In this deeply resonant episode of Happitecture, host Michelle Fenton sits down with Djaka Blais, Executive Director of Hogan’s Alley Society, to explore how architecture and urban planning can be tools for restorative justice.

Together, they trace the erasure and revival of Vancouver’s only historically Black neighborhood—Hogan’s Alley—and reflect on the power of community-led design, cultural memory, and Black futures grounded in joy.

From negotiating with institutions to reimagining a city block as a living archive of culture and care, this conversation is a masterclass in what it means to design for belonging.

Topics Covered:

• Spatial justice and community restoration

• Black-led planning and anti-displacement strategies

• Designing for joy, cultural specificity, and belonging

• Negotiating with institutions as a community leader

• Visioning Hogan’s Alley as a thriving cultural hub

References:

Hogan’s Alley Society: https://www.hogansalleysociety.org/

For more information on this, or any other episodes of the Happitecture Podcast, you can find us at ⁠https://www.happitecture.com⁠.

Thanks to our sponsor Khora Architecture + Interiors ⁠https://www.khoradesign.ca/