There are numerous factors that city planners, politicians, developers and designers consider when planning cities; from infrastructure to transit to the creation of residential, commercial and retail space, all to draw new businesses and residents. But often the last thing to be considered, and yet perhaps the most critical component in any city neighborhood, is public space. … [Read more...] about Public space. The heart of the city.
Development
A bold experiment in coal country.
Brandon Dennison founded Coalfield Development in 2011 to offer a unique workforce approach focused on transforming communities - a bold experiment in tackling the generational poverty West Virginia has long wrestled with. This experiment grew out of his early memories while growing up in a comfortable middle-class family in West Virginia. Others were not so fortunate. West … [Read more...] about A bold experiment in coal country.
Back to wood construction.
As the creation of affordable and sustainable housing becomes increasingly urgent, focus has shifted to innovative ways to meet these goals. I found one such example in Amsterdam where Marc Koehler and his design team develop creative solutions for urban living through their Superlofts Project. Broadly speaking, a Superlofts project starts with the bare structural frame of the … [Read more...] about Back to wood construction.
Scaling up.
Brian Gaudio believes that everyone deserves access to good design. The inspiration for starting Module came while he was directing Within Formal Cities – a documentary about the housing crisis in South America, which debuted in 2016. Brian, then a college senior, saw the broader possibility of modular “pay-as-you-go” design. As opposed to simply designing yet … [Read more...] about Scaling up.
The importance of community.
When we think about housing, especially in urban areas, we’re not just thinking about a place to rest our head. Instead, housing must include some broader amenities, such as access to transportation, services and jobs. And even more importantly, as more and more people move back from the suburbs to urban neighborhoods, there is an increased focus on finding community. Today, … [Read more...] about The importance of community.