UP|Urban Design

Horizontal vs. Vertical Traffic Lights

lidibrown — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:10:42 +0000

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I would kill to work here...

lidibrown — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:10:03 +0000

20 rooms in a 300 square foot apartment

cloudship — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:50:28 +0000

Must be a pain any time you are in the middle of cooking dinner and then realize you have to go to the bathroom. And how do you do any entertaining that requires you to cook food while your guests wait int he living room?

He did have some very innovative ideas, particularly for storage space. I grew up camping (soft style) where we had an RV. We would certainly do quite well with a 24 ft camper for a week, so I can definitely see people living on much less space. I think the big thing is learning to give up having so much stuff. It's a trade off- you can give up the stuff, but you end up spending more because you have to go out and buy the same thing over and over againg for infrequently used items. I wonder how green it is in the long run.

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Horizontal vs. Vertical Traffic Lights

Jack_Stuart — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:02:23 +0000

It depends on a kind of highway. I think many highways is not ideal for horizont traffic lights.

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20 rooms in a 300 square foot apartment

bogert — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:09:26 +0000

Idea is perfect. .But pushing the walls and a slight technical problems in the wall can create a big headache.

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I would kill to work here...

bogert — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:01:14 +0000

That is brilliant..I would love to work here..even I can work here for extra hours

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Why we need architecture

jamesadam432 — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:04:57 +0000

questionable answer... why we need new clothes when we can use one one? ?

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Why we need architecture

Spartan — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 03:58:41 +0000

I'd be interested to know what the correlation is between decreasing intricacy and computers. If it can't be designed in google sketch up then it doesn't get built.

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Special Landscape Designs

Isabelly — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:29:46 +0000

Very nice reading Aalton. I am a big fun of all Japanese gardens. I love a pagoda and Sakura!!!

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Why we need architecture

Isabelly — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:15:40 +0000

Because the architecture created this world!

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Horizontal vs. Vertical Traffic Lights

Icetera — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:30:21 +0000

EmiteE, on 02 July 2011 - 09:18 AM, said:

Further more when you driving, do you not have experience that under that strong blowing wind that the vertical traffic light actually swing?

I had always thought that the horizontal lights were due to wind as I always see them in the Southwest U.S. I noticed in the Tokyo region that all the lights were horizontal and wind is not a huge issue out there, so perhaps it is just simply that some regions developed their lights in different orientations than others without any true reasoning behind it?

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Why we need architecture

Richlord11 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:38:21 +0000

Simply answer. Because the architecture creates this WORLD!

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Special Landscape Designs

Aalton100 — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:02:47 +0000

Hi everyone,

I suppose that each one of us love a modern design. And what about a landscape design? This sector is still opened for many oportunities of young and future designers. Of course, the only limit of the design of your garden is your imagination. However, combining aesthetic garden features of various design styles can be very tricky and therefore it’s much safer to stick to a particular garden design type. Here is a list of several popular garden styles, especially tips for your gardens.

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Why we need architecture

Aalton100 — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:54:45 +0000

It´s a good question! The architecture was borned in the old Sumeri empire, next empire of pharaons and next ancient world. The architecture presents especially human kind in the world and rising challenges of our world. Personally, I love the architecture and of course design.

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Looking for projects on elderly housing

Maarten — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:59:20 +0000

For a research on forms of (collective) elderly housing I'm looking for interesting built projects in western cultures all over the world.

Some of the criteria for selecting the projects are:
- the project is a private initiative
- when designing the project there was a particular idea about future flexibility/usability

Looking forward to see your comments.

Regards,

Maarten Konijn
architect
The Netherlands

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Lawrence Technological University Vs. University of Michigan

BigBeaver — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 21:14:21 +0000

I received my bachelors at Lawrence Tech and my masters at Taubman College so I think I can answer you question although it ultimately comes down to where the student feels most comfortable.
As for which college is stronger (undergraduate wise) I would have to say Lawrence Tech. This is for a couple of reasons, the main factor is that you have more studio time over the 4 year period. As I am sure you have realized, design is not really something that can be taught, it has to be discovered by the individual, although teachers can point you in the right direction, you will not always have your teacher after college. Many courses I took in my freshmen year are very similar to the courses taught in the junior year at Taubman College.
Taubman College is known for their Masters program, so people think their undergraduate program would be equally great, which is not the case. Lawrence Tech's undergraduate program is far superior than Taubman College's. Ironically, Taubman College's graduate program is arguably the best in the country.
As for opportunities, Michigan is hands down the winner. They have great programs that seek out internships throughout the country, fellowships, and name brand recognition throughout the world.
Were at college to learn, so an argument about parties and social opportunities should not be voiced, college is about education. I would recommend staying at Lawrence Tech and then for graduate school get your world wide name brand school.

