GEOG 442GEOG 442

Day 21Day 21: Synthesis: Synthesis

2

SynthesisSynthesis● Leung: “Synthesis is about matching user needs Leung: “Synthesis is about matching user needs

and land supply within the framework of the public and land supply within the framework of the public interest. It involves creative thinking and critical interest. It involves creative thinking and critical evaluation” (p. 167).evaluation” (p. 167).

● There are several different kinds of plans that do There are several different kinds of plans that do this this –– policy framework plans, land classification policy framework plans, land classification plans, urban land use designs, and development plans, urban land use designs, and development management plans management plans –– each more detailed and each more detailed and prescriptive than the last.prescriptive than the last.

● All types of plans contain five elements: All types of plans contain five elements: purposepurpose,, informationinformation,, analysis analysis,, synthesis synthesis, and, and implement- implement-ationation, along with consideration of siting and sizing , along with consideration of siting and sizing issues.issues.

3

Plan ElementsPlan Elements● Regardless of its type, “a plan is a statement of policies of Regardless of its type, “a plan is a statement of policies of

what the community wants to do with its land, and how what the community wants to do with its land, and how these community goals are to be achieved.. It is a these community goals are to be achieved.. It is a document with words and graphics,” and usually contains:document with words and graphics,” and usually contains:

● a background study on user needs, land supply, and the a background study on user needs, land supply, and the various contexts in which the matching needs to occur;various contexts in which the matching needs to occur;

● a summary of background findings and a statement of a summary of background findings and a statement of goals and public interest issues;goals and public interest issues;

4

Plan ElementsPlan Elements● the proposed policies (e.g., land use, development, the proposed policies (e.g., land use, development,

transportation, and any special issue areas). These can be transportation, and any special issue areas). These can be presented in terms of land use, geographic area, or both. presented in terms of land use, geographic area, or both. (For more detail, see p. 168.)(For more detail, see p. 168.)

● a statement on implementation, either control or action-a statement on implementation, either control or action-oriented. (For an example, see Nanaimo’s Official oriented. (For an example, see Nanaimo’s Official Community Plan at: Community Plan at: http://www.nanaimo.ca/residents/http://www.nanaimo.ca/residents/ index_inside.asp?id=311&parent=19&sub_collection=68index_inside.asp?id=311&parent=19&sub_collection=68.).)

5

The ‘Good City’The ‘Good City’Underlying all plans there is an explicit or implicit notion of Underlying all plans there is an explicit or implicit notion of

the the good citygood city or community. There have been a or community. There have been a number of philosophies in this regard.number of philosophies in this regard.

● ModernismModernism- most closely associated with Le Corbusier - most closely associated with Le Corbusier and with the principles of the Congrés Internationaux and with the principles of the Congrés Internationaux d’Architecture Moderne (CIAM), as expressed in the d’Architecture Moderne (CIAM), as expressed in the 1933 Athens Charter. (Read the excerpt on pp. 169-1933 Athens Charter. (Read the excerpt on pp. 169-174; what do you think?)174; what do you think?)

6

The ‘Good City’The ‘Good City’● As Leung notes, modernism has been criticized in both As Leung notes, modernism has been criticized in both

theory and practice. His own view is that modernism theory and practice. His own view is that modernism contributed to making cities far more pleasant and contributed to making cities far more pleasant and healthy places to live, but he also notes that the healthy places to live, but he also notes that the modernist “status quo has become complacent and modernist “status quo has become complacent and lazy and, when challenged, defensive. For some lazy and, when challenged, defensive. For some people, modern planning has become planning by the people, modern planning has become planning by the rulebook, with the rules being hopelessly out-of-date.”rulebook, with the rules being hopelessly out-of-date.”

7

The ‘Good City’The ‘Good City’● Leung, wrongly so in my view, classifies Leung, wrongly so in my view, classifies Kevin LynchKevin Lynch

and and Christopher AlexanderChristopher Alexander with the modernists. I with the modernists. I believe they harken back to a pre-modernist school of believe they harken back to a pre-modernist school of thought, and forward to post-modernism.thought, and forward to post-modernism.

● Principles of the good city from Lynch include:Principles of the good city from Lynch include:

8

The ‘Good City’The ‘Good City’--vitalityvitality (supporting the health and well-being of the (supporting the health and well-being of the residents): On one level, our cities are far more health-ful, residents): On one level, our cities are far more health-ful, but on another level, sprawl is beginning to be blamed for but on another level, sprawl is beginning to be blamed for declining physical fitness and growing air and water declining physical fitness and growing air and water pollution levels, not to mention climate change.pollution levels, not to mention climate change.--sensesense (the degree to which a city has visual structure (the degree to which a city has visual structure and a sense of place): Clearly, sprawl is leading to the and a sense of place): Clearly, sprawl is leading to the phenomenon of “Anytown, North America.”phenomenon of “Anytown, North America.”

