BETTER CITY BETTER LIFE CONFERENCE TONGJI UNIVERSITY SHANGHAI 8 ...

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BETTER CITY BETTER LIFE CONFERENCE TONGJI UNIVERSITY SHANGHAI 8 ...

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• Arts

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• Publié par: efizubaq
• Nombre de lectures: 77
• Langue: Français
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

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BETTER CITY BETTER LIFE CUMULUS 2010 CONFERENCE TONGJI UNIVERSITY SHANGHAI 8 SEPTEMBER 2010

Cities x Design Best-practice Examples from the United States

By Sali Sasaki

Young Creators for Better City and Better Life Cumulus Conference 2010 Tongji University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

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Abstract

The United States is currently at a crossroad where the transitions between its past, present and future are being articulated. Cities from around the country are challenged in unprecedented ways at the beginning of this 21 st century. The American urban model, developed around cars, highways, and vast suburbs, is slowly exhausting its promises for a better life while poor planning has made cities incredibly obsolete. In this time of crisis, many places have to learn how to become relevant again. At a global level, many people are asking what makes a city great. Are great cities those that provide unforgettable experiences? Or are they places that manage to seamlessly bind the way they look with the way they work? How should they balance both tradition and modernity? This paper shows, through best practice examples collected during a 30-city tour, the various roles that designers play in this time of urban transformation. It also questions the implications linked to historic preservation and the relevance of both old and new ideas in urban environments.

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“Humans are skilled makers of a place for themselves in the world” i  

Introduction

American cities differ from European cities because of their young history and infatuation with everything new and shiny. For the longest time, architectural heritage was ignored in the United States to leave space for future ambitious plans. Yet recently, American cities have been looking at their past in order to find answers on how to build a more interesting future. 1960’s urban theories such as Jane Jacobs’ principles on new urbanism are re-emerging and becoming increasingly popular. Her bookThe Death and Life of Great American Citiesreference for many young proponents of mixed-useis a and human-scaled urban environments. Public mass-transit systems that were widely used before the 1950’s are also experiencing a revival in many cities and states. The National Trust For Historic Preservation is nationally promoting the preservation of old buildings. Its initiatives seek to revive city centres and downtown main streets that were left abandoned for decades. The subject of cities has become a bestselling topic, as it seems to reflect the most pressing issues of the 21 st century, including climate change, social justice and economic development. The term creativity, and the dreams associated to it, appeals to post-industrial American cities that are seeking opportunities for economic conversions. The definition and the way creative cities should be built are often contested. James Heartfield wrote in Blueprint magazine ii that the word creativity does not create just as the title creative city does not necessarily make a place more interesting. And despite a growing interest from politicians and urban decision-makers, it seems that the building of creative cities for global competitiveness, as defined by Richard Florida’sThe Rise of the

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