The world is becoming more and more urban, and cities more and more complex. Political, economic and environmental systems are undergoing radical shifts creating added uncertainty in planning for the future.
Urbanarium has been founded by a group of the most committed urbanites in Vancouver, including architects, planners and other citizens who are passionate about city making.
Urbanarium believes in informing, educating and engaging the citizens of Metro Vancouver to help guide decision making to protect our future well being. Urbanarium reaches out to the community to provide it with stimulating and easy to understand information about how our urban system works, what forces are acting on it, what alternative futures might happen and what we can do to affect those outcomes.
Urbanarium has become a respected platform for advanced urban conversation in Metro Vancouver and a place where people can get reliable information without political or ideological bias.
The Vancouver Urbanarium Society is a registered non profit society.
Urbanarium.
For smart cities.
FAQ
What is the official status of Urbanarium?
Vancouver Urbanarium Society is a registered charity. The Urbanarium's charity registration number is 83332 5830 RR0001.
How is Urbanarium organized?
Urbanarium is an all-volunteer organization with a Vancouver-based Board of Directors who have a passion for city building and extensive experience leading volunteer organizations. Their resumes can be viewed in “About the Board”. Numerous volunteers serve on task forces and specific projects to advance the Urbanarium mission.
When was the Urbanarium organization formed?
Urbanarium 1.0 was founded in 1985 by Ray Spaxman, former City of Vancouver Director of Planning, with a board of public-spirited citizens. In 1987 the first exhibition and series of live events, Urbanarium: Lost/Unbuilt Vancouver, was held over a three week period at the Old Motor Vehicle Testing Station on West Georgia Street.
Urbanarium 2.0 produced live events in 1990 and 1991, then followed with an ongoing series of debates, retrospectives and lectures, Builders of Vancouver, jointly promoted with the Alcan Lecture Series from 1992-1998. A second group, URBANARIUM…. at the Museum, partnered with Museum of Vancouver to develop annual exhibitions from 1993 through 1996.
In 2013, during meetings of UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture Advisory Board, the Urbanarium 3.0 was revived in discussion to answer the need for an organization that would foster intelligent city building.