What Does an Architect Have to Do with the Red Hill Valley? In Hamilton we are in love with movement. We are destroying much of the Red Hill Valley to move cars to sprawling suburbs on the east mountain. We make car movement a priority on our one-way streets; pedestrians and cyclists are afterthoughts. In all this movement we neglect our places and spaces – most notably our downtown core but also much of our existing urban fabric. Donald Schmitt's work is primarily about building – and building splendidly – in cities. That's why he and his firm were chosen as design consultants for McMaster's Innovation Park on the Camco site in the city's west-end. Schmitt work is about solving problems in urban places and spaces. His buildings are stunning and original in their design, but above all, they fit in. They develop real relationships with other buildings, and with the streets and neighbourhoods where they are built. We know that Hamilton can't sprawl forever; in fact, it must stop. Donald Schmitt can describe a different future for out city – an efficient, sustainable, urban future. Is there another way other than the sprawl way? You bet there is! Come and hear Donald Schmitt on Imagining Hamilton's Future, Wednesday, November 9, 7:30 p.m. |