History of Urban Planning Test #2
Discuss the 5 main components of the Plan of Chicago
*1. Civic Center* as the heart of the city that created a termination of the grand access. *2. Street system* consisted of creating diagonals and widening streets to make them functional and beautiful (i.e. Michigan Ave (shopping) widened). *3. Rail Transpo* added w/ station proposals, either creating an elevated rail or putting a subway underground. *4. Riverfront* This would beautify the area and turn South Water St. (crowded & no good* into a double decker (traffic on top, merchants on bottom) street along the water called Wacker Dr. *5. Lakefront* would include a yacht harbor (affluent peeps), municiple piers, as well as parks & beaches to increase beauty.
Describe the 7 impacts of mass motorization on cities, suburban growth and the electric streetcar
*1. Congestion* became an issue b/c the streets weren't really built for cars, *2. Safety* was an issue as cars travelled fast & had no safety features, *3. Need for regulation* (i.e. stop lights) arose, *4. Gas stations* were built (overabundance of oil), *5. Streetcars declined* as the bus took overs as its replacement (more flexible routs & cheaper), *6. 1936 conspiracy* (bus lines buying up & ripping out electric streetcar lines), *7. decentralization* lead to more suburbanization (sprawl, jobs & retail followed people out of cities) *1920s- 1st time population growth rates of suburban areas eclipsed those of cities*
criticisms of the Radburn plan, and how these components are often misapplied today
*1.* Did not accoun/anticipate multiple car households, *2.* Awkward back door placement* *3.* Prone to misapplication--elements must be integrated & holisticaly designed yet the cul-de-sacs resulted in sprawl & the modernist supperblocks werent designed holistically (more difficult to get around)
Describe the 6 principles of City Beautiful design
*1.* Grandeur of public buildings, *2.* Building Arrangement, *3.* Street Layouts, *4.* Role of landscaping, *5.* Dual emphasis on beauty & utility), *6.* role of the expert
4. Downsides of zoning that emerged
*1.* Variance kickbacks (bribes), *2.* "spot-zoning" *3.* over-zoning (NYC zoned for 300 mill workers), *4.* under-zoning
Discuss how transportation inventions led to zoning regulation
*Electric streetcars made land more accessible and for the mid-upper class* who created these Electric Streetcar Suburbs. These suburbs were orderly despite not having zoning regu -> *motorized trucks & buses* threatened the order & suburban security in general because it *allowed industry and commerce to move out of the city along with working class apartment dwellers* -> *MIDDLE CLASS PROPERTY OWNERS ARGUED THE NEED FOR ZONING*
Differentiate between garden villages vs. garden suburbs, as illustrated in Wrexham vs. Hampstead
*Garden Villages* are garden cities "in miniature" (scaled down), often built near previous industry they were meant to be working-class housing near work. *Garden Suburbs:* These places lacked industry and were commuter suburbs. In addition, they were more of an extension of existing towns along the garden city principles. *main diff:* the type of people (workers vs commuters)
Differentiate the components of Hilberseimer's High-Rise City vs. Le Corbusier's Contemporary City
*Hilberseimer's High-Rise City:* ground level vehicles, 5 story office blocks, w/ 5th floor pedestrian walkways on top & 15 story apartment stabs, underground rail. *Similarities to Contemporary City:* both of these called for a seperation of land use & seperation of pedestians & traffic. They also both went with a multi-level approach w/ an underground rail as the lowest level.
housing/buildings & open space (Contemporary City elements)
*Residential cellular* (open centers, 48% open space) for blue collar workers. *Luxury residential* (85% open space) for white collar. *Office skyscrapers* (95% open space) w/ restaurants, hotels, and shops at the base
Describe the features of the planned US garden suburbs of Shaker Heights and Forest Hills Gardens
*Shaker heights:* was a garden (streetcar) suburb that had seceded from Cleveland. It was planned according to strict guidelines and design controls. Still affluental people mostly today. *Forest Hills Gardens:* This was a garden (rail) suburb designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. This is where Clarence Perry developed his neighborhood unit concept.
