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European Urbanism: Lessons from a City without Suburbs
Posted on March 22, 2011 | No CommentsAthens has all the recommended incredients of Smart Growth and New Urbanism. It should be the an ideal prototype to understand and emulate. A closer look reveals that the application of the accepted design recipies deliver an upallatable outcome both for its residents and for the environment. What happened? -
How to Please Nature and Delight Residents
Posted on May 4, 2010 | 1 CommentBuilding a new neighbourhood always brings change to the natural landscape that it replaces. And the biggest change that goes unnoticed is what happens to the rainwater that falls on... -
The True Public Realm
Posted on April 16, 2010 | No CommentsSame city(Montreal), two streets and two strikingly different approaches to the public realm. Both streets are intensely public and encompass a range of uses but are predominantly gathering and socializing spaces.... -
“Urbanesque”:Town square amidst asphalt
Posted on March 5, 2010 | No CommentsUrbanesque: An imperfect mix of 19th century urbanism with 20th century technology. Like the Promenade Shops in Saucon Valey ( see earlier post) this square, “La Grande Place” ,... -
Main Street, Main Stage
Posted on February 26, 2010 | No CommentsSame day, time and Small Town. Two public realms centuries and realities appart. Main Street beautified and “fixed”, displaying history, small retail and street parking; it stands empty. All... -
Pattern Language Threads and Fabric design
Posted on June 29, 2008 | No CommentsAmong Christopher Alexander’s patterns, some deal with the conflict between car and pedestrian movement. Pattern 49, proclaims looped streets as the most suitable type at the neighbourhood scale followed...