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Chris Waugh from IDEO, a design and innovation consulting firm based in Palo Alto, was in San Francisco recently, talking to members of the Urban Land Institute. Chris took a few minutes to sit down with The Real Story and discuss the potential for rethinking the way we design communities. Chris is an ardent believer in considering his subjects from a variety of perspectives, all of them starting with an empathetic view. In looking at community, for example, he asks the same question of all of the multiple stakeholders: what do people want, and does that answer change as the perspective changes?

He talks about how housing is now ripe to evolve into a new form, one that delivers on the fundamental desires and values of their owners, neighbors, communities and towns. If housing were to address how to create community with people and with the environment, for example, the discussion would move beyond square footage and bedroom count pretty fast. With that kind of thinking, would some pretty interesting buckets of opportunity be more evident? He thinks so.

Chris is the guest of The Real Story all week. You can download his podcasts every day on iTunes.

The Real Story is off this week, giving thanks and spending time with friends and family. We hope you do the same.

We’ll be back on Monday, November 30th, when our guest will be Chris Waugh of IDEO. Chris has some interesting insights on how communities can satisfy basic human desires. It’s new thinking that could impact the way we live in the very near future, so be sure to log on.

All the best!

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Have we lost our ability to create, to innovate, to support great design? And if we do have a wonderful idea, how do we pay for it? Cathy Simon, architect and professed lover of waterfront environments, talks to The Real Story today about the exciting work being done in the waterfronts in Europe.

Cathy shares her enthusiasm for the sophistication of Liverpool, the Docklands in London and how the Olympics can be a vehicle for change in redevelopment areas. She also focuses on great new buildings in San Francisco—the DeYoung and the Academy of Sciences—and how San Francisco has to overcome its own animus toward the new, and open its gates to architects from all over the world.

Are we ready to consider a very different vocabulary than that based in our past?

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Cathy Simon talks about the ocean with a romantic reverence. She likens the experience of looking out toward the horizon with travel, exploration, discovery… and she talks about the places that are rediscovering the power and beauty of their waterfronts, among them San Francisco, New York, Barcelona, Liverpool and Lisbon. She looks at the “great bones” of San Francisco’s Embarcadero, from the ballpark back to Pier 39, and confesses to looking forward to the vitality, activity and family-friendliness of a new addition like the Exploratorium to the waterfront.

The notion of embracing more uses of our waterfront spaces—creating cultural as well as recreational, historic, retail and entertainment interfaces for locals and visitors alike—has tremendous appeal. Cathy also talks to The Real Story about the rising tides—and how architects are envisioning keeping their projects afloat, quite literally. All on today’s podcast; downloadable on iTunes.

We may not live in Minnesota, but there’s plenty of opportunity to ice-skate outdoors this season right here in the Bay Area. Ice rinks are popping up like holiday wishes, offering a great exercise opportunity for people of all ages. Most will remain open throughout the holidays, so take the whole family out for some fresh air and fun.

The health benefits of ice skating are well known. An effective cardio workout, skating has similar benefits to running or swimming in increasing the heart rate, breathing, and consumption of calories, especially if you swing your arms as you skate. A regular routine will help you build endurance and muscle tone and, because skating requires good mental control (reaction, alertness and awareness), it’s good for your brain, too.

Here are a few places to lace up your skates and take to the ice:

Brentwood Holiday on Ice, Brentwood
Located in The Streets of Brentwood shopping area, this rink is big, covered and decorated with lights.

Downtown Ice, San Jose
A festive setting encircled by graceful palm trees between the Fairmont Hotel and the San Jose Museum of Art.

Holiday Ice Rink at the Embarcadero Center, San Francisco
The Justin Hermann Plaza location in the shadow of the Ferry Building is a seasonal favorite. This is a large rink with great views of the City skyline and the bay.

Palo Alto Winter Lodge, Palo Alto
Open through mid-April, this permanent outdoor rink offers outdoor fireplaces and a clubhouse.

Walnut Creek on Ice, Walnut Creek
Glide along under the lights at Walnut Creek’s Civic Park.

Devcon Holiday Ice Rink, Pleasanton
Located by the Library in Downtown Pleasanton, this rink is a partnership between the City of Pleasanton and the San Jose Sharks.

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Cathy Simon from Perkins + Will talks to The Real Story today about the process of restoring the Ferry Building and rethinking its future. This iconic building has been a part of the San Francisco skyline since 1898, and has withstood two major earthquakes. By the numbers, the Ferry Building is comprised of 65,000 square feet of marketplace space on its first floor, and approximately 175,000 square feet of office space on its second and third floors.

The architectural style of the building is enhanced by a 245 foot clock tower, whose inspiration was a 12th century cathedral belltower. The project of restoring the old nave took special permission from the Department of the Interior’s National Parks Service. For a detailed informational overview on today’s Ferry Building, its tenants, tours, events and access, go to:  http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/.