Discuss how skyscrapers and garment factories led to the push for zoning in NYC
*Skyscrapers:* did not have zoning regulations, thus buildings like the Equitable Building could be built. This building was 42 stories tall, covering one city block, & had a noon shadow that was 4 blocks long (people did NOT like this). *Garment factories:* in places like NY 5th Ave, garment factories encroached in nicer areas bringing low income/immigrant workers. Trying to combat this a 5th Ave Association was opened but it led to a merchant-led boycott.
Ebenezer Howard's Town Magnet
*Upsides:* high wages, social opportunity, places of amusement. *Downsides:* high rent, foul air, lack of nature.
Ebenezer Howard's Country Magnet
*Upsides:* low rent, fresh air, natural beauty. *Downsides:* long hours, no amusement, social isolation
Ebenezer Howard's Town-Country Magnet
*combines the best of urban & rural living.* *Upsides:* low rents, high wages, beauty of nature, social opportunity. NO DOWNSIDES!
Describe the modernist planning principles advocated by CIAM regarding buildings
*site selection* was important, sites were carefully selected to ensure enough open space, sunlight, & air. Also believed in the difference between *density vs overcrowding*
Discuss the history of polycentric Los Angeles, and how it became the prototype for mass motorization
A polycentric city has multiple centers w/ smallish towns spread across an area. In LA, they used the *Pacific Electric Railway* (intra-urban streetcars) to connect their 56 communities. Here the US *people per car average increased* (1.5 people : 1 car) (brought cars with them to LA). With motorization, commmerce could move out of downtown -> *downtown decline.* Additionally, *trips became longer & more dispersed* leading to smog & pollution
Explain the factors driving mass motorization in the early 1900s, and why it was particularly a US phenomenon
Before cars were a tool for the wealthy (1908 $825) expensive because they were individually crafted by artists -> The *assembly line* changed the way things were made/cost, allowing anybody to work & saving money by the factory (1913 $575) -> until it became mostly affordable (1920 $290). Sales increased despite dips during war time. *85% of cars were produced in the US making it a truly US phenomenon* (5 people : 1 car)
Explain how modernist principles advocated by CIAM were similar to and different from prior planning movements
CIAM (Congres Internationaux d' Architecture Moderne) came together to discuss the principles of Modernism. Some ideas were upheld inc *focus on efficiency, reliance on experts* (i.e. planners), & *faith in tech.* Ideas that they rejected from prior movements included *REJECTED: traditional elements* (i.e. plaza/square), *Grand Manner Aesthetics* (too detailed), *context* (wanted clean slate so context irrel)
Describe Le Corbusier's Plan for Radiant City, and his success at implementing his plans
Called for the seperation of land use & linear segregation (res district -> comm district -> indust district). The *egalitarian houses* here were *not based on class, but on family size*
Discuss the City Functional/Efficient ideas on context, as illustrated in John Nolen's work
In support of context. John Nolen produced 400+ plans & did extensive survey work (preserving, restoring, & developing individuality of places). He later created an elaborate system of *index cards of survey measures* that helped provide context to places.
Explain Le Corbusier's significance, and how his early life influenced his ideas on modernism
Charles-Edouard Jeanneret was born in La Cahux-de-Fonds a medieval town that was rebuilt on a linear grid iron after a fire. He later went to Paris (thought it was inefficient). Interested in many things (i.e. art, furniture) he became an architect who focused onf *simple & geometric* forms. He believed architecture was *"machines for living"* in that they serve a functional means that would work anywhere.
Discuss the unique features of the planned company town of Pullman
Company towns were factory built towns built near factories (no need for workers to leave). The Pullman Company made sleeper cars for the rail, this community was *well planned out* (i.e. height, layout) & located near the rail lines. When a recession hit -> the factories didn't want to raise rents so instead they lowered wages -> resulted in the *Pullman strike* (1894).
RPAA (Regionalist Planning Assoc of Am)
Consisted of 25 members, of note are Henry Wright, Clarence Stein, Benton McKaye, Catherin Baur
Describe the role and significance of Daniel Burnham during the City Beautiful movement
Daniel Burnham was an instrumental leader in the City Beautiful Movement, not only was he on the McMillian commission that redesigned Washington & inspired other CB plans, but he designed many plans for places like Cleveland, San Fran, & most successfully Chicago.
