Recently CNN has been reporting on the growth of suitability in the US, the ideas that have been taught in architecture schools around the country are reaching the public realm.
Moving out of the Suburbs and into the City:
The reality that lawns and suburbs are not sustainable and that density is; is taking people out of the suburbs and into the cities. Now half of the world’s population lives in cities and by 2050 it is said 70% of the worlds population will be in cities, this could be a result of the growing concern of our environment. During the Post-Modern era, in which the so-called “baby-boomers” began to thrive as professional adults in society, there was a sense of showing wealth and status trough size, houses grew bigger but the size of the family shrunk. The Suburbs took over. A generation later people are realizing this is not a sustainable way to live. Now, people want to be closer to neighbors and have better sense of community, they want amenities and schools they can walk to, they want good transportation options: they want density.
Sustainable Transport: a necessity for cities survival
Just like termites build mounds with complex networks, humans build Manhattan, the one of the most sustainable cities in the world because of density and abundance of sustainable transport options. People are tired of freeways, traffic caused by suburbs, lack of programmed green space and unwalkable places. There is a want and need for more choices in sustainable transit and walkable down towns. People want the opportunity to take public transit to reduce personal and environmental costs. There is a new awareness of rebuilding infrastructure around the United States, not only rebuilding transportation but also using alternatives like bike paths. Many cities, including Los Angeles are implementing Light Rail into the transit systems.
The “American Dream” is transforming, from one large house and lawn per family and one car per person and the open road; to fresh air, walkable places, accessible culture and close neighbors- essentially returning to our most sustainable and natural human construct: the city.
See more on CCN.com
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/04/01/infrastructure.rebuild/index.html?iref=allsearch
Part of complete coverage: Building up America
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2010/building.up.america/
Interesting post. I think this is an interesting topic and would be curious to see how much awareness increases as we continue to evolve as a society.
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