode 4, Margaux Weinrib from MASSIV Art and Alexandra delve into current public art and cultural planning topics: - Controversy surrounding the Las Vegas Sphere and the recent MLK's Embrace monument in Boston, along with emerging trends in public art within cities. - Trauma-Informed Placemaking and insights from the Spaces for Grief Exhibition. - The rise of counter-monuments and its implications for collective memory. Join in on the conversation and leave your thoughts below! 🎬 Timestamps 01:01 Las Vegas Sphere Controversy & Seinfeld 11:10 Trauma-Informed Placemaking and the Space for Grief Exhibition 22:33 Martin Luther King (MLK) Embrace Statue in Boston and the Rise of Counter-Monuments 🤔 Still Curious? To learn more about Margaux and the MASSIV Art make sure to visit: https://massivart.com/ 💡#ICYMI find Part 1 and 2 of the series here: - Part 1: https://youtu.be/j_7L-KTwGU4 - Part 2: https://youtu.be/gXtCTU7nSKA 🔔 Don't Miss Out! Subscribe for more engaging discussions on urban planning, public art, and the future of our cities! Let's shape our cities together for a sustainable and inclusive future. ⚡ Get Involved & Learn More! To head on over to our website, social media, or propose topics for upcoming videos please visit: https://linktr.ee/untitledplanning Credits: - Closing Music: Michael Quigley

Welcome to Part 2 of our discussion! Join us as we co-host with urban planner and Charter Cities Institute researcher, Heba Elhanafy. We're diving deep into the world of Charter Cities – exploring their transformative impact, dissecting the key elements behind their success, and shedding light on where they've made mistakes in the past. Heba also shares her invaluable insights from her planning experiences in Zambia and gives us a sneak peek into the forthcoming Charter Cities Atlas. But that's not all! Stay tuned for the final segment where we dive headfirst into the hottest trends and burning themes making waves across social media. You won't want to miss this dynamic wrap-up! Timestamps: 03:08 Heba introduces the Charter Cities Atlas 16:14 The history of cities and the development of charter cities around the world 20:13 Why the cities being built are being built wrong (and how to build them right)! 21:00 How do charter cities work versus regular cities (ex. Singapore) and their economic motives 25:00 How public-private partnerships (PPPs or P3s) play a big role in the development of charter cities 30:22 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and other urban policies informing charter city development 42:54 The Charter Cities Institute's urban planning guidelines for new master planning cities 46:00 The Lusaka Urban Lab and Heba's work with community improving walkability in the city of Lusaka, Zambia 59:53 Media Review 1: Cairo's Highway Problem 1:13:44 Media Review 2: Cars vs Public Transit Debate Get Involved! Got a burning topic to pitch or dreams of being a co-host? Your voice matters! Visit the link in our bio to submit your ideas and you might just be featured in an upcoming episode. Let's keep the conversation going!

Meet Majd Al-Shihabi a technologist turned urban planner turned technologist-urban planner 🌆 Currently a PhD student at UofT 📚 Researching energy modeling for Toronto's climate action plan, TransformTO 🌍 Exploring participatory modeling & the ontology of models/methods 🤔 Passionate about forming epistemic communities & the right to the city 🏙️ Time Stamps: 0:00 Intro/Majd Background 1:15 Yarmouk camp, Syria from Palestine 5:45 Why Systems Engineering 9:30 Why Learn Planning in Lebanon 11:30 Why a PHD in Geography 12:30 Housing Vacancy in Lebanon 15:00 Mapping Palestine 17:00 Housing a Cross Cutting Lens 26:00 Political agency of Model Building 33:00 International Building Code & Double-Ended Corridors 42:00 The Code Impact on Community Building 43:00 Yarmouk Refugee Camp in Syria 47:00 Final Comments: Mental Health. Urban Isolation, Outro Want to be a co-host? Have an idea that you want to pitch? We'd love to hear from you! Visit www.untitledplanning.com to find out how you can get involved Thank you to the Infrastructure Institute for hosting us at their +(Plus) 2.0 Exhibition! To learn more about the institute and their exhibition work please visit: https://infrastructureinstitute.ca/exhibition/

Join us in Part 2 of our conversation, where Alexandra engages in a discussion with Margaux Weinrib, an urban and cultural planner at MASSIV Art, on placemaking's economic impacts and strategies for community-driven public art. Stay tuned for Part 3 to delve deeper! In this episode we're chatting about: - The significance of diversity and representation in public art and cultural programming - Prioritizing art for cities: Its importance and impact of cities prioritizing funding for arts and culture - Exploring how art and placemaking drive economic growth. - Distinguishing between placemaking and peacekeeping. - Strategies for community-rooted public art. - Approaches for meaningful community engagements. Join in on the conversation and leave your thoughts below! 🎬 Timestamps 01:11 The impacts of the lack of funding on the creative and cultural sector 11:39 Inequities in private and public funding for different types of arts and culture, particularly those rooted in ethnocultural communities and their impact on our cities 14:00 Importance of cities in celebrating and building infrastructure for local artists in effective cultural planning and how policy can help reduce the barriers of entry for artists of colour 20:08 Strategies for public art rooted in community 23:30 Margaux's approach to community engagement 28:33 Strategies for meaningful community engagement 🤔 Still Curious? To learn more about Margaux and the MASSIV Art make sure to visit: https://massivart.com/ 💡#ICYMI find Part 1 and 3 of the series here: - Part 1: https://youtu.be/j_7L-KTwGU4 - Part 3: https://youtu.be/KhxZ1hj_nJM 🔔 Don't Miss Out! Subscribe for more engaging discussions on urban planning, public art, and the future of our cities! Let's shape our cities together for a sustainable and inclusive future. ⚡ Get Involved & Learn More! To head on over to our website, social media, or propose topics for upcoming videos please visit: https://linktr.ee/untitledplanning Credits: - Closing Music: Michael Quigley

🌆 Our first interview is live and it's a must-watch! 🎥 We had the pleasure of chatting with the incredible Heba Elhanafy, an urban research expert based in Zambia, working with the Charter Cities Institute. Heba, an urban planner with an architecture background, takes us on a journey through her roots, her love-hate relationship with planning, and her inspiring journey into this field. 🏙️ If you're curious about urban planning in diverse contexts, this is for you! Tune in now to watch Part 1 of our conversation, and trust us, you won't want to miss it! 🌍💡