Describe Le Corbusier's Plan Obus, and his success at implementing his plans
Designed *mega-structures* (curving buildings) that had connecting arterials from residential building to business building (*highway atop 14-level linear structure*), planned to house 180,000 people. Though the plan went nowhere
Describe the components of the planned automobile suburb of the Country Club District
Designed by JC Nichols, this was the *1st garden suburb designed specifically for the automobile* w/ tree-lined parkways, it had single family homes & multi famly apartments though it was mainly for the *affluent*. In fact, it was highly segregated & exclusionary. The *Country Club plaza was the 1st car-based shopping center that tried to integrate the automobile without taking away from the walkability*
Explain the way Robert Moses was able to gain his power base without ever being elected into political office
Despite not winning when he ran for gov, Moses was able to obtain power by having the NY state legislature award him *permanent financial control of the independent body that owned the Triborough Bridge.*
Describe the type of multi-modal planning proposed by Olmsted Jr, Bartholomew, and Cheney for Los Angeles
Early muti-modal planning focused on many forms of transpo (including streetcars). The plans called for a motor vehicle foundation & often saw freeways as the solution. (sadly, the Pacific Electric Railway red cars were all torn out by 1961)
Transportation (Contemporary City elements)
Elevated arterials, multi-level (tunnels underground for cargo), rail below (subways), exclusion of electric streetcars, with acentral station where the arterials & subway converge (airport on top). He also wanted to segragate pedestrian walkways through pedestrian parks.
Explain Clarence Perry's "neighborhood unit" concept and its primary components
Embraced by the regionalists, this movement was created by Clarence Perry while he lived in the Forest Hills Gardens (Garden City). The units were designed as a *distinct entity, and a unit of a larger whole* (neighborhood unit=building blocks of whole city). *Principles* included: *1. large enough for a school* (typically at the center of the unit), *2. Neighboorhood institutions* (i.e. community center), *3. Parks & Rec areas* (lots of open/green spaces), *4. Shops at junctions* (at corners b/c of street layouts for cars), *5. Arterials as boundaries* (main roads built for driving on for commuting), *6. Internal-only streets* (for residents mainly, didn't want a lot of people driving through the town)
Describe the appeal of 1920s zoning
Exclusionary zoning was well liked by homeowners because of its *property value protection.* It allowed for the *exclusion of land uses & people* by setting *maximum density & minimum lot/unit sizes*. Basically this ensured that no apartments/shacks for lower income people were able to be built, therefore excluding the poor
Discuss the unique features of the planned company town of Bournville
George Cadbury had a chocolate factory here, they built duplex style houses, & ensured that *1/2 the population was non-employee ppl*
What brought the decline of the City Functional/Efficient Movement
Growing social concerns (i.e. Great Depression) made people question what they should focus on. *Shift from inclusion of aethetics to total functionality*
Describe the way in which the professionalization of planning took place during the City Functional/Efficient
Harvard's *1st urban planning course was in 1901 & its urban planning school was later established in 1929.* This was a big step for the urban planning profession and was accompanied by the *shifting emphasis from the physical plan to the process of planning* (i.e. The City Plan -> City Planning)
What was the role of Edward Bassett in zoning
He is known as the *father of zoning* and argued that German zoning ordinances were constitutional. He then *created a completely comprehensive zoning plan for NY (1916) where there were 3 classifications & bulk regulations on skyscrapers* (wedding cake design -> more sunlight on ground)
Explain the form of urban growth promoted by Arturo Soria y Mata, and how successfully it was implemented
He promoted urban growth in the form of a *linear city.* This consisted of a central rail line on a linear layout & was focused on the principle of *increasing healt through proximity to the country side & elimination of congestion.* This would work by including tons of greenspace/country access, mixed size housing (rich-mid) & connecting existing cities through linear layouts. This was successfully implemented through *Madrid's Linear City:* 3 miles opened/30 miles planned, Today: countryside is gone
Le Corbusier's clean-slate urbanism
He wanted to bulldose places like NY & "build in the open", replacing everything with a uniform geometric layout
Discuss the social function of the Garden City promoted by Howard, as well as its physical components
He was *not a physical planner.* He believed in social components over physical ones and in his *Social components:* Housing cooperatives (*built on cheap land* -> slowly *increased values (rents)* as people moved in -> rent went towards *paying off mortgage debt* -> then after that was paid off, towards *supporting residents*). *Physical components:* Crystal Palace (green house/agri market), Access to nature (greenspaces), Industry (on edge of comm dist), Daily needs (public services in center of town)
Describe the types of projects Robert Moses built that initially made him so popular with middle-class NYC residents
He was initially popular for his creation of a public park/beach called *Jones Beach.* This beach ws opened in a fairly affluent area but was open to the public (something the residents weren't happy about) but was a resounding success with middle-class people. After the Great Depression, he was appointed to NY Parks Commissioner in charge of public works. In this role he oversaw multiple public works projects including the creation of the Triborough Bridge.
