Underground Cities

[Manila-X]

In some major cities around the world, there are extensive networks of tunnel underneath city centres or downtown areas. This is mostly common in North America particularly in Houston, Montreal, etc.

These tunnels are sometimes connected through metro stations or office buildings and contains commercial and entertainment establishments.

[Manila-X]

One example would be the Houston Tunnel System underneath The Downtown area.



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[Svartmetall]

Originally Posted by WANCH

In some major cities around the world, there are extensive networks of tunnel underneath city centres or downtown areas. This is mostly common in North America particularly in Houston, Montreal, etc.

These tunnels are sometimes connected through metro stations or office buildings and contains commercial and entertainment establishments.

I'm actually not a fan of them except in extreme climates (Montreal is a good example of that). They seem to result in dead streetscapes. One thing I love about cities is the buzz you get from pedestrians on the street. It's like segregating people from the city to make them plunge underground.

(Plus being inside all the time is stuffy... Fresh air is a good thing!)

[hkskyline]

I already have a thread on this topic with an article of Seoul's underground world from 2009 in this section :

Underground Cities

[poshbakerloo]

I'm really not a fan. Sometimes people need to be kept away from roads if they are very big, too big to cross. But I would rather have glass sided bridges.

In England we have quite a few pedestrian tunnels. Close to my home in Sheffield there are several under passes on the Ring Road. They are needed as trying to get a lot of people over an 8 lane road is not easy lol.

But I would rather see a glass sided bridge or at least bars. It stops people getting scared by crime as they are very visible from the ground rather than being hidden in a tunnel...

[diablo234]

Chicago also has a network of underground pedestrian walkways however it is relatively small compared with the ones in Houston, Toronto, and Montreal.



Also cities such as Minneapolis, St. Paul, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Calgary have above ground pedestrian walkways that are climate controlled.

[Manila-X]

I'm not a fan either but it this is becoming very common in most major cities including HK to some extent.

[Marcanadian]

Toronto's PATH network is the largest underground shopping complex in the world, at 28 kilometres and over 1200 stores. I think Toronto's street life is vibrant enough, I don't know many people who use the PATH system on a regular basis. It is useful for our climate, since the snow can get heavy at times, and very useful for subway commuters.


http://www.torontopath.com/uploads/PathMap.pdf

[Dimethyltryptamine]

I don't like the idea myself. Glad we have a nice climate here and no need for it. Keeps the streets plenty busy.

[Xusein]

Toronto's underground city is insane, I remember actually getting lost in it when I was there.

[Suburbanist]

Underground pedestrian tunnels, if properly cleaned and lit, are a great solution. They protect against weather (rain, heat, cold, snow) and solve problems of interference with streets, highways, railways etc.

If they are planned as part of construction of major building complexes, they are relatively cheap to embed in the blocks also. Of course, being buried means it uses less energy to heat or cool.

In the case of some North American cities like Houston or Montréal, they are essential to allow any longer-than-200m walking stroll, considering the harsh climate of them over summer and winter.

New York would do good with some pedestrian tunnels also, particularly downtown and around Times Square.

[RawLee]

Apart from underpasses, there arent any here.

[GENIUS LOCI]

Originally Posted by WANCH

One example would be the Houston Tunnel System underneath The Downtown area.



image hosted on flickr

Is there a reason for having those tunnels in Houston

I knew the ones in Canadian cities as Montreal or Toronto were built because of the severe winters, but in Southern Texas the climate is way different

[joshsam]

Extreme heat?

[GSAA]

Originally Posted by Svartmetall

I'm actually not a fan of them except in extreme climates (Montreal is a good example of that). They seem to result in dead streetscapes. One thing I love about cities is the buzz you get from pedestrians on the street. It's like segregating people from the city to make them plunge underground.

(Plus being inside all the time is stuffy... Fresh air is a good thing!)

I agree, Houston's (which was mentioned as an example) downtown seems like a large city which has been deserted overnight. Here's one of downtown's main streets: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...32.89,,0,-4.74

[joshsam]

Houston is known to be a drive thru and park city...
No to mention that lots US downtown that only hold skyscrapers for working feel deserted. In most US cities, downtwon is not the place to look for streetlife. It's mostly in other neighborhoods you can find that...

[diablo234]

Originally Posted by joshsam

Houston is known to be a drive thru and park city...
No to mention that lots US downtown that only hold skyscrapers for working feel deserted. In most US cities, downtwon is not the place to look for streetlife. It's mostly in other neighborhoods you can find that...

That's starting to change though since there has been an increase in mixed use residential development in Downtown Houston. Also for a while the nightlife scene in Downtown used to be packed.

And yes when it is 104 F (40C) outside those tunnels do come in handy.

[Suburbanist]

It it just not feasible to have people happily walking on streets under humid summers. Particularly if, like in US, you spend most of the time in a/c at house, school, workplace, always in environments with temps around 21-24 oC.

Same happens with Phoenix but, geez, how are you supposed to have "street activity" in a place that burns your shoes? It is as unrealistic as expecting people in Edmonton to go out for a stroll in the middle of a windy night in winter.

The Americas as continent have far harsh climate than Europe, be it in terms of temperatures, wind speed etc. Rich cities and people adjust accordingly.

Coffee in a promenade in Paris with 1,7 m/s breeze, 61% humidity, 24 oC = nice

Coffee in an open yard in Houston with 5 m/s breeze, 80% humidity, 38 oC = not really interesting.

[CWB_IAH]

Here are some more pictures of the Houston tunnel system. The system is around 10 kms long and about 6 m about street level. It connects 95 blocks and many of the major commercial buildings.

All pictures were taken by me (cell phone, that is why the quality is not that great).



And I agree with the post above, the weather in Houston is horrible during the summer (May through September). But the rest of the year is just fine. so I think improving the "walkability" and street life in Houston is definitely worth a shot.

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[Slartibartfas]

Originally Posted by Suburbanist

It it just not feasible to have people happily walking on streets under humid summers. Particularly if, like in US, you spend most of the time in a/c at house, school, workplace, always in environments with temps around 21-24 oC.

Same happens with Phoenix but, geez, how are you supposed to have "street activity" in a place that burns your shoes? It is as unrealistic as expecting people in Edmonton to go out for a stroll in the middle of a windy night in winter.

For some weird reasons it seems to be working in central Chicago though.

9
Coffee in an open yard in Houston with 5 m/s breeze, 80% humidity, 38 oC = not really interesting.

Thats why coffee houses have invented indoor space. It certainly takes away the meditarranean street life feel but enables a lively city with a mix of functions as well.