the red tarmac offers pedestrians an extra safety measure when crossing, while taking away space from the drivers); parking is also a critical matter, generating therefore, economic consequences for the local shops (‘Material Lives’, 2009, scene 1). Another relevant point is the fact that, City Road social appearance, along with its material assets usage, changes considerably throughout the day, making it almost a different street by nightfall (e.g. from a busy commercial street during the day…
There is a major competition between the inner city and suburban life, though I am of the belief that urban development should take a page from suburban developers because they should look at their communities from the outside in. The author believes this because the greatest disadvantage of the city is not its own problems, but the extreme competence and…
Dylan Newbury Beginning Comp November 18, 2015 What is a hero exactly? Is it someone that dresses up in a costume and saves the city? Or is it someone that we just simply look up to and admire? Maybe it’s just someone that loves you for you and cares about your happiness. To me, a hero is someone that no matter what life throws at them they can take it on, someone that will always put others first whether it’s helping them with simple life problems or giving your life in order for them to live…
For centuries, urban planning has played a key role in developing human well-being as well as protecting the environment, public welfare and especially residents. Houses, schools, parks, buildings, surrounding environment including transportation, air, water and infrastructure affect people’s lives. Therefore, it is undeniable that prosperity and advancement in terms of security and healthcare are major requirements to many people living in cities. What comes after this is the question of what…
The Impact of Gentrification in Major Urban Cities In Fortress Los Angeles Mike Davis discusses how corporations redevelopment of major urban cities has led to gentrification. Davis refers to the term gentrification as, "Extraordinary precautions … taken to ensure the physical separation of the different classes" (509). Gentrification zones through the city have widened the gap between the the socioeconomic classes that exist in society, resulting in a displacement of a large number of…
Societies around the globe are experiencing an overwhelming wave of urban growth; it is this urbanization that allows for the modern world to undergo such an extensive demographic transition as cities become the core of our future. In his best-selling novel, Planet of Slums, Mike Davis highlights one key obstacle of urban success: the uprise of the informal working class, more commonly known as the slums. Firstly, Davis analyzes how slums have caused four main macroscale shifts between societies…
are the goals of the “orthodox” urban planners (Garden Cities” theorists, Le Corbusier etc.) whom Jacob criticizes? Jane Jacobs throughout Chapter 1 of “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” explains her philosophy regarding urban planning that is centered around using the successes and failures of existing cities as a paradigm for urban planning and design. Jacobs claims that cities “are an immense laboratory of trial and error” in which city planning should be based off of “learning…
A perfectly imperfect world The picture below is of an urban residential suburb. I’d like to start off by asking you how you feel or what you think when you drive through the tree-lined streets of areas like Westville, Umhlanga or Musgrave, with its large homes and precipitous driveways? Cliff notes version of my thoughts: • Sense of hope and potential • Encourages one to dream for the future • Wouldn’t be tempted to litter because the community is so clean • Gives the impression that the people…
Designing a More Inclusive City The article by Allison Arief on the need to build an inclusive city that accommodates the needs of the people gives us a good example to demonstrate the presence of the argumentative aspects in logic. To understand her arguments well, we must delve into the deeper meaning of the article. The first logical fallacy that is articulated in the article is that people tend to sit where there are places to sit. The author goes on to support this claim by citing…
Delirious New York, he engages the readers through his review and criticism of modern urbanism and architecture. He explores the city of Manhattan as an urban experiment and a field for man made experiences and a platform to the modern life. He demonstrates the concept of “Manhattanism” as a manifestation of urbanism of hyper density created by the man made urban conditions. The first chapter of the book gives the…