The Joy Experiments - Dundurn

The Joy Experiments

Reimagining Mid-sized Cities to Heal Our Divided Society

Published May 2024

Description

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.

Reviews

Contributors

Scott Higgins

Scott Higgins is a passionate business and community builder who, as President of HIP Developments, Inc., plays a leadership role in the evolution of the Region of Waterloo in southern Ontario. He lives in Kitchener, Ontario.

Paul Kalbfleisch

Paul Kalbfleisch is a writer, visual artist, business leader, and creative collaborator who places himself in the middle of projects that require strong vision and imaginative design. He lives in Waterloo, Ontario.

Mouna Andraos

Mouna Andraos is the co-founder of the award-winning art and design studio Daily tous les jours, which encourages citizens to play an active role in the transformation of their cities, with the public spaces we share everyday as their canvas. She is an adjunct professor in design and computation arts at Concordia University and is also on the board of directors at the Société des arts technologiques. Mouna is also a graduate of New York University's interactive telecommunications program and an alumna of Eyebeam Center for Art and Technology in New York City.

Melissa Mongiat

Melissa Mongiat is the co-founder of the award-winning art and design studio Daily tous les jours, which puts humans back at the centre of strategies for urban development, engaging the public with ideas about dance and mobility, play and resilience, and social connection and civic engagement. Melissa holds a master’s degree in creative practice for narrative environments from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, U.K., where she also co-founded Like People Do, a research consultancy on responsive environments.

Book Details

Hardcover
May 2024
7.5x10 in
224 pp
9781459754348
PDF
May 2024
-
224 pp
9781459754355
ePub
May 2024
-
224 pp
9781459754362