New+Urbanism


 * New Urbanism** is an urban design movement that advocates for the development of walkable, vibrant, mixed-use communities. The fundamental idea behind the New Urbanist philosophy is the design and creation of communities along traditional pre-twentieth century lines of centered, compact development that limits the need for automobile use while fostering social interaction. [i]



The New Urbanist movement officially began in 1993 with the founding of the Congress for the New Urbanism. [ii] Its roots, however, can be traced back to mid-twentieth century social critics like Lewis Mumford and Jane Jacobs, both of whom criticized the projects and results of modernist plannng and development.
 * History: **

New Urbanism has at its core several defining principles, which include:
 * Principles:**[iii]** **

-Most things within a 10-minute walk of home and work -Pedestrian friendly street design (buildings close to street; porches, windows & doors; tree-lined streets; on street parking; hidden parking lots; garages in rear lane; narrow, slow speed streets) -Pedestrian streets free of cars in special cases
 * Walkability **

-Interconnected street grid network disperses traffic & eases walking -A hierarchy of narrow streets, boulevards, and alleys -High quality pedestrian network and public realm makes walking pleasurable
 * Connectivity **

-A mix of shops, offices, apartments, and homes on site. Mixed-use within neighborhoods, within blocks, and within buildings -Diversity of people - of ages, income levels, cultures, and races
 * Mixed-Use & Diversity **

-A range of types, sizes and prices in closer proximity
 * Mixed Housing **

-Discernable center and edge -Public space at center -Importance of quality public realm; public open space designed as civic art -Contains a range of uses and densities within 10-minute walk -Transect planning: Highest densities at town center; progressively less dense towards the edge. The transect is an analytical system that conceptualizes mutually reinforcing elements, creating a series of specific natural habitats and/or urban lifestyle settings. The Transect integrates environmental methodology for habitat assessment with zoning methodology for community design. The professional boundary between the natural and man-made disappears, enabling environmentalists to assess the design of the human habitat and the urbanists to support the viability of nature. This urban-to-rural transect hierarchy has appropriate building and street types for each area along the continuum.
 * Traditional Neighborhood Structure **

-More buildings, residences, shops, and services closer together for ease of walking, to enable a more efficient use of services and resources, and to create a more convenient, enjoyable place to live. -New Urbanism design principles are applied at the full range of densities from small towns, to large cities
 * Increased Density **

-Minimal environmental impact of development and its operations -Eco-friendly technologies, respect for ecology and value of natural systems -Energy efficiency -Less use of finite fuels -More local production -More walking, less driving
 * Sustainability **

Seaside, Florida:
 * Examples of New Urbanist Communities: **

Kentlands, Maryland:

Cornell, Ontario:

Jakriburg, Sweden:

• Some critics suggest that because New Urbanist towns are planned as complete communities and are often built by a single developer, they lack the character and vitality--the “fluid blend of multiple uses”--of communities that have grown organically over time. [iv] • New Urbanist principles can be difficult to implement because they often run counter to existing building and zoning ordinances.
 * Drawbacks of New Urbanism: **

• One of the keys to designing and siting a house in a way that encourages community interaction is to emphasize walkability and density. • Think of a house not as a standalone unit but as part of a larger system, an element in the person/house/street/neighborhood/town network. • It’s about the underlying principles and patterns: density, walkability, and compact, centered development do not have to be limited to large cities, nor do they have to take on the forms of high-rise apartment buildings or attached row houses. This type of development can apply equally well to towns on the scale of Middlebury
 * Important Lessons from the New Urbanist Movement: **

Congress for the New Urbanism:
 * Useful Links: **

http://www.cnu.org

Peter Katz’s //The New Urbanism: Toward an Architecture of Community// • This short book provides a useful overview of New Urbanist ideas from the perspectives of several important figures within the movement

http://books.google.com/books?id=Nb0tNFc5Y90C&printsec=frontcover&dq=peter+katz+new+urbanism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=tMdPT5S5M_K00QGa9P3CDQ&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=peter%20katz%20new%20urbanism&f=false

Christopher Alexander’s //A Pattern Language// (Preview) • Alexander’s book describes the ways in which fundamental and basic patterns and relationships can be used to build houses and communities that are practical, safe, and attractive.

http://books.google.com/books?id=hwAHmktpk5IC&printsec=frontcover&dq=christopher+Alexander+pattern&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ktBPT5CcFsW30AHSq6C8DQ&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=christopher%20Alexander%20pattern&f=false

The architectural firm of Duany Plater-Zyberk and Company • Andres Duany and his wife Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk were two of the founders of the New Urbanist movement, and their website has some useful information

http://www.dpz.com/

[i] “New Urbanism.” http://www.newurbanism.org/ [ii] See “Charter of the New Urbanism.” Congress for the New Urbanism, http://www.cnu.org/charter [iii] This section has been created based on: “New Urbanism.” http://www.newurbanism.org/ [iv] Chris DeWolf, “Why New Urbanism Fails,” Planetizen, 18 February 2002. http://www.planetizen.com/node/42