If you were to create your ultimate city (from scratch), what would be your main priority to make it successful?

[wc eend]

- maximal functional diversity (living, working, recreation, shopping, small industries), as long as those functions are compatible and not harmful to one another

- maximal openn-ness of the built environment at street level by commercial or public functions

- equibilirium of maximal density and maximal green space for each inhabitant

- within this framework, maximal diversity of architecture

- maximal walkability or cyclability, which means minimal car traffic

- important geographic features, like mountains, rivers, lakes, beaches

- lots of old stuff to provide creativity-inspiring grittiness

[fieldsofdreams]

interesting. What do you think is the ideal open space ratio per individual living in a city? And what is your justification to aim for such a ratio?

[wc eend]

I dont't know, that should be the outcome of some calculation. The point is just not to waste space. Making it dense but still comfortable.

[fieldsofdreams]

Originally Posted by wc eend

I dont't know, that should be the outcome of some calculation. The point is just not to waste space. Making it dense but still comfortable.

Ah, that's something we can discuss together.

My idea of open space per inhabitant is that for every one person living in a city, I am thinking that he or she deserves a 10 sq. meters of open space (3.33 meters x 3.33 meters) so that a person can roam around a city freely with less highway or building obstruction. That's idealism by the way. However, since cities nowadays grow so rapidly, especially in the developing world, many city planners disregard the true value of open space in a city that they jus resort to building either tall apartment buildings or lots of office structures or factories that parks are becoming a subordinate feature in cities, resulting in slums being a major area of growth in the inner cities.

The issue in the developing world in terms of city planning has been on the question of how much population can be sustained so that we could give people everything they want, while at the same time provide them choices of how they can help shape their neighborhood or community in the near- and long-term. And the question goes further on how to address the continuing migration of people from rural areas to cities while making sure that the rural areas they leave behind become more efficient to supply the growing food needs of the urban population. It is truly a chain of questions hat need to be addressed, not just by the government, but also with the private sector and NGOs, and that city planners should take the en masse growth of cities into a huge consideration... Perhaps if they can lead the charge for sustainable urban area growth.

[mintgum84]

Cool topic. I often imagine creating a perfect city. It would have to have strict population control and emphasise investment in human capital. That would provide order and attract investment.

It would be a college town/city. 4-5 universities, 100-150k max population, divided into sectors that are designed architecturally in separate styles (1 area in Gothic, another in Moorish, another ancient Japanese, another Renaissance etc).

Giddy with joy!

[fieldsofdreams]

Well, you're very fortunate that college and university cities are also in the scope of this topic. Architecture design-wise, how would you separate those neighborhoods with Gothic, Japanese, and Renaissance designs? Plus, how would you design your downtown area: what would be your focal point/s to make it attractive to residents, students, visitors, and business owners?

[mintgum84]

I figure the CBD could be modern and stuff with other styles being found in zones around the cental zone. So a city of say 6 zones, 1 of which is the CBD, the others 2-6 could each have a style of a different period.

I would also devout time and money to security to keep my city free from fools. It would be an intellectuals paradise.

[fieldsofdreams]

Hmmm... Interesting ideas. Sounds like Berkeley or Palo Alto in my case here, as well as nearby communities.

And speaking of zones, I have two questions in mind:

What would be an ideal number of zones or districts? How would you divide them and what unique characteristics you would provide in each zone or district?

In the progress, I want to expound on that question even further.

[Northsider]

Originally Posted by Rascar

I'm not sure how this is achievable,

lol, it's NOT achievable. Look at Brazil...all those slums cleared, where do those people go?!?! Never mind that, although illegal and crime and pollution are prevalent, these are thriving communities...more active and vibrant than many 'legit' areas of cities. suburbanist just has never left the comfort of his security fence to actually see what cities are like.

[wc eend]

Originally Posted by mintgum84

I figure the CBD could be modern and stuff with other styles being found in zones around the cental zone. So a city of say 6 zones, 1 of which is the CBD, the others 2-6 could each have a style of a different period.

I would prefer my CBD to be as close as possible to the historic heart of the city, but still somehow seperated. Preferably by a river. The number of different districts could be illimited.

[mintgum84]

Originally Posted by fieldsofdreams

Hmmm... Interesting ideas. Sounds like Berkeley or Palo Alto in my case here, as well as nearby communities.

And speaking of zones, I have two questions in mind:

What would be an ideal number of zones or districts? How would you divide them and what unique characteristics you would provide in each zone or district?

In the progress, I want to expound on that question even further.

