If I Ruled the World!

What is good art, good urban design and good architecture? I am not using the word great because that would be too much to strive for. Houses and buildings are being build to minimum standard of good taste. We have a new Art Gallery which is dedicated more to a social space for weddings than for showing of art. And can you believe the "gobbledegook" of the exterior. Who honestly thinks this even good architecture? We are city that has allowed the mayor to come in with the desire for better urban design, saying no more crap. Right?
First I would look at the fabric of this city divided by a beautiful river. Urban design starts with how we use this city. Traffic is obviously how most of us travel about, so my wish is to get rid of the traffic department and put in place a urban design department. Educated planners who are there to make the population of the city happy and not just the cars. We would not have the renewed 99th street, with no attention paid to the communities.
There are style-less condos being build in this area around Whyte Avenue where no educated person would say this is great design. When talking to the design review members the answer is " You should have seen it before." My wish is that the Design Committee have a lot more power in the design of our buildings otherwise what good does it do.
They say that there are architects involved in the building of the apartments along Whyte Avenue by Bonnie Doon Shopping Center. If that is true it doesn't show. Buy into it because it is cheap and you do not understand the quality of the design. In Edmonton we honestly do not expect better, I wish it would change. If I ruled the world.
Education is where I would start. Educate the mayor and the citizens about good architecture so he and they recognize it. When we had the competition for the art gallery the talks of the contenders was very well attended. Our excitement was it would be great. The worlds best architects vied for an opportunity to design the new building. The jury of experts was deadlocked and in the end two non architects decided what was best for this city. This building will never win any architectural awards. It is in fact falling apart with damage ongoing to be repaired. Inside this gallery the art hangs in boxes with barely adequate lighting. Edmonton deserves better.