Urban Sprawl

My friend Katie shared this video w. me today. Its a little old school, but urban sprawl is still a problem...in fact a growing problem. I've heard of this notion of urban sprawl before, but I've never really been educated about it. Some of what the video taught is relevant to poverty and homelessness in the urban environment. I'm really interested to know more about urban sprawl's role in the homelessness crisis in urban environments.

So many disturbing things were revealed through this video. For example, its cheaper for developers to destroy countryside farms and build on them than it is to restore current buildings on prime real estate in the urban environment. The developer that was interviewed in the video said that they are just building the houses that the market is demanding. Well I just say...stop demanding these cookie cutter, ugly, destructive houses. There were a few suburban home owners that were interviewed as well. They were asked what they don't like about the neighborhoods they live in. Most of the critiques were that the people did not experience "diversity" in the type of people who live in the area. The people who lived there were not multi generational and everyone was/is white. Also, they explained that there weren't sidewalks or even street lights. There wasn't a single store that anyone could walk to. I find it strange that cities and urban environments were developed out of the desire to fulfill exactly these needs.

With so many people who have the financial status to move out of the city moving...what happens to the urban environment? Well it just concentrates poverty into one area making it more extreme. Buildings are left unattended and abandoned. Businesses move farther and farther out of town to the disgusting strip malls built on farmland leaving little to do or buy in the towns.

The environmental effects of choosing suburban life and therefore urban sprawl are overwhelming. In order to go anywhere or do anything the residents have to drive. Not to mention all of the additional pollution that happens to the air and land because of the spread of houses into perfectly healthy farmland.

Since Disney owns a ton of land they wanted to create an ideal town. They wanted to have schools, jobs, services, parks, entertainment, and houses all within walking distance of one another. They talked about creating a "real sense of community." There were sidewalks and street lights and less cars and traffic. The video commented that the ideal towns of tomorrow look exactly like the traditional towns of previous generations.

So how did we get so far from these traditional towns that just work well? Well, a lot of the problem lies in the zoning laws that have been passed that basically encourage urban sprawl. This is probably what I understand least about this issue, but I also think that much of the answer lies in changing these laws. The video proposed three (albeit very difficult) things that have to change in order to prevent even more urban sprawl:

:: Laws that govern zoning need changed. There are all kinds of limits on buildings in cities that just make it so much cheaper to build outside the city limits. Developers are in the business to build homes and make money, not to fight legislation. So, things are just going to continue as they are until someone makes it their priority to change the way this business of housing is done.

:: Traditional communities need to be demanded in order for them to be built. They also must be planned well. Much of the good planning that is happening in this country in cities like Portland and Charlotte, NC is modeled after the garden towns of England. It is curious to me that people moving into the suburbs are often looking for beautiful landscapes and quiet streets, and yet by moving into the beautiful farmland they are destroying exactly what they are seeking.

:: Encourage reinvestment in existing cities and towns. This one seems obvious to me. That kind of says it all.


"We've turned beautiful landscapes into strip mall junk-scapes." gross.

moving on...questions to consider

What are factors that contribute to homelessness in families?

What perpetuates it?

Demographics of Americans in poverty?
:: this will be the focus--maybe a chapter on the impoverished in the world

organizations that measure and work w. homeless

What does 'homeless' mean?

How do I approace this with a humble tone and think about the community of designers at large? This is about people not projects.

"If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together."

Look at different family units

Effects physically, psychologically, socially

What is already being done?

Evidence about fundamental needs of people.

Official topic proposal

Homelessness and Socially Responsible Design

One basic human need, as well as desire, is to have a home. Because of the significantly fundamental need for this space, it is sometimes perplexing that homelessness exists at all. It is not necessarily due to a lack of space that people are without a home, but a problem of being displaced by foreclosure or unemployment, for example. It is easy for people to look at homelessness as someone else’s problem. However, this attitude will never generate a solution to the problem. As an interior designer there is a fascination with this unique misdistribution of space. With that fascination comes a recognition of a deep need to create a responsible solution.

Homelessness is not an isolated experience. Meaning, not having a home can often compound the impact of not having access to other essentials such as education and healthcare. In order to better understand the complexity of this situation several basic issues will be researched. It is critical to have a firm understanding of these issues in order to provide a relevant and valuable response. Factors that cause and perpetuate homelessness will be direct connections to a solution that decreases the number of people who experience homelessness. The effect of being homeless rings deep psychologically, socially, and physiologically. What are some of the effects of homelessness in these areas?

The focus of the research will be centered on homeless families with children. The effects of being without a central sense of place will be especially evident by looking at this group. By studying this unique section within the larger body of people experiencing homelessness, the value and importance of the family unit will be evident.

Certainly there is work already being done in the design profession to help provide a solution, or at least some aid, to the millions experiencing homelessness. Therefore, it will be beneficial to consider the work that is currently being done. The unique combination of skills, education and interests found in architects and designers can and will make great change by applying their abilities to this critical, non-typical design social issue.

The anticipated outcome of the research and written portion of the project is to reveal the complexity of the situation as well as the need for new solutions. The written portion will be completed in conjunction with a design component attached to the senior design studios. The design portion will culminate in a facility that provides aid for people experiencing homelessness. Combining extensive research with a complex problem will yield a creative and effective contribution to one of our world’s current social issues.

possible topic b

Interested in making design (of structures, furniture) accessible to the poor (not only American poor, but the worlds poor)

:: how can we provide homes to the homeless? living structures?

:: disaster relief structures? Mema trailer-esque

:: furniture that is collapsible - nomadic--well designed nomadic pieces--ie: cubie unit

what would nomadic life produce/effect?

:: isolation, lack of mature, long term relationships

:: a different view of the world--increased sense of connectedness

:: ability to quickly provide aid to those w. great need--and temporarily


nomadic architecture can just be a niche--a response to materialism (what is considered nomadic?)
tension between over simplicity tot he point of discomfort and materialism. i think both are undesirable
:: inspired by Ettore Sottsass: we can change the mundane by surrounding ourselves w. extraordinary objects.


Return to simple basics

:: Nomadic life would bring real sustainability/stewardship to the forefront--no trash pick up on the road, energy consumption.

:: ability and ease to attain "good" food, ie: not fast food

possible topic a

Interested in the American Family (also the non-american family/other cultures' approach to the home)

:: the family unit - what does it look like? # of children, parents, relatives?

:: how does the "home" (built structure) play a role in this? is it clean, comfortable, safe, space for leisure?

:: what about the structure of the home? location, neighbors, apartment, house, homeless?


this thesis should address a larger social issue :: provide a solution to a problem that with out a change in design could not be attained --


Study the "First Place" -- being home
2nd place - work
3rd place - leisurely: panera, coffee, church, etc.

:: how can we redevelop the home to change the way higher parts (other parts) of society function?

what if people actually wanted to go home? if it wasn't a constant chore to keep the house/structure operating safely?

:: lower maintenance homes to encourage time w. people, family, friends -- building relationships.

:: Bill Strickland - Manchester Craftsman's Guild -- a built environment that chances social constructs here


what is a social construct? one that needs change? how to define "good change"?

beginnings...

So lots of new things have been happening in life lately. One specific new thing is the starting point of my thesis. Today is the official start. There. Its started.

I'm feeling nervous about the large responsibility that it is to have an education in design, and more directly, to do a thesis on the topic of my choice. There is pressure (mostly from myself) to make good change by and through this body of work. We'll see whats is made of it...