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What is New Urbanism anyway?

Jack_Stuart — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:56:40 +0000

In my opinion the new urbanism is a very general word. On the other hand, many new styles influence on the process of urbanisation. Personally, I like these principles of the new urbanism, especially first point about the neighborhood has a discernible center. This is often a square or a green and sometimes a busy or memorable street corner. A transit stop would be located at this center. Very clever!

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Horizontal vs. Vertical Traffic Lights

EmiteE — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:18:59 +0000

I like Horizontal Traffic Lights, simply because it's more pedestrian friendly.(How is that? Just go out and stand on the corner, At the side walk, look you head up, could you see the red and yellow light clearly? Does it get block by the water fence? [the out forward steel similar to the peak of a cap] ) Remember when you are hurry to get somewhere (school, office, etc) and yet the pedestrian traffic lights is always slower then the car traffic light. In that particular moment you did like to be some sec faster, unless be ahead of famous American size slow walker.

Horizontal Light in South American, China, and so on

Vertical Traffic Light of American city

Further more when you driving, do you not have experience that under that strong blowing wind that the vertical traffic light actually swing?

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Lawrence Technological University Vs. University of Michigan

MrPeanut — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 23:54:36 +0000

I attended Lawrence Tech for two years and now i am struggling with the decision to transfer to the University of Michigan. I have enjoyed LTU for the most part, academically, but the social aspect is really starting to annoy me. Don't get me wrong i have great friends there and an amazing studio culture, but if does not feel like college, or at least what i presume it should (animal house?). The animal house part was a joke but i really would like to attend football games and parties. I have been accepted to transfer to Taubman College but i do not want to transfer into to inferior program. Can anyone help me with this decision? I have 3 main questions
1) Which college has the stronger undergraduate architecture program?
2) What college has the most opportunities, job wise?
3) Whats the right decision?
Please help ASAP

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Lego Cities

paletexan — Sun, 15 May 2011 14:20:39 +0000

great article above ... i also built lego cities as a kid, but replaced that void in adulthood by playing simcity.

for those with kids, you can use them as an excuse to visit legoland in california where they have amazing lego cities. I have no kids, but might still take the trip!

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Big Box Redux

DiamondDave — Wed, 11 May 2011 12:41:01 +0000

Here in lowly Saginaw Michiga, a developer turned an old K-mart into a multi room convention center. They did a great job turning old steel posts into faux marble colums and plain old 2x4 ceiling tiles into decorative 2x2 tiles, in some rooms they are panel style oak. The facility is top notch for sure. A few years ago I did a design for an old lumber/home improvement store to be converted into a "mixed use mall". I divided the building into various size suites with common toilet room facilities and a food court. The store fronts were done like an old english village and the corridors resembled coble stone walks with lamp posts. The suites were geared to professional services such as lawyers, doctors and dentists with some specialty retail mixed in. The Michigan economic depression hit, so it hasn't been built as of yet.

"Thinking outside the 'big' box" is becoming a common term. Something needs to be done, and soon. In our small community of about 250,000 residents, we have empty, an entire strip plaza that was anchored by kmart and office depot, we also have empty a; circuit city, media play, builders square, sams club (they built a bigger store across the street) linens and things, pep boys, and two kroger stores, Just off the top of my head.

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Big Box Redux

BFG — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:10:36 +0000

Great topic!

Here in Virginia Beach, they converted an old electronics store into a flea market. That flea market burned down a few years ago and relocated to...a bowling alley. I haven't been inside the alley/flea market yet, but would like to see it. A friend of mine told me that a former CompUSA store in Norfolk was recently converted into a Chinese buffet. I found that extremely odd.

Don't know if they still use it for that purpose, but in Irving, TX, they converted an old Food Lion into the main post office.

On the flip side of the Amway Arena deal, I'd love to see a big-box converted into a multi-purpose arena/convention center. I honestly wonder would that be more expensive than building an arena from the ground up.

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Big Box Redux

DiamondDave — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:44:29 +0000

I've heard things like a giant aquarium for buildings like Joe Louis Arena in Detroit since the Wings want to move to a newer larger facility. I think that would be cool, but many things could be done with a huge open space with a roof over it. Floors could be built in the arena and the building converted into offices or a casino. Just think of it as a giant big box.

