Suburban Nation

I believe the contents of this chapter can easily be applied to last weeks bond issue election held in Starkville.  Chapter 7: The Victims of Sprawl discusses the adverse effects of sprawl and how it hinders every group in our society, specifically middle-class families, the elderly, and our children.  The authors establish a solid argument that even though sprawl appears to be a safe alternative to an urban lifestyle, statistically it has proven contrary.  It confines our children, strands our seniors, and further represses the lower class by requiring the automobile for mobility.  This has occurred at an alarming rate!  Furthermore, it becomes more taxing on an already wearied tax-base.

Additionally, the chapter criticizes the pre-fabricated metal buildings we are implementing as schools, civic centers, and libraries to represent the character of our cities.  Has our society been whittled down to accept this type of mediocrity to build community in our cities?  This brings me to my point on Starkville.  The city tried to pass a bond issue to build a municipal complex that would serve as city hall and the police station. The location of the proposed complex is adjacent to downtown which would be ideal compared to the other location which is located on the bypass.  A group of citizens of Starkville argue that the bypass should be the location and accept that it will be a prefabricated metal building with a brick facade to dress it up real nice due to cost concerns and the taxes that will ensue.  Ladies and gentlemen no matter how you dress up a metal building - it's still a metal building and has no business representing the character of our city.  Do we really want single story metal buildings in the middle of a black topped parking lot to be idiosyncratic of Starkville?  The short sightedness of the public has not realized that by continuing to move the city out on the bypass will require more infrastructure thus more taxes.  To add insult to injury, we put more stress on our elderly and lower class who may not be able to drive or afford to.  In addition to moving our city to the bypass we direct traffic from our downtown therefore stifling business and future commerce.    

CH 7: The Architecture of Community

Let us face it - Leon Krier does not mince words when he discusses his views on Modernism.  Chapter 7 is no different from the previous six chapters - it can easily be concluded that Leon compares Modernity to a parasite on many levels.  Or is my observation off?  I think not.
Leon breaks the Chapter 7 into 8 parts: Traditional Culture & the Idea of Progress, Architecture & Politics, Why Architecture Matters to You!, The Destiny of Traditional Architecture, The Perennial Values of the Principles of Traditional Architecture, The New * The Unique * The Tectonic * The Original, Natural & Synthetic Materials, and Venustas * Firmitas * Utilitas.

Each section makes an argument for the values of traditional architecture.  Krier maintains that "traditional architecture remains a living language." and people prefer traditional compared to modernism; although, many modernists beg to differ.  He also argues that traditional architecture is more sustainable than its counterpart which, Krier strongly believes constantly consumes the landscape and dismantles all tenets of traditional architecture.  It seems as if there are not many things that modernism espouses that Krier believes are relevant in our culture though people continue to accept it.  Has our culture been conditioned to accept it or do they actually like it?  Krier proclaims people prefer traditionalism over modernity.

Native To Nowhere - Place Building through Art & Celebration

This chapter highlights a very important subject that I believe is both very important to human growth and education, but why is it consistently examined under the microscope.  The arts live in a black and white world without shades of grey.  What I mean by that - although art infused in the community has been proven to be a positive attribute it seems to be the first to be cut in educational budgets.  Why?  Is it less important than mathematics or science?  I completely agree with Beatley's argument that we should find art everywhere.  Art can absolutely add importance to a place and give people in that community a sense of pride especially if the public is involved.

I believe this chapter shows how art can be incorporated creatively to change people's perspective on infrastructure that would otherwise be viewed as a blight on the community.  There have been studies that have proven consistently art has the ability to improve lives.  Place Building through Art and Celebration sheds light on how art can be used in numerous forms to bring a community together from celebrating its heritage to improving a blighted area of a city.  I can't say enough about the importance of preserving the arts in our communities.  I thoroughly agree with Beatley's argument on many levels that art is essential for community building, uniqueness of place, and improving quality of life, which the examples he provides prove that.  Check out the links below.

http://www.banksy.co.uk/

http://www.graffiti.org/

How Buildings Learn

In Chapter 6 - Unreal Estate, Stewart Brand scrutinizes sloppy urban planning,  planning laws that restrict rather than allow freedom to organically grow, and the strangle hold the real estate/mortgage market has on our culture.  He starts the chapter by criticizing our "Get Rich Quick" culture and how this phenomenon can negatively effect the structural integrity of a building as well as the life of a building.  He argues that every building leads three contradictory lives - as habitat, as property, and as a component of the surrounding community.  Furthermore, Brand examines the distinction between "use value" and "market value", which to me is a very interesting topic and one I've never considered.  "Market value" is trendy, more stylish and standard at that moment where as "Use Value" is more personal and adapts to a person's personal needs over time.  He asserts that "use value" promotes sustainability in a community and reduces financial burdens compared to "market value" on the opposite end of the spectrum.

In addition,  Brand rips the real estate market and its drivers on the adverse consequences it has on adaptability and sustainability as well as the double edged sword of zoning laws.  He analyzes how real-estate cycles cripple buildings by adapting to potential buyers that may or may not exist and as a result have a strong tendency to head toward demolition. It seems as if we have allowed markets and this skewed version of the "American Dream" to distort reality.  Instead of building communities with a clear vision we build, build, build based off of market trends and we end up with empty buildings and communities without distinctive character.  The issues he brings to light from 30 years ago are eerily similar to what is going on now.  Do we ever learn from our past?