Discuss the garden cities' role in the polycentric town-country magnet
Howard hated that the counrtyside was draining into the overcrowded city so he designed a solution: Garden Cities. These would be part of a town-country magnet of interconnected garden cities. *They would be polycentric (many centers) so as to be self-contained yet well connected.* Each city would have 32,000 people spread over 1,000 acres with 5,000 acres set aside for agriculture.
Discuss the contribution of Patrick Geddes to regionalism, and his use of the civic survey and "valley section" tools
Influenced by Ebenezer Howard & Peter Kropotkin he *argued for free confederations of autonomous regions, rather than nation states.* He also used the *civic survey* to understand a region/contexxt believing in a *diagnosis before treatment* method (focus on nat region 1st -> human response -> resulting cultural landscape). This led him to use a *valley section* which is a cross sectional tool showing valley changes. It can help understand how traditional nature-occupations influence of local folkways & thus preserve the "indigenous" regional culture.
Street width (Contemporary City elements)
Instead of typical widening at edges with narrowers centers (i.e. regionalist stowns) he wanted to have streets that were *widest in the center* to help the congestion that was typical in these areas
Describe how successfully the Garden City ideal was implemented in Letchworth and its physical components
It was not all that close to how Howard had envisioned (dropped a lot of Howards ideas). Built on cheap land outside London, the plan *reduced the greenbelt size* (too expensive), Industry in one spot, *social goals abandoned.* When it was opened it had problems attracting industry as well. *Physical components:* greenspaces, central square (shopping), roundabout, Crystal Palace (only 1/8 the size)
Discuss the goal of Le Corbusier's Contemporary City plan, and how this goal would be accomplished
Le Corbusier believed that there is one perfect way to build a city so that it could be set anywhere and work. In this plan, his goal was to *decongest, while maintaining density for 3 million inhabitants.* He wanted to do this by increasing open space by building vertically, setting buildings back (sun=prominent), creating a *"whole city in a park"* and providing the *lungs of the city* (a place to access sun & air)
Discuss Robert Moses' background, and the significance of Al Smith early in his career
Moses was from a wealthy family in NY & was given his 1st position of power by NY Governor Al Smith, quickly becoming his right hand man. -> in 1924, he was appointed by Governor Smith as the Commissioner of State Parks for Long Island (then built Jones Beach)
Explain the 2 main principles of regionalism (vs. metropolitanism), as advocated by Lewis Mumford and the RPAA
Mumford believed that the *relationship of cities to their natural env was more imprtnt than physical design* (the opposite of metroplitanism), he wanted to leave the cities altogether. *Principles:* *1.* REJECTED large metropolis (mononucleated) like NY, & advocated for a focus on the *ecological region & a polynucleated city* (mid-sized regionally distribu new towns set in protected open space), *2. faith in technology*
Discuss the use of ordinances prior to zoning in US cities
Ordinances were mainly used for *nuisances* (i.e. pig farms), *building construction* (high rises & materials), *residential-only districts.* These were similar to zoning but NOT AS SET IN STONE.
Describe the argument presented by Mumford in the 1939 film The City, and the proposed solution to urban problems
Planners believed we could rebuild to serve the people. *Need for democratic planning* & this video expressed a desire for greenbelt towns
What was the MacMillan plan of Washington DC
Previous plans had been unaware of eventual Potomic Flats Reclamation (i.e. L'Enfants plan only saw capital). So to redesign the plan/area the McMillian Commission was created and included, Charles McKim, Frederick Olmsted Jr. & Daniel Burnham. It mainly focused on the redesign of the mall area.
