Urbanism 2009

Urbanism 09 presented new commissions by international artists and architects invited to respond to the canal over the past year as well as the five shortlisted designs for Waterworks, a mobile hub for watersports and environmental education on the canal.  The route of the event ran along the canal from St Winefride’s & St Richard’s School (St Winnie’s) on the canalside in Bootle to Bank Hall in Liverpool.  Following in the footsteps of Utopians before them, St Winnie’s was transformed by architects Raumlabor, artist Kerry Morrison and food activists Squash Nutrition into an Urban Arcadia, while artist Danilo Capasso presented Portoallegro on the canalside at Bank Hall.

Liverpool Biennial was also very pleased to be working in partnership with UP Projects on special events throughout the week, including commissioning Public Works' Canal Club and presenting Rob Sweere, Ben Parry's Terminus and MOTH Video.

The week included Propsitions for a Happy City from Artists, Activists and Architects on Thursday 17 September; the How to Design a Happy City conference on Friday 18 September, and on Saturday 19, a unique opportunity to speak to artist Rick Lowe who founded Project Row Houses, an inspirational program that bought 22 houses in the middle of one of Houston's poorest neighborhoods, and renovated them into art galleries, workshop spaces, offices and housing for young single mothers (11-12.30pm at St Winnie's, contact antony@biennial.com for details).

Visitors travelled from the Promising Land to Portoallegro during Propositions for the Happy City on 17 September 2009, to examine real case studies of creating positive spaces.  They talked to the bees, talked to the sky, drank tea in the floating Tea House, painted in the floating studio, explored the Feral Arcadia museum, made chutney in the Squash vegetable garden, steered a swan pedalo down the canal and made plans for the Happy City . . . with David Bade, Ben Parry, Kerry Morrison, Squash Nutrition, Raumlabor, Maciej Kurak, Danilo Capasso, Muf Architecture, Public Works and Rob Sweere.

 The How to Design a Happy City conference on 18 September 2009, in association with Places Matter!, explored alternative ways of planning and redesigning our cities and neighbourhoods, starting with the premise of not simply providing more houses but improving the quality of the spaces between them and the wellbeing of their inhabitants. Speakers include Pete Halsall (CEO of visionary developers Bio-Regional Quintain), Joost Beunderman (Research Associate at Demos), Ian McArthur (Regional Director of Groundwork) and Michael Palwyn of Exploration Architecture.

The week reached a climax on Saturday 19 September 2009 with a water-borne parade at 6pm, including an upturned Black Cab, a floating Mint Teahouse and a total of 14 other craft created by artists and residents who live in the neighbourhoods along the canal; giving a whole new meaning to the traditional processional ‘float’.

We hope that the parade will become an annual event.

About the Liverpool – Leeds Canal

Water, in the shape of a major spring, the Irish Sea and the River Mersey was historically the lifeblood of this area, all connected by the canal.  Following half a century of post-industrial decline the area has turned its back on the canal and wildlife has flourished.

Spring 2009 saw one of the most exciting developments in British canal history when the canal was opened up to join to the newly built extension across Pier Head, terminating in the Albert Dock, This link offers a unique experience of the World Heritage Site, the new Museum of Liverpool and provide narrow boat moorings in the heart of the city.   Regenerating and reanimating the northern approaches of the canal and its environs offers unprecedented opportunities to augment the quality of life in adjacent neighbourhoods, many of which are part of the government’s Housing Market Renewal Initiative (HMRI).