• Single stairs do not put residents at risk

    A new study of multifamily buildings shows that those with a single stairwell are just as safe as those with two sets of stairs. This could be a key to more infill, missing middle housing.
    New urbanists have typically focused on code changes that impact the outside of buildings, their density and use, and the way they address the public realm. But sometimes, inside-the-building codes have a major impact on how buildings are expressed on the outside—and thus, the form of the city...Read more

  • CNU chapter holds single-stair contest

    Who knew the difference a staircase makes? US requirements that multifamily buildings have more than one staircase damages cities. Amidst calls for reform, CNU Mid-Atlantic is offering a prize for the best single-stair building design for Baltimore.
    Twentieth Century building and zoning codes made walkable cities much more difficult to build. In doing so, they cause many people to live in less healthy environments—as per the strong evidence that walkable places contribute to health , social interactions , and other benefits. The latest code...Read more

  • Resilient urban design: The art and science of transforming cities

    Integrating resilience into urban design encourages a shift in thinking: Resilient urban design should not only facilitate mitigation and adaptation but also ensure that the solutions for both have to be likable to all.
    In recent years, the popularity of “urban resilience” and “resilient cities” has surged in both academic research and policy development, especially with respect to urbanization and climate change. However, the origins and meaning of these terms are ambiguous and vague, with numerous explanations...Read more

  • An innovative street grid proposal

    The Adaptation Village offers a twist on the street grid, consisting mostly of slow-speed, shared-use mews.
    Of all the changes in the built environment in the 20th Century, none had more impact than abandoning the street grid—which occurred in the US around 1950. That one change did more to eliminate walkability long-term, and the effects on public health and safety are dramatic. The street network...Read more