What is New Urbanism
New urbanism is a planning and design movement that seeks to create more walkable, livable, and sustainable communities. It emerged in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s as a response to the growing trend of suburban sprawl, which had led to a host of social and environmental problems, such as traffic congestion, air pollution, and social isolation.
Who are the Pioneers of New Urbanism
The pioneers of new urbanism were architects and planners who believed that the built environment had a profound impact on people's quality of life, and that the design of our cities and towns needed to change if we were to create more sustainable and equitable communities. They drew inspiration from the traditional urban neighborhoods of the past, which were characterized by mixed-use development, walkability, and a sense of community.
Examples of New Urbanism Developments
One of the earliest and most influential examples of new urbanism is Seaside, Florida, a master-planned community designed by architects Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk in 1981. Seaside was designed as a pedestrian-friendly town with a central town square, narrow streets, and a mix of residential and commercial buildings. It quickly became a model for other new urbanist developments and helped to popularize the movement.
Other examples of new urbanist developments include Celebration, Florida, a planned community developed by the Walt Disney Company, and Kentlands, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. that was designed to be a more walkable and sustainable alternative to conventional suburban development.
New urbanism has also been used to revitalize older urban neighborhoods, such as the Pearl District in Portland, Oregon and the South End in Boston, Massachusetts. In these cases, new urbanist principles were applied to existing buildings and infrastructure, with a focus on creating more livable and walkable streetscapes.
Advocates of New Urbanism
Leading advocates of new urbanism include architects and planners such as Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Peter Calthorpe, and Dan Parolek, as well as organizations such as the Congress for the New Urbanism and the Smart Growth Network.
New Urbanism and Architects
Architects have implemented new urbanism into their designs in a number of ways, such as incorporating mixed-use development, designing buildings to be closer to the street, and creating public spaces that encourage social interaction. They have also used new urbanist principles to guide the planning of entire neighborhoods and cities, with a focus on creating more sustainable and equitable communities.
Conclusion
New urbanism is a planning and design movement that seeks to create more walkable, livable, and sustainable communities. It emerged in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s as a response to the problems of suburban sprawl, and has since been used to create a variety of new urbanist developments and revitalize older urban neighborhoods. Its leading advocates include architects and planners who believe that the design of our cities and towns has a profound impact on people's quality of life, and who are working to create more sustainable and equitable communities for the future.
More to Read:
https://www.cnu.org/resources/what-new-urbanism
https://www.archdaily.com/963314/exploring-new-urbanism-principles-in-the-21st-century