• Why street grids have more capacity

    The greater choice offered by well-connected street networks leads to more capacity and efficiency, according to pioneering smart growth engineer Walter Kulash.
    I recently posted “ The copious capacity of street grids ” making the case that traditional street networks are not just better for walking, biking, and livability, but also offer far greater vehicle capacity. In the comment section, somebody posted a link to a long-forgotten talk by Walter Kulash...Read more

  • African urbanism made visible

    Africa Drawn: One Hundred Cities
    “Africa is certainly not only a continent of small villages in the jungle and savannah. Its level of diverse urbanization and global network of mobility is advancing rapidly, while African metropolitan regions, cities, and towns are among the fastest growing in the world,” note the authors of...Read more

  • Build as if daylight were your first light

    "Build as if daylight were your first light, and artificial light was reserved for the night. The windows you’ll add will also be great for cross ventilation in warmer months. And everything in rooms with light on two sides (including the people) will be more beautiful," advises architect Steve...Read more

  • Why we hug the edge of open spaces: Campus design, part 7

    Fundamental sensory mechanisms determine how we walk in relation to built structures. This physiological basis must inform the design of pedestrian campus circulation.
    Author’s note: This is the seventh in a series of ten essays that present innovative techniques for designing and repairing a corporate or university campus. These tools combine New Urbanist principles with Alexandrian design methods. We are physiologically drawn to visual destinations, while the...Read more