Vancouver or Dubai?

Gordon,

I have just read through the article you posted titled “the battle for the World’s Skyline”. For some reason I couldn’t stop thinking about how great the opportunity for architects and planners concerned with sustainable design will be, rather than how dreary the impact of a global economic downturn will have on the prospects of ambitious building design. The article seems to lament the days of over budgeted mega projects. Some are amazing, but others have often done little more for economic stimulus than stoke the ego’s of the cities decision makers. Creating a building or master planned space is the new challenge to today’s budding designers. Banks will inevitably lend again, they are in the business of doing so, but they will perhaps be more cautious in the sorts of projects they deem worthy of billions. Demand for over designed residential and commercial space may rightly appear to be waning, but it is increasingly evident that a space loaded with cost savings to the end user (and one that projects social/environmental consciousness) is at the top of everyone’s wish list. Anyway, I’m hopeful about the future.