RDG Planning & Design’s Post

An interesting highlight to often overlooked effects of this century’s shift in automotive marketing. While car manufacturers continue to market bigger, more expensive crossovers to the American consumer, we grapple with the consequences of how these cars occupy public space. An unsurprising effect, illustrated below, shows how these larger, more expensive vehicles require more space to park and seek more separation from cosmetic risks. As American cities redefine parking criteria for future developments, these code adjustments often find themselves in adversary with image and cultural value of one of our most expensive pieces of private property. In an era where vehicles are marketed as more rugged and luxurious, yet are becoming increasingly expensive to purchase and maintain, are their risks outweighing their benefits yet? Unmentioned, is how auto-centric lifestyles contribute negatively to American health, both mental and physical, and safety in (sub)urban environments. What is the place of cars in the future of our cities? How should we as consumers respond to the American auto-industry’s options, if at all? 🧐 Of course, not all cars fit squarely into this generalization. My VW Vanagon is large even by today’s standards, but it’s also slow and full of dents!

Agree fully, we need to start taxing cars by width and length as well as by value and emissions.

The ripple effect of this reality is significant to our communities and environment with the expanded asphalt/hard surfaces routing greater volumes of stormwater into our already overtaxed sewer systems. In turn, more energy is consumed to continually treat this ever growing collected grey water.

Charles Montgomery’s Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design examines how urban environments shape happiness and well-being. He advocates for cities that prioritise people over cars, fostering social connection and vibrant communities instead of isolation and sprawl. Critiquing car-centric suburban design, Montgomery contrasts its long commutes and disconnection with the benefits of walkable, compact cities. Using examples like Bogotá’s cyclist-friendly infrastructure under Mayor Enrique Peñalosa and New York’s High Line Park, Montgomery demonstrates how thoughtful urban design can enhance public happiness. He critiques urban visions from figures like Le Corbusier and Ebenezer Howard, arguing that their focus on efficiency and aesthetics overlooked the importance of human connection and scale. At its core, Happy City is a call to design cities that reflect sustainability, equity, and joy. Montgomery’s accessible analysis and optimistic tone make it essential reading for anyone envisioning a happier, more connected urban future.   For a more detailed review check out the Climate Currents page on our website - https://lnkd.in/gN3UqyDy #SDI #SolarDecathlonIndia #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #ClimateCurrents

'Urban centres have historically formed integral and integrated components of our cities, towns and villages. They were mixed places, places of commerce, places of exchange, places of gathering, places of entertainment, places to dwell, places of production, places of interaction, places of opportunity, generative places to prosper. However, through time they have become less mixed, less integrated, actively zoned and retail focused, resulting in mono environs that are much of a muchness.' ML's Urban Studio lead Kevin Logan examines new ways of how we can stitch our cities back together. #urbanists #architects Read here: https://lnkd.in/enV6nPwp

Building the Future: America's Ambitious Skyscrapers | Exploring Urban Development Discover how America's ambitious skyscrapers symbolize ambition, innovation, and the evolving American dream. Learn about the shift towards vertical growth in major cities and its impact on local communities. Share your city's architectural wonders in the comments! #SkyscraperDreams #UrbanDevelopment #BuildingTheFuture #CityArchitecture #AmericanDream #VerticalGrowth #CommunityImpact #Cityscape #ArchitecturalWonders #UrbanExploration

🌟 {Professional, forward-thinking} 🌟 As Big 5 Global 2024 wraps up, LivableCitiesX, Future FM, and GeoWorld have left a lasting impact on the need for new urbanism principles. The visionary Prof. Carlos Moreno's 15-Minute City concept has sparked crucial discussions on transforming our urban landscape. 🔮 Prediction: - The paradigm shift towards the 15-Minute City model will gain momentum across different regions and cities globally. - We can expect to see more urban planning initiatives focusing on creating walkable, inclusive communities and reducing car dependency. 💡 General Commentary: - Prof. Carlos Moreno's vision of the Middle East becoming a region of proxilience is inspiring and showcases the potential for sustainable urban development. - Embracing new urbanism principles is not just about the future; it's about creating cities that are adaptive and resilient in the 21st century. Let's continue to champion innovative urban planning strategies and work towards creating cities that prioritize sustainability, accessibility, and community well-being. Together, we can shape a more livable and vibrant future for all. #UrbanPlanning #Sustainability #FutureCities

#AccessibleEU brought together international experts in accessible urbanism in an event about #SmartCities held in Madrid on 2 July. The event aimed to raise awareness and promote best practices in accessibility within urban environments, and was structured around the following topics: - Smart human cities: technology at the service of urban design and mobility for all; - Users of the urban environment: needs, problems and good practices for the use and enjoyment of public spaces; - Lessons learned from the award-winning cities in the European Commission's Access City Award; - New urban developments: strategies and challenges for effectively incorporating accessibility in urban design processes. #AccessibleCities #InclusiveUrbanDesign

How Urbidermis is paving the way toward a new 21st century city. Urbidermis & Belloch Forestal envisions their domain as “the living city,” a view that sees urban space to be alive, evolving, interconnected and interdependent. Authoring innovative solutions for a new 21st century, they are working to make our cities more habitable, more inclusive, more receptive to technological advancement, yet more deeply rooted in the natural world. Follow along as we share “The Living City”, a series of short films documenting this perspective and the potential it holds to transform urbanism as we know it. Learn more about Urbidermis: https://bit.ly/46VTkJM