Browsing by Subject "New Urbanism"
Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item A typology of rules : predictability, flexibility, and adaptation in form-based codes(2011-05) Barnett, Bradley Ryan; Paterson, Robert G.; Almy, DeanForm-based codes have been touted as a more flexible approach to zoning that emphasize physical form over land use to create more predictable built results, making sustainable urban form more achievable. However, scholarship to date has focused primarily on the New Urbanist aspects of form-based codes, with limited attention paid to broader issues of urban design and development as they relate to codes themselves. This paper thus proposes a new framework for studying form-based codes: a typology of rules. This proposed framework provides an instrument for evaluating form-based codes by looking at the structural characteristics of codes as they relate to predictability, flexibility, and adaptation to future change. It also separates the study of form-based codes from battles over New Urbanism, instead reframing form-based codes as an autonomous field of inquiry. Use of this typological analysis in a series of case studies indicates that there is a lack of diversity in the rule typologies currently employed in form-based codes. A discussion then highlights how the use of a typology of rules could help create codes that are adaptive and flexible enough to respond to the needs of contemporary urbanism.Item An alternative way to promote our built environment : more reasonable way to realize the Baby Boomers’ urban living(2008-05) Kim, Hwan Yong, active 2008; Oden, MichaelCalculating the numbers of people, their age, and income demographic in our future not only gives the idea of how people’s lifestyle will change, but also provides a clue of how planners should prepare the future. In this perspective, planners should pay close attention to any possible changes in demographic profile. By closely researching the cause and effect of the changes, they are able to be more responsible to the future and design an environment that better meets the needs of the population. According to many researches about population projection, we will experience a significant shift in population pyramid and this can be traced to the Baby Boomer generation’s aging. This report starts with connecting the population change to the recent development theories in urban planning and design field. To make our living environment better, and to make the urban theories, such as Infill Development, or New Urbanism, more sustainable, I think the development patterns should be more flexible to reflect our future demographic changes. By doing so, we will be able to maximize the advantages of those theories and make our built environment more sustainable stage.Item An investigation of induced travel at mixed-use developments(2009-05-15) Sperry, Benjamin RobertExisting literature suggests that mixed land-use developments have the potential to reduce traffic by ?capturing? some trips internally and providing a pedestrian-friendly environment to facilitate walking for some trips. However, these elements which are meant to provide the traffic-reducing benefits also reduce the overall cost of travel, thereby increasing the total amount of travel. This ?induced? travel has implications for the site planning process, which assumes that all internal trips are replacing trips on the external street network. In this investigation, travel survey data were analyzed to determine the nature and extent of induced travel at mixed-use developments. The study site was a 75-acre suburban infill mixed-use development in Plano, Texas. Features of the study site included a diverse land-use mix, a grid-style street layout, and pedestrian-oriented streetscapes. The travel survey was administered as an interview of persons exiting buildings at the site and gathered information about two trips made by the respondent, including whether the trip made at the time of the interview was induced. A trip was considered induced if the respondent would not have made the trip if it had required travel outside of Legacy Town Center. Analysis found that in the morning, four percent of all trips at the study site were induced; in the afternoon, about one-quarter of all trips were induced. Induced trips accounted for one-eighth of internal trips in the morning and forty percent of internal trips in the afternoon. Most internal trips made in an automobile were replacements for off-site travel while most trips made on foot were induced. Based on this study, it is evident that some internal trips at mixeduse developments are not ?captured? from external streets, but represent additional trips, induced by travel cost savings in the mixed-use environment. However, it is demonstrated that, even with this additional travel, mixed-use developments still contribute to a reduction in overall vehicle-miles of travel. Stakeholders are encouraged to consider these findings when evaluating new land-use policies or the traffic impacts of proposed mixed-use developments.Item The Social Life of Steeplechase Park: Neighborhood Dog-Park as a "Third Place(2012-12-11) Gulati, Nidhi 1986-In the United States, there is a growing trend towards livable cities that facilitate physical, psychological, and social well-being. According to Congress of the New Urbanism, the great American suburb served by the automobile, does not fulfill all these functions. Urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg points out three realms of satisfactory life as work, home and the ?great good place? as the third. The third place is one that facilitates barrier free social interaction, for example the American main-street, the English pub, French coffee house etc. Despite the ever existing need for such places, greater travel distances and the ever expanding needs of the automobile era have stripped our urban fabric of these. The Charter of the New Urbanism points out that in the American suburbs, neighborhood parks have the potential to serve as ?third places.? The twofold purpose of this research was to examine Steeplechase dog-park using Oldenburg?s Third Place construct as a starting point; and then to operationalize third place by establishing relationships between social characteristics and physical environment. Participant observation, casual conversations and ethnographic interviews were methods used to examine how residents use Steeplechase Park. The observation phase was used to understand on-site behavior, user interests and then establish contacts with participants for recruitment. In-depth interviews were then conducted to examine user history, relationships and attitudes toward the place. Data was coded and analyzed in NVivo 10 utilizing Oldenburg?s framework as a reference, the components of which were then examined for correlations to the physical elements. The findings of suggest that Steeplechase Park functions as a somewhat unique third place in terms of user motivation, companion animal/social lubricant, neutrality and inclusiveness of the place. Findings also establish useful links between the physical design of the space and the social activity; prospect-refuge supported by vegetation and layout, topography, shade, edges and access being the most important aspects. Additionally, lack of maintenance was established as a major concern to sustained use.