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On why you could build wonderful cities by simply doing the opposite of what is/has been done.
On why you could build wonderful cities by simply doing the opposite of what is/has been done.
1.) House construction has gone out of the hands of the people.
The people are perfectly capable of building affordable, high quality housing that is suited to their needs.
The one pioneering project where people built their council house in Lewisham is worth millions...
The people are perfectly capable of building affordable, high quality housing that is suited to their needs.
The one pioneering project where people built their council house in Lewisham is worth millions...
It is an anomaly of late modernity that most people do not build the houses and houses they live in.
2.) Urban Sustainability and Food Security
In many places around the world, truly extraordinary amounts of land are wasted and left as 'lawns' in imitation of wasteful aristocrats.
Putting all such land to use in producing 'food forests' would improve food security a lot...
In many places around the world, truly extraordinary amounts of land are wasted and left as 'lawns' in imitation of wasteful aristocrats.
Putting all such land to use in producing 'food forests' would improve food security a lot...
Everyone would now be able to enjoy green open spaces and cheap, abundant local produce. The upkeep can be done on a voluntary/community service basis.
The food can be sold to local shops and also given out to poor families.
The food can be sold to local shops and also given out to poor families.
3.) Height Restriction
The skyscrapers we are all used to need to go. This is very simple. They are inefficient (counterintuitive I know), increase social distance, are environmentally unfriendly and even a threat to human health.
The skyscrapers we are all used to need to go. This is very simple. They are inefficient (counterintuitive I know), increase social distance, are environmentally unfriendly and even a threat to human health.
4.) Avoiding giving much space to cars from the beginning
The introduction of cars and the subsequent rush to build more roads and constantly widen them has been a disaster.
Design cities for people once again and have all important amenities within a 10-15 minute walk.
The introduction of cars and the subsequent rush to build more roads and constantly widen them has been a disaster.
Design cities for people once again and have all important amenities within a 10-15 minute walk.
This one alone will save billions for urban communities. How much money is wasted when land is left as stretches of road that require maintain but produce nothing in economic output and taxes? - think of all the additional things that can be built? How much do parking lots cost?
The health cost of pollution is in the billions.
A car-minimal city will single-handedly save millions/billions, create economic opportunity and can return the old tight-knit communities people yearn for.
A car-minimal city will single-handedly save millions/billions, create economic opportunity and can return the old tight-knit communities people yearn for.
5.) Adopt velodromes for personal transport
Cities can be built in a pattern so you are never more than 15 minutes from a train station and can get across really easier. If you don't fancy the train, roads give priority to bikes and velodromes so you can move quickly and easily.
Cities can be built in a pattern so you are never more than 15 minutes from a train station and can get across really easier. If you don't fancy the train, roads give priority to bikes and velodromes so you can move quickly and easily.
5.) Mixed-Use Planning
Urban planners abandoned mixed-use planning with industrialisation and wanted to keep factories away from residential areas.
However, the best and most liveable cities have mixed use areas.
Urban planners abandoned mixed-use planning with industrialisation and wanted to keep factories away from residential areas.
However, the best and most liveable cities have mixed use areas.
With few exceptions, there is no need to have most housing in one place seperate from places of work, shopping and other amentities.
Seperating human activities into different zones makes for boring cities, wastes money and is actually unnecessary nowadays.
Seperating human activities into different zones makes for boring cities, wastes money and is actually unnecessary nowadays.
It used to be common for people to build the first level of their townhouse and dedicate it as a business-space for whatever their family business/es dealt in.
We could do this and give far more people their own commercial space.
We could do this and give far more people their own commercial space.
6.) Democratise Urban Construction
We all acknowledge the virtues of a democratic society so why are peope disenfranchised in one of the most areas of their lives?
Take any poll you want done regarding the most famous and controversial buildings built recently.
We all acknowledge the virtues of a democratic society so why are peope disenfranchised in one of the most areas of their lives?
Take any poll you want done regarding the most famous and controversial buildings built recently.
You will see the locals don't want it in their area. Buildings like the 'Walkie-Talkie' in London and other monstrosities.
Simply put, if a large company wants to build a new 'landmark' - it has to be approved by majority vote AFTER it meets stringent protective guidelines.
Simply put, if a large company wants to build a new 'landmark' - it has to be approved by majority vote AFTER it meets stringent protective guidelines.
7.) Moving from standard architecture to medicinal architecture
We often think of buildings as just shelter.
BUT they can be a lot more.
The first step is to move back to natural materials. The current materials used only the short-term profits of capitalists.
We often think of buildings as just shelter.
BUT they can be a lot more.
The first step is to move back to natural materials. The current materials used only the short-term profits of capitalists.
The truth is a lot of these materials are not particularly strong or cost-effective nor are they safe.
Sick Building Syndrome is a thing and the modern 'fireproof' furniture and fixtures we have now have been shown to be inferior to older options.
Architecture can be medicinal
Sick Building Syndrome is a thing and the modern 'fireproof' furniture and fixtures we have now have been shown to be inferior to older options.
Architecture can be medicinal
Imagine your house is now made of materials proven to calm humans just by being near them.
Now imagine the greenery on all your streets are strategtically planted and kept to purify your air and lower temperatures in the summer.
Now imagine the greenery on all your streets are strategtically planted and kept to purify your air and lower temperatures in the summer.
8.) Eliminating most light and noise pollution
Starting from scratch, cities can be built to minimise noise pollution with emerging sound-block tech being developed.
As for light pollution, fitting out houses so they block external light at night and use UV light internally.
Starting from scratch, cities can be built to minimise noise pollution with emerging sound-block tech being developed.
As for light pollution, fitting out houses so they block external light at night and use UV light internally.
Imagine your city is designed in a way that increases social cohesion, encourages people to mingle of different backgrounds, that opens people up to talking to each other more and relaxes them.
Imagine with all the cost-savings made by doing away with inefficient and sub-optimal practices we now have cities that enhance the environment instead of damaging it.
You might walk past a new fungi facility where plastic is literally eaten to produce energy.
You might walk past a new fungi facility where plastic is literally eaten to produce energy.
This is ridiculously long but I love architecture (as you might have guessed) and I want everyone to know the possibilities that exist.
There is so much more to it as well!
There is so much more to it as well!