Explain the factors contributing to the emergence of the City Beautiful movement
Shift from incremental beautifucation to comprehensive planning. Inspired by the *European Grand Manner influence* and led by *Daniel Burnham*. Because there was no monarchy like in the UK this movement was driven by *downtown merchants* who wanted it to succeed to*promore tourism & trade*
Grandeur of public buildings (principles of City Beautiful design)
Showed the *influence of classicism* with designs that looked back at ancient Rome & Greece (i.e. columns), combined with a background of *renaissance aesthetic principles* (i.e. symm, uniform skyline, terminating vista, focal point)
Discuss the unique features of the planned company town of Port Sunlight
Soap Company built by W.H. Lever, this town was built with lots of open spaces/recreation for workers in *'superblock' greenspace* & *varied architecture* by varying architects. ->
Block size (Contemporary City elements)
Superblocks based on *400 yds* distance between metro/sub stations in Paris. Connectivity.
Identify the components of the Radburn plan
This was the only regionalist city built (garden city). It was intended to have 25,000 people but in actuality there are only 3,000 residents (socially exclusive). *Components* of this plan include: The Superblock, Cul-de-sacs, & vehicular seperation.
Explain the controversies surrounding the construction of Lincoln Center and the Cross-Bronx Expressway
The *Lincoln Center* was a giant performin arts center that evicted 10,000 residents despite opposition. The *Cross-Bronx Expressway* was ultimately what turned people against him. This highly controversial project cut through & displaced many regular neighborhoods (not slums) or tightknit communities). Despite the formation of a tenants association in protest (urged them to plan alternate route), the plan moved ahead. While politicians initially showed support towards the tenants association they quickly switched over to Moses side once elected into office. Ultimately, they were given 90 days to vacate their homes and the houses were completely demolished
Identify the earliest examples of parkways constructed in the US, including those built by Robert Moses to Jones Beach
The *earliest parkway was actually built in NY by Moses* (Long Island Motorparkway (aka Vanderbuilt Way) was the 1st parkway). He created the *parkway concept* which focused only on auto (no ped), with no stops, ony on/off ramps, and was similar to Olmsteds over/underpasses. LA's 1st freeway (Arroyo Seco) was later built in 1940
Describe the debate between the RPAA and the RPA regarding the Regional Plan of New York and its Environs
The RPAA thought that the RPA/plan for NY called for *over centralization* and argued that Manhattan was the hub for *uncontrolled growth* outward that neglected nature and the garden city concept. "badly conceived pudding". Thomas Adams from RPA (NY ) called the RPAA people *regionalist visionaries* while he was a surrealist
Cul-de-sacs (Components of Radburn)
The houses in the cul-de-sacs were *turned away from the street* w/ the driveway/car in the back of the house. The front of the houses instead faced parks which had *footpaths* (no need for car)
Describe how Wright and Stein's plan for "Epoch III" in the state of New York illustrates regionalist principles
The issue they wanted to tackle was that the population of NY way centered around 2 areas (erie & hudson canals) & so they wanted Epoch III to tackle *where future growth should occur.* To do this, they did a survey of spatial data & overlayed maps to create composites (early GIS).
Vehicular Seperation (Components of Radburn)
The system used was like that in Central Park with varying underpasses and overpasses that allowed for kids and pedestrians to play/walk safely away from traffic
Street layout (principles of City Beautiful design)
There were *wide, tree-lined boulevards* with *terminating vistas* as well as *diagonal axial avenues* often meeting at a significant building (i.e. government) and used *rond-points* with monuments in the center, instead of traffic lights.
Explain the key reasons for the transition from the City Beautiful to the City Functional/Efficient movement
There were a couple main reasons for this transitions, amoung them were the *expensiveness* of the CB movement as well as its *perceived lack of efficiency & social welfare concern*. This was aided by Daniel Burnham's death in 1912.
The Role of Landscaping (principles of City Beautiful design)
They believed in *taming nature to fit within the city* similar to the controlled design of Versailles. This was the opposite of Olmsted's philosophy in that it was *not an "escape" from the city* instead focusing on Grandeur.
