PANAJI
Goan-born, Los Angeles-based urban designer and city planner, Vinayak Bharne, was bestowed the John Chase Visionary Award by the American Planning Association, Los Angeles Section.
The award, given in memory of noted Los Angeles planner John Chase, honours "an individual affiliated with the field of planning for a significant contribution in urban design, writing, architecture, planning, or any other related area of practice where creativity, critical thinking, mentorship, or a combination thereof, demonstrate a passion for planning as a true visionary."
"I am deeply honoured because I admired John Chase as both a planner and an individual. I would also be remiss if I did not say that this award is a tribute to three great mentors - the late Robert Harris (former Dean of the USC School of Architecture), who taught me urbanism and subsequently invited me to teach it; Tridib Banerjee (former Professor at the USC Price School of Public Policy), my idol when it comes to urban research; and Stefanos Polyzoides (co-founder of the Congress for the New Urbanism), who took me into the depths of professional practice" Bharne noted.
"With half of the world's population living in urban areas, and with more than a billion people living in poverty, city planning has never been more crucial than today. But in the time we live in, it is also important to remember that cities are not meant for humans alone. We share our cities with dandelions, honey bees, sparrows and numerous other denizens. Urbanism, at its best, is an empathetic discipline; it is as much about ecological stewardship as it is about human habitation" he said.
A widely respected figure in city design today, Bharne's twenty-five-year career has included practice, research, teaching and activism. He is the Principal and Director of Design of the noted Los Angeles firm, Moule & Polyzoides Architects and Urbanists, where he has been involved in several award-winning projects such as Del Mar Station in Pasadena, "The Boulevard" in Lancaster, and the new town of Civano in Tucson. He is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Architecture at the University of Southern California (USC), and Director of the global knowledge platform, My Liveable City. His books include "Affordable Housing, Inclusive Cities;" "Streets for All: 50 Ideas for Shaping Resilient Cities", "Urbanism Beyond 2020", and "Conservation & the Indian City: Bridging the Gap."
This award is part of a continuing series of recognitions for Bharne, who in 2023, was invited to deliver the keynote address at the national conference of the Institute of Urban Designers India (IUDI) in Goa, and bestowed the Allied Professional Appreciation Award by the Indian Society of Landscape Architects for significant contributions to landscape architecture. He currently serves on the Advisory Council of the Los Angeles Planning History Group, and on the International Speaker's Bureau of the Intelligent Community Forum in Canada.
