New Urbanism

An introduction
Across the Philippines, and around the
world, an urban design movement
called New Urbanism is changing the
way our cities and towns are built.
Giving Physical Shape to Community
Giving Physical Shape to Community
New urbanist developments are
walkable neighborhoods, rather
than large, single-use places with
streets hostile to pedestrians.
Giving Physical Shape to Community
New Urbanism provides a range of
housing choices, from apartments
over storefronts to single-family
homes with yards.
Giving Physical Shape to Community
Careful, participatory planning ensures that everyone in the neighborhood
has easy access to the necessities of life, making life easier for kids, the
elderly, and people who dont want to drive.
Response to a Problem
Since World War II, cities have been spreading ever-outward. Strip malls,
parking lots, highways, and housing tracts have sprawled over the landscape.
The Region
New Urbanism calls for towns to develop in the
appropriate style for their surroundings, while
respecting their neighbors.
Gainesville, FL
Boca Raton, FL
The Region
Towns and cities within a
region should have clear
boundaries, contributing to
a sense of place. The land
between towns should be
preserved as open space
wilderness or farm-land.
These edges are as important
as the centers to the success
of New Urbanism.
The Neighborhood
Diverse, walkable neighborhoods are what distinguish New Urbanism
from other modern development styles.
The Block, Street, and Building
In New Urbanism, streets
are safe, comfortable,
interesting places for
people to walk and meet.
Buildings open onto
sidewalks, rather than
parking lots. Windows and
doors facing the sidewalk
make streets safer, and
more interesting, for
everyone.
The Block, Street, and Building
New urbanist streets use
buildings to provide a con-
sistent and understandable
edge. This accommodates
buildings of all styles and
functions. Important
locations are reserved for
grand, attention-getting
buildings; other sites require
buildings to respect their
context.
The Block, Street, and Building
New urbanist streets can
accommodate cars while
also providing comfort and
convenience for
pedestrians, bicyclists,
and wheelchair users.
Progress in the Suburbs
Suburbs provide fertile ground for new urbanists, who are increasingly interested in infill
projects, housing project redevelopment, and retrofitting town centers into existing
suburbs.
Progress in the Suburbs
In new suburban developments, new urbanists
are including an ever-wider range of
architectural styles. While many new urbanist
developments have been built with colonial-style
architecture, recent projects include
neighborhoods of contemporary homes and
adobe.
Summary
New Urbanism is inspiring political leaders eager to solve social, economic, and traffic
problems all at once while making cities and towns more beautiful and dignified. Popular
"Smart Growth" policies promote New Urbanism while reducing subsidies for sprawl. These
policies are now at the top of the agenda for the nations mayors and governors.