The Joy Experiments: Reimagining Mid-sized Cities to Heal Our Divided Society - Hardcover

Higgins, Scott; Kalbfleisch, Paul

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1459754344 ISBN 13: 9781459754348

Publisher: Dundurn Press, 2024

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Authors

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 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 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 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.

Edition details

• Publisher: Dundurn Press
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1459754344
• ISBN 13: 9781459754348
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224