Episode 31 - The Making of Biidaasige Park with Shannon Baker
In Episode 31 of the Sustainable Futures Podcast, Steven Peck speaks with Shannon Baker, Director of Design at Waterfront Toronto, about the role of landscape architecture in creating healthy cities. The conversation centers the creation of Biidaasige Park, part of Toronto’s $1.4-billion Port Lands Flood Protection Project, including Indigenous collaboration, urban rewilding, ecological restoration, and the challenges of transforming former industrial lands into vibrant public spaces. They also discuss how thoughtful design can reconnect people with nature to create better, livable cities.
Episode 30 - Designing Biophilic Cities with Timothy Beatley
In this episode of the Sustainable Futures Podcast, Steven Peck sits down with Professor Timothy Beatley, a leading voice in sustainable communities, biophilic cities, and green urbanism. They explore how cities can reconnect people with nature, from overcoming our growing disconnect from the natural world to creating more biophilic urban environments. Beatley discusses biophilia, lessons from around the world, the role of green roofs and walls, and the challenges and opportunities for expanding green infrastructure. He also shares his vision for the future of cities in the face of climate change and how communities can become healthier, more resilient, and more connected to nature.