Once upon a time …

Once upon a time …Once upon a time …

Pyrmont as new urbanismPyrmont as new urbanism

“The new urbanist approach can be applied at many scales, from individual subdivisions to entire regions. One of the avowed goals of new urbanism is to reduce the environmental impact of development and to protect natural areas. Among other things, it promises to cut land consumption through more compact development; decrease air pollution and energy consumption by reducing driving; and limit water pollution by preserving wetlands and by reducing the number of roads and other impervious surfaces that produce contaminated runoff.” Pollard, 2001

The Congress for New The Congress for New UrbanismUrbanism

“… views disinvestment in central cities, the spread of placeless sprawl, increasing separation by race and income, environmental deterioration, loss of agricultural lands and wilderness, and the erosion of society's built heritage as one interrelated community-building challenge.” user.gru.net/domz/charter.htm

“We advocate the restructuring of public policy and development practices to support the following principles: neighborhoods should be diverse in use and population; communities should be designed for the pedestrian and transit as well as the car; cities and towns should be shaped by physically defined and universally accessible public spaces and community institutions; urban places should be framed by architecture and landscape design that celebrate local history, climate, ecology, and building practice.” user.gru.net/domz/charter.htm

The Ahwahnee PrinciplesThe Ahwahnee Principles

Complete and integrated communitiesWalking citiesDiversity of housing stockBusiness-jobs correlationIntegrated land-use and transport planningCentre focusOpen space – squares, greens, parksPublic placesWell defined edges and corridors

The Ahwahnee PrinciplesThe Ahwahnee Principles

Non-motorized transport networksPreservation where feasible of natural terrain, vegetation, drainageResource conservation, waste minimizationWater managementEnergy efficiencyRegional contextIntegrated implementation strategiesPublic participation

Benefits of new urbanismBenefits of new urbanism

Access and accessibilityLiveabilityReduced costs to governments and individualsReduces the need for travelSensitive to cultural heritageTraffic calmingSense of placeBased on long-term construction principles and practices

Integrates different groupsMakes walking feel more enjoyableAvoids commercial blightIncreases citizen access to cultureLocal orientation in businessLess car dependence

Passive surveillance and civic care

Links to other existing neighbourhoods

Preserves and promotes community character

Self sufficiency emphasised

The great neighbourhoodThe great neighbourhood

Identifiable centre and edge – ‘you have arrived’Mixed land use and building stockBuilt-in diversityNetworksPrime property is public property

Private citiesPrivate cities

Critiques of new urbanismCritiques of new urbanism

Nothing new hereRecurring planning themes

Simple clusters of housing, retail, transit systems

ExclusiveFailure to implement principles of equityDiluted by political and capital concerns

Basically banal

Tangible resultsTangible results

Design for sustainabilityDesign for sustainability

mixture of commercial and residential uses smaller lots and more parks and open spacewalkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods; and street networks instead of cul-de-sacs connected to a few large collectors and arterials.