• Authenticity by design: Creating beautiful places

    The attempt to create beauty is key to making lovable places that are perceived as authentic. For large buildings, breaking up the façade can help to achieve the goal.
    Note: This article is based on a presentation by Daniel Morales at CNU 28.A Virtual Gathering , which took place in mid-June. What makes a place lovable? At CNU 27 in Louisville (in 2019), someone said, “Lovable places were often created by many people over many different years, lending them...Read more

  • Charter Awards have helped build a movement

    CNU celebrated 20 years of Charter Awards at CNU 28 last week—and the awards have promoted the cause of connected, sustainable, lovable communities.
    CNU recently celebrated of its 20 th Charter Awards at CNU 28.A Virtual Gathering . This year’s winners include impressive projects such as The Wharf, which has opened up the waterfront in Washington DC and excels at more aspects—public space, street design, affordable housing, special events...Read more

  • Making public space with ‘asphalt art’

    Transforming streets and vertical infrastructure through art is an important tool for enlivening cities this summer.
    As cities reopen around the US, many are creating outdoor gathering spaces for dining and other activities. Indoor spaces are more risky than outdoor spaces , according to the Centers for Disease Control. In mixed-use districts and downtowns, often street space is being temporarily converted to...Read more

  • Introducing townhouse living to a city

    Beatrice Row brings the classical row house to Coral Gables, Florida, along with zoning guidelines for this type. The project won a 2020 CNU Charter Award in the Block, Street, and Building category for de la Guardia Victoria Architects & Urbanists.
    Beatrice Row elegantly introduces a new building type, the townhouse, to the City of Coral Gables in a way that allows a transition between the high-rise downtown to surrounding single-story detached neighborhoods. The design elegantly employs classical architecture on an infill site. The block of...Read more