Plans for a large new building in Rotterdam intended to encourage people to lead more environmentally friendly lifestyles are wrong-headed and should be scrapped in a blaze of publicity, writes Barnabas Calder. https://www.dezeen.com/2026/08/03/rotterdam-rocks-shift-barnabas-calder-opinion/

"Plants on a building doesn't make it sustainable, any more than a basil leaf on a steak makes it vegan"

Plans for a large new building in Rotterdam to encourage people into more ecological lifestyles should be scrapped, writes Barnabas Calder.

dezeen.com

ICYMI: Our August issue celebrates the 11 winners of the 2026 Governor General’s Medals in Architecture.

2026 Governor General’s Medals in Architecture

Every two years, the prestigious Governor General’s Medals in Architecture recognize and celebrate outstanding design in recently built projects by Canadian architects. Here are this year’s winners.

canadianarchitect.com

Recently had to explain to a professional from outside Toronto, that the vast majority of downtown Toronto workers commute by bike, walking, or transit. Some drive, but they are the minority. Perhaps I should show them these bike share stations…

I support high speed rail.

‘Officials pointed to climate change as a contributing factor’. .. In other news, I recently switched my browser to the no-AI version of DuckDuckGo & been happy with it. Pro-tip: you can go into settings to also turn off AI images in search results too.

The New York Times@nytimes.com · 2w ago

Huge, fast-moving wildfires continued to devour fields, forests and homes in France and Spain, forcing nearly 300,000 people to evacuate or take shelter. Hundreds of firefighters on Saturday raced to stop the blazes’ approach on major cities like Madrid and Bordeaux. nyti.ms/4yYuibl

Toronto, you’re going to love your new waterfront park! The next phase of Biidaasige Park is now open.

This part of Biidaasige Park officially opens tomorrow. It’s incredible. Lovely evening to be there.

I believe in shopping local & in the right to repair. So when I needed a small part replaced for my bike, I asked local shops. None could get one. So I went directly to the source, which shipped…. This. Yes that little part is all that was in the box. I expected it in a small envelope. Such waste.

To make my weekend easier & relaxing, my first @thestar.com column back from vacation is about transportation identity politics. Keeping people divided is useful for some political interests & ambitions. Maybe it’s good to resist that.

Shawn Micallef: I’m a cyclist, I’m a driver, I’m a TTC rider. Stop making me pick sides, just make it easier to get around

Cyclists, drivers, TTC riders and pedestrians can unite in service of a better commute

thestar.com

Imagine living in a laneway house opposite this.

Sometimes it’s just fun to go for a bike ride with a few friends.

Toronto's new LRT lines are significantly faster than when they opened. Line 5 riders are saving 8 minutes on average for trips from Mount Dennis -> Kennedy compared to opening. Finch LRT riders are saving 15 minutes on average for trips from Finch West -> Humber College. 1/2

Well, well, well. Look what was hiding under a giant billboard for a few decades.

TTC ran a “pilot project” to track the number of cars illegally passing streetcars at stops: “Preliminary data indicates that near-miss incidents may be very pervasive and that there is likely merit to developing a technology-based solution to this problem” Shocker. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...

Why I’m a fan of the Oxford comma.

I have once again updated my Canada intercity transportation map, which includes some new additions and changes in Quebec and seasonal services operated by Flixbus in Ontario. There’s now a direct Toronto-Picton service via Wellington on weekends. seanmarshall.ca/2026/07/14/i...

Intercity map updates for July 2026

A few additions and changes to my interactive intercity map in time for summer.

seanmarshall.ca

The elements lean into Toronto's architectural history with pieces recovered from the 1912 Toronto Bank, which was demolished in the 60s, and the beams holding them paying homage to the Mohawk Skywalkers who built many of Manhattan's most famous skyscrapers and the CN tower.

A new pop-up gathering space on the Toronto waterfront created in partnership with @c40cities.bsky.social. Designed by Ha/f and 3XN/GXN and constructed by Arcana using salvaged lumber and recovered bricks to show how temporary installations can contribute to a more sustainable built environment.

Today was the opening of Colourway, a project that has transformed the Plumstead overpass with painted murals, ceramic walls and staircase, new flooring, lighting and events support. I worked on this with Adams & Sutherland, Make:Good, & Rumi Bose for RBG, Peabody & Berkeley

"The report calls for hood height caps of 85 cm (33.5 inches), width limits of 192 cm (75.6 inches), taxes tied to vehicle dimensions, parking fees based on size, and regulatory incentives reserved for smaller EVs measuring less than 4.2 meters (165.4 inches) long."

Researchers Want To Tax Cars By The Inch To Stop Carspreading | Carscoops

Researchers argue that stopping vehicle growth could save lives, space, and billions in energy costs

carscoops.com

Love the cycling DJ leading the @tosoarch.bsky.social contingent at the Toronto Pride 🌈 parade yesterday. Also love the representation of queer buildings & spaces. Nice to get a big wave from @jasonthorne.bsky.social marching with them! 👋🏽 “Let’s hear it for love”

Huge hometown crowd for a park screening of Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. People like free events in public spaces. I am real excited!

driving.ca/column/how-i...

Trucks and SUVs are killing pedestrians, says study

Tall hoods and flat fronts to blame, as every inch of extra hood height results in a 2.8% higher chance of pedestrian death

driving.ca

🏘️ Toronto’s development pipeline now has 791,000 proposed units with 84% in planned growth areas. 🛠️ In Toronto’s development pipeline, 1 in 5 proposed units are purpose-built rentals; 2 in 5 are 2+ bedrooms. 📊 See the full picture: https://ow.ly/rNhH50ZabNr

A surge in pedestrian deaths in the U.S. has baffled researchers for years. A New York Times analysis estimates that about 10% of the increase in pedestrian fatalities in recent years was caused by the growth in vehicle sizes since 2002. Here’s why.

The Deadly Rise of Giant Trucks and S.U.V.s

The vehicles on American roads have grown larger — and they are killing thousands more pedestrians, a Times investigation found.

nyti.ms

Visited the portion of Church Street just opened to pedestrians. Attended a 🌈 market in Barbara Hall Park. Enjoyed a coffee & treat, & bought some nice things. Best part was running into people I knew, while also making some new connections! An “open street bringing people together. Cute!

Graphs and maps incoming! The Development Activity Bulletin 2025 is now available: it tracks urban growth and development trends to monitor Official Plan policies. 🤓 Over the next few weeks we’ll be highlighting key insights from the Bulletin. To see the full report: https://ow.ly/SXZj50ZabuA

Before & after. A parking lot & former liquor store becomes multi-unit affordable housing. (Before from Google streetview; after are photos I took today).

At the launch of the new East West Water Shuttle on the Toronto waterfront. A pilot project to test demand for a fixed route water transit service … and a potential pre-cursor to a permanent seabus system on the waterfront.

I appreciate simple & clear wayfinding, particularly when it transcends language. This was added to support visitors for the FIFA World Cup in Toronto, but maybe it can inspire some longer term additions?