Comments on: Why build cities anyway? http://emergenturbanism.com/2007/10/29/why-build-cities-anyway/ Rediscovering urban complexity Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:35:57 +0000 hourly 1 By: Luca http://emergenturbanism.com/2007/10/29/why-build-cities-anyway/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Luca Thu, 08 May 2008 14:39:16 +0000 http://mathieuhelie.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/why-build-cities-anyway/#comment-29 There is in fact considerable literature as to why cities emerge. It's generally, as you point out, accepted that there is a benefit in physical proximity for certain activities (ranging from physical protection, to marketing, etc.). Re. the granularity of buildings and organic vs. planned city issue, I would submit that there is a need for both and that both can complement each other. Generally, granular/organic works better and is more flexible but there are important programmatic needs that cannot be met purely through organic/small scale, gradual growth. There is in fact considerable literature as to why cities emerge. It’s generally, as you point out, accepted that there is a benefit in physical proximity for certain activities (ranging from physical protection, to marketing, etc.).

Re. the granularity of buildings and organic vs. planned city issue, I would submit that there is a need for both and that both can complement each other. Generally, granular/organic works better and is more flexible but there are important programmatic needs that cannot be met purely through organic/small scale, gradual growth.

]]> By: Scale-free urban systems « Emergent Urbanism http://emergenturbanism.com/2007/10/29/why-build-cities-anyway/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Scale-free urban systems « Emergent Urbanism Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:07:19 +0000 http://mathieuhelie.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/why-build-cities-anyway/#comment-28 [...] 28, 2008 · No Comments In previous comments, I have argued that what makes cities different than building projects was the fact that they had to deal with change an..., and that subdivision-planned developments were economically inferior to random growth. These [...] [...] 28, 2008 · No Comments In previous comments, I have argued that what makes cities different than building projects was the fact that they had to deal with change an…, and that subdivision-planned developments were economically inferior to random growth. These [...]

]]> By: The Marketplace City « Emergent Urbanism http://emergenturbanism.com/2007/10/29/why-build-cities-anyway/comment-page-1/#comment-27 The Marketplace City « Emergent Urbanism Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:58:26 +0000 http://mathieuhelie.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/why-build-cities-anyway/#comment-27 [...] in an air-conditioned environment had merit, but it’s obvious at this mall that it ran into the problem with all monolithic constructions; the future is unpredictable, and the unpredictable has to be built somewhere. One could have [...] [...] in an air-conditioned environment had merit, but it’s obvious at this mall that it ran into the problem with all monolithic constructions; the future is unpredictable, and the unpredictable has to be built somewhere. One could have [...]

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