Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
ing affordable housing. The design incorporates pedestrian friendly streetscapes,
regional pathways systems, local 'main street' shops, and direct access to the rail
station. It includes a strict urban design code that emphasizes energy efficiency,
and controls building orientation and entrances, building material and finishing,
balconies, vertical and horizontal proportions. All developments in the area must be
reviewed and passed by a special architectural review committee. However both in
the TOD principles, and the practice, it is noticeable that recreational space, apart
from pathways to such areas, is largely ignored, at a time when the value of green
space is increasingly recognized (see Chap. 3).
2﻽6
Positive Aspects of New Urbanism
There is little doubt that the various types of NU communities, such as those de-
scribed above, have attracted significant public attention, and in many cases have
won urban planning or design awards. These communities are certainly appealing
to particular segments of the housing market and offer advantages in three types of
features often lacking in the conventional suburb, namely those found in the physi-
cal fabric, their identity and in community relations.
2.6.1
Physical Fabric, Land Use and Morphology
Compared to many new suburban tracts, NU developments have been relatively
successful in creating communities with higher housing densities and smaller lot
sizes, although some commentators note that this may not necessarily equate with
environmental sustainability because in many situations the houses on the lots are
getting larger, just as they are in conventional suburbs and with little garden space
(Banai 1996 , 1998 ; Fader 2000 ; Grant 2006 ). They are also seen to be relatively
successful in developing communities with a more human scale, containing: nar-
rower streets; houses closer to the street—often with front porches; low-rise civic
and commercial buildings; public squares and gazebos; small parks and other green
spaces. In addition there is usually a mixture of housing designs, although this is
far from a new principle. Letchworth, the first Garden City, was planned by Parker
and Unwin who had established their reputation with new village projects. They
did not only emphasize the need for what we would call a 'green town' today, but
planned houses for different income levels to achieve the type of mixed community
advocated by Howard (Unwin 1969 ). This equity principle was ignored by Perry's
( 1929 ) small, residential-only neighbourhood units that were planned with a central
focus on a school, with shops on the main roads that formed the edges. Moreover
the Garden City approach was to create morphological variety by deliberately us-
ing vernacular-style housing. Many were in different sized blocks, set at angles
to one another and facing green areas to create variety and access to nature. To-
gether with a distinctive town retail centre near the main railway, and an adjoining
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