America vs Europe: Two Ways to Build a City
Architect and urban & computational designer Abhinav Bhardwaj made this great set of slides comparing urban design in the US and Europe, peppered with pithy observations like:
- European space is shaped on purpose: American open space is what’s left over.
- Small blocks make more corners, more routes, more street life.
- A fine grid offers hundreds of routes; the tree offers one way out.
(thx, meg)
Comments 2
I have visited Spain, and I adore the layout of the cities there. They have walkable neighborhoods, public squares, fountains, bicycle accommodations, and competent public transit. Automobiles and parking spaces are mostly banished to the periphery. A lot of the architecture is thoughtful, sightly, and long-lasting.
Lest I paint too rosy a picture, there are downsides. Some areas are stricken with neglect, and graffiti is very common. I gather that the rent is high, and space is limited. Still, the European approach feels more compatible with healthy humanity.
While these diagrams are always good to see rearticulated, I can't help but feel that this is the urban planning equivalent of the how to draw an owl meme.
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