9

The ‘Good City’The ‘Good City’--fitfit (congruence between environment and activities): (congruence between environment and activities):

Arguably, cities are providing a better fit for cars than Arguably, cities are providing a better fit for cars than for people. This dimension is also supposed to relate to for people. This dimension is also supposed to relate to adaptability. Modernist buildings and spaces are not as adaptability. Modernist buildings and spaces are not as adaptable for new uses as pre-modern buildings were adaptable for new uses as pre-modern buildings were – for instance, rowhouses and warehouses.– for instance, rowhouses and warehouses.

--accessaccess (the ability to reach other people, activities, (the ability to reach other people, activities, services, and places, etc.): With its separation of uses services, and places, etc.): With its separation of uses and low densities, sprawl is making this more difficult – and low densities, sprawl is making this more difficult – especially for children, seniors, people with mobility especially for children, seniors, people with mobility issues, and those without cars.issues, and those without cars.

10

The ‘Good City’The ‘Good City’--controlcontrol (users’ control over provision, use, and (users’ control over provision, use, and

management of spaces and activities): Outside of management of spaces and activities): Outside of our own homes, the built environment is largely out our own homes, the built environment is largely out of our control, and the kind of control that Jane of our control, and the kind of control that Jane Jacobs (re Greenwich Village) talks about has Jacobs (re Greenwich Village) talks about has largely been lost.largely been lost.

11

The ‘Good City’The ‘Good City’Christopher Alexander has his own principles (see Christopher Alexander has his own principles (see A A

Pattern LanguagePattern Language and and A New Theory of Urban A New Theory of Urban DesignDesign).).

● Incremental growthIncremental growth (size, mix of sizes, and mix of (size, mix of sizes, and mix of functions): growth should occur in small chunks functions): growth should occur in small chunks (‘increments’) that are respectful of what’s already (‘increments’) that are respectful of what’s already there [think downtown Nanaimo];there [think downtown Nanaimo];

12

The ‘Good City’The ‘Good City’● Attention to the growth of larger wholesAttention to the growth of larger wholes- every - every

intervention in the built environment should heal the intervention in the built environment should heal the city and foster the creation of the greater whole [ditto];city and foster the creation of the greater whole [ditto];

● Buildings and developments should integrate wellBuildings and developments should integrate well- i.e., - i.e., should be based on an existing sense of place [ditto];should be based on an existing sense of place [ditto];

● Creating positive urban spacesCreating positive urban spaces- buildings surrounding - buildings surrounding public spaces, not spaces surrounding buildings;public spaces, not spaces surrounding buildings;

13

The ‘Good City’The ‘Good City’● The layout of buildings should be internally and externally The layout of buildings should be internally and externally

coherentcoherent- for instance, one should know where the - for instance, one should know where the entrance is, and the principal feature of a house should entrance is, and the principal feature of a house should not be the garage [think also Granville Island and its not be the garage [think also Granville Island and its Public Market];Public Market];

● Relating structures and details to larger and smaller Relating structures and details to larger and smaller wholes or ‘patterns’- wholes or ‘patterns’- his idea is that good architecture – his idea is that good architecture – that which maximizes human and ecological well-being – that which maximizes human and ecological well-being – has always manifested itself in the form of “patterns” or has always manifested itself in the form of “patterns” or gestalts. gestalts.

14

The ‘Good City’The ‘Good City’● Each pattern fits into the larger and smaller patterns Each pattern fits into the larger and smaller patterns

above and below it: “no pattern is an isolated entity. Each above and below it: “no pattern is an isolated entity. Each pattern can exist in the world, only to the extent that it is pattern can exist in the world, only to the extent that it is supported by other patterns: the larger the patterns in supported by other patterns: the larger the patterns in which it is embedded, the patterns of the same size that which it is embedded, the patterns of the same size that surround it, and the smaller patterns that are embedded surround it, and the smaller patterns that are embedded in it.” This also relates to the creation of in it.” This also relates to the creation of nodesnodes..

15

The ‘Good City’The ‘Good City’An example would be how the coffee shop (Java Hut) in An example would be how the coffee shop (Java Hut) in

the library contributes to the positive functioning of the the library contributes to the positive functioning of the interior and exterior spaces of that particular node on interior and exterior spaces of that particular node on campus. In Alexander's view, each intervention in the campus. In Alexander's view, each intervention in the built environment should seek to be built environment should seek to be contextualcontextual, rather , rather than free-standing; it should seek to heal and than free-standing; it should seek to heal and “complete” that which surrounds it. “complete” that which surrounds it.

16

The ‘Good City’The ‘Good City’● ““This is a fundamental view of the world. It says that This is a fundamental view of the world. It says that

when you build a thing you cannot merely merely build when you build a thing you cannot merely merely build that thing in isolation, but must also repair the world that thing in isolation, but must also repair the world around it, and within it, so that the larger world at that around it, and within it, so that the larger world at that one place becomes more coherent, and more whole; one place becomes more coherent, and more whole; and the thing which you make takes its place in the and the thing which you make takes its place in the web of nature, as you make it.”web of nature, as you make it.”