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Big Box Redux

cloudship — Sat, 07 May 2011 02:25:58 +0000

REviving this thread - the discussion is about reusing big box retail space. But those are not the only "ungainly" buildings out there. In the Orlando thread we are talking about the old Amway arena. There is another giant urban blight building that gets abandoned. What would you do with something like that? It is a specialized structure, but how could you reuse it?

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Alternatives to Shipping Container Architecture

cloudship — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:36:14 +0000

I have been thinking a lot lately about how to make small-scale studio and office space available for an inexpensive price. While some cities have lots of empty old factories, newer cities often lack those and only have office buildings available. Even retail big box buildings don't necessarily work - they are often located not in the city itself but in the suburbs. Shipping container Architecture seemed to fit the bill - not only was it reuse, it was creative, interesting, and flexible.

As I looked into it more, I discovered a few major flaws. First, to make it truly habitable required a lot of work - you couldn't just plop it down, you had to insulate it, replace the floors, probably refinish the whole thing...the cost of converting one was more than the cost of the container itself. Then there is the whole safety and structural side to it - you essentially have a metal over if a fire were to break out, and cutting into the side walls created structural issues you had to work out. And then, containers aren't exactly spread out evenly - they usually build up in ports, not necessarily where you want them. so you have to deal with transportation costs as well.

But the big thing I discovered is that shipping containers aren't actually a surplus item. There has been a shortage of them for a few years now. At one point Steel was pretty cheap in China, so for companies that were shipping from Asia to the Us it was not cost effective to ship them back. But that has changed - steel got expensive, the recession caused many shipping container factories to close, and now there is a big shortage of them. It takes so long to refurbish existing ones they cant keep up, and that is driving up shipping costs and this the price of products.

So now I am looking for an alternative to the shipping container. I like the flexible modularity of it - kind of like assembling Lego bricks. I also like the structural strength as well, and the lower labor cost of erecting them. But I also want something that is green and cheap, and is easy to use anywhere. What else could we use as a quickly built, low cost, green studio space??

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20 rooms in a 300 square foot apartment

The Voice of Reason — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 04:27:06 +0000

that is really quite clever.

I think 350SF is a bit extreme, but then again you are comfortable with what you know. Id be interested to see some of the concepts used in his apartment applied in 500 SF apartments, or even in 800 sf places.

I know in my old condo, I would have liked to shrink the bedrooms in order to have a larger living room some times, and others a larger kitchen would have been nice. I have a silly amount of space now, but I feel like most smaller places could be more intelligently designed without much work, and would have loved that before my wife and I bought our house

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20 rooms in a 300 square foot apartment

lime light power — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 13:25:45 +0000

Wow... little freaked out by the idea. 300 square feet, i think I would go insane. But watching the video, he actually did a pretty fantastic job. Looks great, although not particularly comfortable. Not such a bad solution for urban living. On a practical level would work great for executive / corporate apartments. Even though I live most of the time in NYC, thus accustomed to small spaces, I much prefer escaping and spending time up our house in CT - must have outdoors.

Thanks for the post and the video link.

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Let's get rid of parking lots in our downtowns

the_grand_raggidy — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 02:00:58 +0000

As nice as it would be to get rid of the parking lots in our downtowns, it's just not conceivable in most cities. We can wish all we want that our cities would go back to how they were pre-60's, but it's not going to happen (at least in the near future). What this discussion should be centered around is: how can we end automobile dependence in our cities? (as opposed to "how can we end automobile use in our cities altogether?")

For example, if your city's downtown has a major arena, you'd probably agree that it needs parking (unless you live in NYC or Chicago). Sure, there are alternative options we could debate, but can we agree on one thing: suburbanites like to drive. And if they can't drive to the game, they won't go. Americans are spoiled, and there's no quick fix.

Discussion topics that might deserve more merit: what kind of parking (surface v. garage)? How much? How close? What should it look like?

Someone mentioned building ramps with retail/etc at the ground level. In Grand Rapids, a developer just finished building a ramp with a "liner" building surrounding it; if it weren't for the garage door and "PARKING" sign, you wouldn't even know it was a ramp.

Here's the urbanplanet forum on the project. It's the first of it's kind in Grand Rapids, and has been quite an interesting development to follow.

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Help required for a wannabe author!

WiseChild — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 04:04:05 +0000

johnnox, on 11 October 2010 - 09:37 AM, said:

Hi
I'm about 90,000 words through my first attempt a novel and I need help with some research.
My main character is an architect - a bit silly really I suppose considering I don't know the first thing about it!
However, the job fits in quite nicely with how I need him to be (ie his life collapses around him but the only thing thats stable in his life his work and what he creates)

I am stuck on one particular scene. He's in a coffee bar in 1982 San Francisco and ends up getting a job when he helps someone with a design problem.
Someone on the table next to him is having a problem with a roof he has designed for a building of several storeys.

