I’d like to extend the definition of Parasites to include strips of land such as this particular stretch of highway east of the Rockies that is currently used by people in vehicles. Conceivably, in a few generations, this highway could become underutilized as the region is depleted of natural resources. What then? This ribbon connecting destinations could be re-defined as a destination itself. The photo is of a spectacular valley that this highway intersects. This segment is located approximately 30 kilometres south of Grande Prairie, Alberta. In addition to this valley’s natural beauty, the river that winds through it contains a wealth of dinosaur fragments. Almost anywhere else, this place might be a protected park. I will speculate what this road might become, once we have arrived at the “end of oil’, as described by Paul Roberts. —— Myron Nebozuk
parasites On Site wishes to use the book Parasite Paradise * to indentify sites in Canadian cities that could be thought of in terms of light urbanism and light architecture. Parasites are ‘small scale exercises in art, architecture and urbanism’ in response to over-regulated real estate practices, over-proscribed zoning laws, too-tight mas- ter plans. Land, anywhere, is owned and zoned, sites are defined by land use plans, procedures and permits. However, are there bits of land that resist strong definition by planning culture that are underutilized, colonized only by, say, parked cars, or grass, or storage? And can these sites be developed temporarily as a free (from bureaucratic intervention) city within our cities? In an increasingly intolerant world where suspicion is rife (one need only attend a neigh- bourhood redevelopment meeting to be truly shocked), can we begin to open areas of absolute tolerance and personal responsibility in our cities? The Parasite thesis proposes that rather than increasing standards, rules and laws, society needs to put up with, circum- vent and adapt imperfect standards so there will be social and architectural mobility rather than rigidity. Our quest here is for spaces and sites that can be made cheap and flexible — rare in suburban areas which seem incapable of innovation. We are looking for wild card sites, overlooked corners, ambiguous buildings to slip beneath the radar of planning depart- ments and private commercial development. This will be a website project, so do join us at www.onsitereview.ca/parasites
* Parasite Paradise, a manifesto for temporary architecture and flexible urbanism. Liesbeth Melis. editor and compiler. Rotterdam: NAi Publishers, 2003
Calgary, 42nd Avenue and 11th Street SE: industrial area with wide grassed boulevards, awaiting a possible expansion of 11th Street as a connector to Deerfoot Trail. It is unlikely that this road expansion will now ahead, given new shopping centre development further south. But maybe it will. In the interim, it has sat empty for a dozen years: a dozen years that could have seen a temporary occupation of these boulevards by self-sufficient studios, houses, shops: much like Rocky’s Hamburgers across the street: an original parasite.
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architecture and land
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