17

New UrbanismNew Urbanism● New urbanism is the most prominent of the new New urbanism is the most prominent of the new

doctrines to challenge modernism. It consists of sub-doctrines to challenge modernism. It consists of sub-movements, such as movements, such as Traditional Neighbourhood Traditional Neighbourhood DevelopmentDevelopment (TND), led by Andres Duany and (TND), led by Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and Transit-Oriented Transit-Oriented DevelopmentDevelopment (TOD), led by Peter Calthorpe. (TOD), led by Peter Calthorpe.

18

New UrbanismNew Urbanism● It is probably no coincidence that the first meeting of It is probably no coincidence that the first meeting of

the Congress of the New Urbanism (CNU) was in 1993 the Congress of the New Urbanism (CNU) was in 1993 – the 60th anniversary of CIAM meeting in Athens. It – the 60th anniversary of CIAM meeting in Athens. It sees itself as a similarly comprehensive movement, sees itself as a similarly comprehensive movement, with a similarly comprehensive program. However, it with a similarly comprehensive program. However, it seeks to restore and build on what it feels modernism seeks to restore and build on what it feels modernism destroyed.destroyed.

19

New UrbanismNew Urbanism● New urbanism features a very strong emphasis on New urbanism features a very strong emphasis on

urban designurban design, which deals with the relationships , which deals with the relationships between buildings and the public realm (streets and between buildings and the public realm (streets and open spaces) and how they fit together as a whole, open spaces) and how they fit together as a whole, including their aesthetic arrangement. (For details on including their aesthetic arrangement. (For details on the specifications for TND and TOD, and a comparison the specifications for TND and TOD, and a comparison of representative TND and TOD communities, see pp. of representative TND and TOD communities, see pp. 177-178).177-178).

20

New UrbanismNew Urbanism● New urbanism faces a number of challenges: New urbanism faces a number of challenges:

consumer preference for low-density suburbia; consumer preference for low-density suburbia; dominance of cars and an auto-oriented built dominance of cars and an auto-oriented built environment; a restrictive culture of planning and environment; a restrictive culture of planning and zoning; an increasingly privacy-seeking public; and zoning; an increasingly privacy-seeking public; and concern about the safety of alleyways and lanes, which concern about the safety of alleyways and lanes, which are a key feature of new urbanist design.are a key feature of new urbanist design.

21

New UrbanismNew Urbanism● There are many criticisms of new urbanism. Some There are many criticisms of new urbanism. Some

feel that new urbanist communities are too homo-feel that new urbanist communities are too homo-genous and ‘white bread’ though, as Leung points genous and ‘white bread’ though, as Leung points out, the US Department of Housing and Urban out, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been incorporating new Development (HUD) has been incorporating new urbanist principles into inner-city redevelopment urbanist principles into inner-city redevelopment projects.projects.

● Others feel that too many projects are greenfield Others feel that too many projects are greenfield (‘new suburbanism’?), but Doug Kelbaugh responds (‘new suburbanism’?), but Doug Kelbaugh responds that one has to build where the opportunity exists that one has to build where the opportunity exists and that, with greater acceptance, new urbanism and that, with greater acceptance, new urbanism will move into all settings and improve on its record.will move into all settings and improve on its record.

22

New UrbanismNew Urbanism● Leung questions the affordability and sustainability of Leung questions the affordability and sustainability of

what he calls ‘designer suburbs’ – that only mainly what he calls ‘designer suburbs’ – that only mainly elites can afford to live in them, and that their greater elites can afford to live in them, and that their greater density is compromised by their generous quotient of density is compromised by their generous quotient of green space, making them just as low density in net green space, making them just as low density in net terms as traditional suburbs.terms as traditional suburbs.

23

New UrbanismNew Urbanism● He also feels that new urbanism is fueled by a nostalgia He also feels that new urbanism is fueled by a nostalgia

for a simpler, more community-oriented time that may be for a simpler, more community-oriented time that may be irretrievably lost.irretrievably lost.

● Whatever the weaknesses of modernism and new Whatever the weaknesses of modernism and new urbanism, it is important to remember that they represent urbanism, it is important to remember that they represent paradigmsparadigms that were, and are, attempting to come to that were, and are, attempting to come to grips with the challenges and problems of their respective grips with the challenges and problems of their respective eras' built environments. eras' built environments.

24

New UrbanismNew Urbanism● There is always a danger when a paradigm is treated as There is always a danger when a paradigm is treated as

a dogma, when it pretends to have all the answers for all a dogma, when it pretends to have all the answers for all situations. This leads to inflexibility, and an unwillingness situations. This leads to inflexibility, and an unwillingness to learn from other schools of thought or points of view.to learn from other schools of thought or points of view.

● There is also a danger, with both paradigms, of elitism – There is also a danger, with both paradigms, of elitism – that the experts know best and will impose their viewpoint that the experts know best and will impose their viewpoint on everyone else.on everyone else.