They could be divided by public parks - ensuring a green city. I would want to avoid urban sprawl so 6 odd districts would be fine. I can picture it now, a college town of 100-150k, 4 universities with a varsity sports obsession - soccer, track meets, cricket, tennis et al.

Each zone would have its own feel. My 'Japanese' zone would have magic Japanese style architecture (traditional like Pagodas), some wooden construction - really try to create a feel of 'traditional Japan". Imagine going from there (it would have modern stuff - just stylistically 'old Japanese') to my 'Moorish' zone where buildings are magnificent and grand with domes and pastel colors - a whole new feel.

These are just ideas in the mind of a lad doing a PhD in Pol Sci. I am no designer, but I have a vision of what I'd like in a 'dream city'.

[fieldsofdreams]

Very interesting concept indeed. I like the idea of public parks acting as boundaries between districts, but in major cities, avenues or highways also divide the city into districts as well. For example, a main road named Broadway could create several districts out of it, with Broadway acting as the boundary between two or more districts at once.

Plus, your zoning plan seems to be interesting as well... and all that from a Political Science Ph.D. candidate. Amazing job. Makes me wanna think of pursuing a Ph.D. in Urban Planning Theory in the future.

[fieldsofdreams]

Originally Posted by wc eend

I dont't know, that should be the outcome of some calculation. The point is just not to waste space. Making it dense but still comfortable.

Sure, that's possible. But, you might also want to consider adding buffers between zones or districts too so that each neighborhood can have a unique feel to it.

[mintgum84]

Originally Posted by fieldsofdreams

Very interesting concept indeed. I like the idea of public parks acting as boundaries between districts, but in major cities, avenues or highways also divide the city into districts as well. For example, a main road named Broadway could create several districts out of it, with Broadway acting as the boundary between two or more districts at once.

Plus, your zoning plan seems to be interesting as well... and all that from a Political Science Ph.D. candidate. Amazing job. Makes me wanna think of pursuing a Ph.D. in Urban Planning Theory in the future.

I had considered urban planning as a field of study. I like college towns.

[fieldsofdreams]

Originally Posted by mintgum84

I had considered urban planning as a field of study. I like college towns.

I have been to college towns myself, but never lived in one. I travel around 80km both ways everyday between university and home... and I commute by bus and light rail the whole way.

[CNB30]

I would include a dense, mix-use downtown with cast iron and stone skyscrapers, and many iron fronts the roads would vary in with, but I would keep some sort of mixture of a grid, and city beautiful movement planning. The actual downtown area would be larger than downtown, but not quite as large as midtown NYC. I would want to give the town some sort of Victorian/early 20th century/steam-punk feel (except brighter and not as grim looking).
There would be plazas in places, and a streetcar/rail system running along all of the streets. To help relieve density, there would also be subways, and a few monorails. Right on the edges of the center area, there would be large train stations for everything from high speed rail, to regional, or even subways. Along with being grand, they would serve as an efficient way for people to hop right into downtown.

I would add much commercial life on the floors of my buildings, to keep street life at the center. All sorts of commercial businesses would be located here, ranging from banks, to clubs, to vendors, to department stores. Of course, the different industries will naturally stay in close proximity to each other, helping to have certain areas of downtown turn into almost districts.

[fieldsofdreams]

I would really like to create a city with your vision in mind. A downtown that isn't as dense as Midtown Manhattan but denser than many suburban communities is something I really want to aim for so that activity levels will be high, attracting a lot of businesses and industries. Add in an effective transportation network, and that city will grow leaps and bounds.

[fieldsofdreams]

Let me revive this thread with a new, follow-up question:

How can current cities become much more appealing to you, if you have the opportunity to redo them?

What I mean is that if you live in or close to a big city, are you satisfied with what you get to see each and everyday? Would you rather keep the city you have for a long time, or would you rather make some small modifications to buildings or infrastructure to make it much more appealing to you? I know that cities evolve over time, and that the world has become much more urban -- and will be -- that cities need to invest much more in redefining and reshaping itself.

[poshbakerloo]

Originally Posted by fieldsofdreams

Let me revive this thread with a new, follow-up question:

How can current cities become much more appealing to you, if you have the opportunity to redo them?

Well in general, most cities like London, Paris and New York are already very appealing. Looking at other cities that arn't so such as Manchester I would say they need to reduce the number of unlit parks, and places that the homeless and general low life and hang around as you see a lot of it, far more than in other cities.

[CNB30]

I think it would depend. I would for the most part leave a city like NYC, London, or Paris alone for the most part. But something like Charlotte or Cleveland, and the surrounding suburbs, I would decant, and replace with my Idea, I would even take out the anti-urban expressways, and replace them with a high speed rail network.