Describe the modernist planning principles advocated by CIAM regarding scale
They wanted the consolidation of multiple blocks into *a large-scale superblock consolidation*
Discuss how the Plan of Chicago was "sold" to the public and implemented
They were very smart in how they marketed and sold the plan to citizens. Hired *Walter D. Moody* to handle this. He *gave 165,000 free copies of the plan to hiome owners* as well as also creating an *8th grade textbook* so kids would go home from school to tell their parents (kids often dropped out after 8th grade). This was the *MOST SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN IN US PLANNING HISTORY*
Describe the significance of Euclid vs. Ambler Realty
This famous court case questioned whether *zoning is a valid use of police power OR a violation of constitutional rights.* It started when a plot owned by Ambler Realty that was in the middle of the town of Euclid, Ohio -> Ambler wanted to turn the lot into an industrial factory but couldn't b/c zoning prohibited it -> took the case to the supreme court & Ambler Realty lost -> *zoning was upheld*
Describe Norman Bel Geddes vision of the future in the Futurama exhibit at the 1939 New York World's Fair
This giant model showed a vision for the future with a rotating airport, high speed freeways that maintained speed & distance through automatic radio controls, skyscrapers that had helicopter pads on them, as well as a building of freeways through "undesirable business areas & slum districts" (came true)
The Superblock (Components of Radburn)
This layout, intended to replace narrow rectangular blocks, consisted of a arterial *hierarchical streets* that framed the block. Within these blocks, *houses were clustered around common parkland.*
Dual Emphasis on Beauty & Utility (principles of City Beautiful design)
This meant that both beauty and utility were kept in mind HOWEVER, *when push came to shove beauty was more important.* (i.e. burying ugly powerlines)
Explain the City Functional/Efficient philosophy on aesthetics vs. efficiency
This movement evolved from concerns of social welfare & efficiency, & believed that while the main focus should be functional efficiency, aesthetics could be considered too. BUT *Aesthetics should be in support of efficiency* not the other way around.
Describe the goals of the City Beautiful movement
This movement was influenced by *Charles Mulford Robinson's document* which pulled together goals of all the pre-planning movements into ONE movement.
Discuss the goals of the MacMillan plan of Washington DC, and how it illustrates City Beautiful planning principles
This plan aimed to *1. create a city of cultural significance*, *2.* showcase *aggrandizement* (to make it competitive with European capitals), *3 Celebrate democracy* (strong Greek influence), & *4. have controls on pub/priv building architectre* (only place to actually do this b/c freedom of private ownership elsewhere). *This plan demostrated basically ALL the principles of City Beautiful & Grand Manner, inc building arrangement, monuments, terminating vistas, Greco/Roman architecture, street layouts, & aggrandizement*
Discuss the criticisms of the Plan of Chicago
This plan was extremely *expensive* and was often called out for its *narrow social purpose* in that it only really *served the rich* and ignored the poor. Additionally, the plan *underestimated the impacts the automobile would have*
Plan of Chicago
This plan was the most successful CB plan & was the *1st truly coprehensive, long-range plan for a US city*. Burnham & Edward Bennett were *privately sponsored* by downtown merchants to design this plan. They studied the area thoroughly (i.e. popu projections, highways, industry, park/preserves).
Describe the types of land uses restricted under the first US zoning ordinance in Modesto, and its intended purpose
This was NOT comprehensive as the zoning of today is, but instead *regulated only one land use, not all.* In a time of great segregation, it was used as a tool to seperate wash houses/laundry (chinese immigrants) from others
Describe the characteristics of the Olmsted's planned railroad suburb of Riverside, IL
This was a Railroad suburb associated with Olmsted. The planned community had large amounts of *greenspace*, single family homes with *lawns*, & a *commercial district* in the heart of the city. Despite this it was *still a commuter suburb* for *affluent people.* Today: can still see rail, commercial, greenspaces, & still affluent
Discuss the RPAA ideas published in the Survey Graphic , as illustrated by "Dinosaur Cities" and the "Fourth Migration"
This was a fairly progressive journal. *Dinosaur Cities:* this article predicted that big cities would become extinct because backflow from spreading woulf come back into the city and cause congestion, inefficiency, & social costs. *The Fourth Migration:* this article talked about harnessing the 4th migration (spreading & decentralization) to guide population dispersion
Describe the Regional Plan for New York and its Environs, and the role of Thomas Adams and the RPA
This was an *extensive & expensive* ($1 mill over 7 yrs of planning) plan designed by Thomas Adams. Extensive survey work was done in preparation & when it was finally published in 1929, there was a total of *470 proposals* included. The *RPA* (regional plan association) was incorporated to promote the plan. The main purpose of the Regional Plan of NY was *decongestion while maintaining regional primacy* (function efficiently)
the City Scientific
This was another name for the City Functional/Efficient. Called this because people started viewing *urban problems as engineering problems* (not as big of a concern w/ values, focus on can we rather than should we)
Discuss the purpose and components of Le Corbusier's Unité d' Habitation in Marseilles
This was envisioned as a self-contained neighborhood & *each unit as a neighborhood--together formmed a city.* The building itself was raised on pillotes to allow for unobstructed movement at ground level, shopping/commercial space was on a floor (2nd?), a school was locatedd in the building, while residential space filled most of the rest. They used a skip-stop elevator (stopped every other floor) because of the peculian layout of the apartments (A & B share hallway though one goes in & up and the other goes in & down). The skip-stop elevator allowed for less congestion, while the peculiar apartment layout allowed for windows on both sides of the apartment letting in sunlight & airflow.
