You are right. The trouble is that it's hard to make those bonds in a society set up by town planners to conserve the wealth and amenity of the rich that has destroyed the structure of the villages that we used to live in, made the street a place that is dangerous for kids by day and adults by night because of zoning constraints that separate home from work and every other source of incidental interaction that there used to exist when people shopped locally, walking there and back to get what they required. Butcher, baker, hairdresser, hardware store, cafe, newsagent. Now all dominated by the chains and located in remote shopping centers accessible only in cars. Time wasting congestion there and back.
The book, ‘A Pattern Language’, published in 1977 is a product of the Center for Environmental Structure of Berkeley, California. This is one of the best-selling books that deals the design of buildings and the spaces about them. The process of creating this work might be compared to the ‘Manhattan Project’, in view of the number of people involved and its importance. But lead author Alexander set out to build, unlike Oppenheimer, not a weapon of mass destruction, but a comprehensive set of suggestions to improve the lives of individuals and society at large.
This is a wonderful piece.
Thanks.
It's great to know that other people are on the same page.
Thank you.
You are right. The trouble is that it's hard to make those bonds in a society set up by town planners to conserve the wealth and amenity of the rich that has destroyed the structure of the villages that we used to live in, made the street a place that is dangerous for kids by day and adults by night because of zoning constraints that separate home from work and every other source of incidental interaction that there used to exist when people shopped locally, walking there and back to get what they required. Butcher, baker, hairdresser, hardware store, cafe, newsagent. Now all dominated by the chains and located in remote shopping centers accessible only in cars. Time wasting congestion there and back.
Jane Jacobs is the only name I am really aware of - its not my area. Are there other writers who you think have workable proposals?
The book, ‘A Pattern Language’, published in 1977 is a product of the Center for Environmental Structure of Berkeley, California. This is one of the best-selling books that deals the design of buildings and the spaces about them. The process of creating this work might be compared to the ‘Manhattan Project’, in view of the number of people involved and its importance. But lead author Alexander set out to build, unlike Oppenheimer, not a weapon of mass destruction, but a comprehensive set of suggestions to improve the lives of individuals and society at large.
I agree.