So this is what I need help with - the technical side of things in laymen's terms.

What could be the problem with the roof he is designing?
How could my character help him with the problem - ie what could he suggest that makes the design work?
What document could the man have been reading that would fit on the table of a coffee shop that might character would have seen? (ie how big would it have been, what kind of paper would it be printed on, etc)
What would the technical term for this paper work/ design be?

AM very sorry at the vagueness of my question!

Thanks
Johnno, England

Okay well first off, the next book you wanna write, Trying using a subject you know well. That would help. (:
To answer your questions... A roof problem could be that he wants to redesign it but he is missing a panel or to wide.
The character could suggest to add panel here or there or to try measuring the sides of the house.
The man could be looking at a sketch of a floor plan. a sketch is 'bout the size of a poster & the type of paper would be 'normal' kind paper. Normally called a blueprint.

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What do you live in?

Jacque — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 05:47:51 +0000

I was thinking of living in a car... hmm. Still thinking of the design though. laughs.

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20 rooms in a 300 square foot apartment

Jacque — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 05:28:06 +0000

Now that's pretty cool. Moving walls are kinda hard though.

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Daniel Burnham Documentary

Norfolk4Life — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:37:09 +0000

I received this documentary for Christmas: DEFINITELY worth it to purchase it. It was a very well put together documentary.

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Help required for a wannabe author!

johnnox — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:37:59 +0000

Daniel Burnham Documentary

walker — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:42:39 +0000

The Escapists, on 22 January 2010 - 12:17 PM, said:

I am very interested in seeing this documentary...PREVIEW: MAKE NO LITTLE PLANS

Looks like the Burnham documentary will be premiering on Labor Day on some PBS stations:

Burnham link

However my local PBS station, WGVU, will be showing a repeat of the Carol King - James Taylor concert for their fund drive instead, so I will be making no plans big or little of seeing it. Hope it's on a station near you.

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Let's get rid of parking lots in our downtowns

Norfolk4Life — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:02:13 +0000

Neo, on 02 September 2010 - 07:26 AM, said:

^ Wow, what a city you guys had in the 1930's! It's so sad to see it dozed down for "progress" though.

definitely more dense. they bulldozed it mainly because it was the easy way out of the crime that had developed. and they were called the 'leader' in urban renewal...

dbull75 said:

I guess maybe I'll complain about Charlotte's a little bit less.

no, go ahead and keep complaining. parking lots have no place in an urban city. i dont even like parking garages unless they have storefront space at street level like the new Wachovia center in Downtown Norfolk.

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Let's get rid of parking lots in our downtowns

dbull75 — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:00:54 +0000

Good grief, that picture of the parking lots in Houston is just mind blowing! It looks like the parking lots you see at an amusement park in the middle of the city. I guess maybe I'll complain about Charlotte's a little bit less.

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Let's get rid of parking lots in our downtowns

Neo — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:26:25 +0000

^ Wow, what a city you guys had in the 1930's! It's so sad to see it dozed down for "progress" though.

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Let's get rid of parking lots in our downtowns

Norfolk4Life — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:47:07 +0000

here in norfolk we went from a dense city in the 1930s:

To a wasteland in the 60s:

By the late 1980's the wasteland was paved over:

Recently, however, we are making a huge improvement. I don't think downtown Norfolk has but one or two surface lots left. The city even released a plan recently to develop the surface lots around the Harbor Park baseball stadium into a mixed-use multi-modal transportation center.

Hopefully, this will continue. I wish we would tear down our awful interchange that sits right in the middle of downtown. Maybe our very own Big Dig and stick the whole thing underground.

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When does a business become part of the neighborhood fabric?

Norfolk4Life — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:55:55 +0000

I think that it has to 1) serve an important function in the neighborhood, something that people would miss if it were gone and 2) be involved in the neighborhood i.e. represented at civic meetings, support the local youth program, etc.

Basically, the business has to show people that it, too, wants the best for the neighborhood. Generally, this is best achieved by a locally owned/operated business.

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When does a business become part of the neighborhood fabric?

Neo — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:38:59 +0000

I saw this question over on the Consumerist blog and thought it a befitting question for our community here. At what point does a business become part of the fabric of a neighborhood? I'm sure all of us can name staple businesses in our neighborhoods, but at what point did they become a staple? What defines that promotion?

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