Building Arrangement (principles of City Beautiful design)
This was important to their planning, with *grouped public buildings for efficiency* around a civic space. This ensured that the space was functional and pleasing. The civic centers were known as *Monumental plazas* and often featured a monument in the center of the space.
Role of the expert (principles of City Beautiful design)
This was the 1st time that *the "urban planner"* became a thing with experts trained to study urban problems and make plans.
Discuss the City Functional/Efficient ideas on comprehensiveness
Thomas Adams believed in true comprehensiveness in planning (not just tweaking things). This movement began to *reject 'once-for-all' city wide planning* (i.e. Chicago Plan which was unchangable) & instead shifted towards *'one-at-a-time' smaller plans of single elements within a comprehensive plan* (meant that planns were not set in stone, but were living plans
What are Ebenezer Howard's 'three magnets'
Town Magnets, Country Magnets, & Town-Country Magnet
Describe the modernist planning principles advocated by CIAM regarding open space & set backs
Wanted *setbacks* of buildings from the street to provide lots of space for pedestrians. Open space could be achieved wits *building height vs spacing* (smaller buildings can be closer). Wanted that *tower in a park* feel/look
Describe the modernist planning principles advocated by CIAM regarding streets
Wanted to *minimize crossings* (caused congestion) and control the *speed & flow* of traffic in ways like over/under passes & clover leaf rouandabouts (minimize stopping). They also believed in *pedestrian-vehicle separation*
Differentiate between European Grand Manner and American Grand Manner planning
While some of their principles were similar, *European Grand Manner planning had control of public & private buildings* (b/c of Monarchy) thus they were able to do such large scale restructuring. However, *American Grand Manner Planning only had control over public buildings* (excluding Washington's redesign). Here, private owners had lots of power & influence, thus holding sway over what can and can't be built/torn down.
Explain the common types of City Beautiful projects successfully implemented (e.g. in Cleveland, Denver, SF, and Philly)
While these plans often looked great on paper, they *did not have much activity* once built. *Cleveland:* designed by Burnham, only the civic space was actually built. *Denver:* can see clear Greco/Roman influence in architecture. *San Fran:* b/c of a fire & earthquake a new plan was needed, and Daniel Burnham was the one to design it, however, the Civic center was the only thing actually built. *Philly:* This plan was made by William Penn, though because it caused for the destruction of a lot of buildings citizens were unhappy and only the Benjamin Franklin Parkway was actually built.
Describe the significance of the Tri-Borough Bridge Authority for solidifying the power of Moses
With the power he now held, Moses could collect the money from the toolbooths & use it elsewhere on other projects he saw fit
Describe Le Corbusier's Plan Voisin, and his success at implementing his plans
called for *clean slate of the historic district* and was sponsored by Voisin (automobile/plane makers). The people of Paris hated it.
Describe the components of the planned automobile suburb of the Mariemont
designed by Jon Nolen, this was built for *industrial workers* and emphasized *civic spaces & community facilities* (i.e. hospital). The *automobile is integrated* on human terms.
Describe how regionalists viewed the potential urban impacts of technology
regionalists believed that technology was a *means of accomp decentral & reg distribu--basically allow to move out further* (i.e. telephone, radio, cars)
