Just last week I wrote a Blog entry on the compelling concept of urban acupuncture, and today Denver’s Mayor Hickenlooper announced the 2007 Mayor’s Design Awards winners. The award encourages good urban design and seems to recognize the urban acupuncture concept.
“The people who create unique and well-designed projects are at the foundation of placemaking in our community. A truly great city begins with an individual’s spark of imagination. As individual ideas multiply and manifest in the form of interesting buildings and objects, a special place emerges. The Mayor’s Design Awards program recognizes these contributions.†– Peter J. Park, Manager, Community Planning and Development.
There are some excellent and whimsical category names: Reclaimed Splendor, Buildings that Beckon, Wicked Little Details, Density by Design, Home is Where the Art Is, It Ain’t Easy Being Green (but it’s getting easier!). I suggest that you download the PDF program from the site and take a look at some photos of the winners.
These awards are a great idea to encourage and reward good design, reclamation and infill projects. I did a quick search on “Mayor’s Design Awards” and found that at least two other cities have adopted this practice — Milwaukee and Calgary. If your city isn’t doing it, why not suggest that they do!
