I love systems that turn a problem into an asset. It's the kind of balanced improvement we're almost taught is impossible. So cities capturing storm water, effectively turning floodwater into drinking water they can use by allowing it to filter back down into the aquifer, seems like a great move. Especially when it comes with green areas that improve city life, lower daytime temperatures, and reduce the heat island effect.

When urban renewal goes wrong: Inside a dead mall frozen in 1990.

Very interesting short film by Bright Sun Films. Along with the usual urban exploration bits, he gives a good history of how and why it failed.

The shopping centre was supposed to revitalise downtown Hamilton, Ontario.

But within six years, it had just a 40% occupancy rate.

A decade after opening, it sold for only CAN$3.6 million — just 5% of what it originally cost to build.

https://youtu.be/NV_c_c_RZdE?si=4fNO5BJAoWzcx_bw

#urbanism #UrbanPlanning #Canada #Ontario @urbanism #UrbanRenewal #malls #DeadMalls #UrbEx #UrbanExplaration

🌟 Join us for an inspiring talk by Philip M. Crosby, Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture at Temple University, as he delves into the exciting realm of solarpunk urban design. 🏙️ With a wealth of experience in architecture and urban design, Crosby explores the intersection of science fiction narratives and sustainable city planning, focusing particularly on the empowering potential of solarpunk ideology.

In this captivating presentation, Crosby shares insights from his extensive research, revealing how solarpunk serves as a powerful tool for envisioning the future of our cities. 🔍 Drawing on his expertise, he discusses innovative strategies for redesigning city streets to promote sustainability, community engagement, and social equity.

Learn how Crosby's interdisciplinary approach, informed by his background in architecture, urban design, and architectural history and theory, offers a fresh perspective on addressing contemporary urban challenges. 🌱 Discover the transformative potential of solarpunk aesthetics and principles in reshaping our urban landscapes for a brighter, more sustainable future.

From Australia to Ontario, cities are taking up unnecessary stretches of concrete and asphalt, allowing nature to take hold in their place.

I changed the title to be a little less clickbaity.

I debated posting this, since, while it says guerilla urbanizing is useful, there are expensive solutions to making cities more friendly to public transit and bicycles that simply require the city itself getting onboard with to fix, and the solution he proposes is to become more involved in your local city council, which on the face of it doesn't sound super Anarchist.

I believe Murray Bookchin advocated for something along these lines, and that got him a lot of flak from the Anarchist community at in the 80's, Though I'm struggling to find where he said that now (please post it if you happen to know!),

I'd like to know your thoughts on the proposal in the video. It does seem like since so few people participate in these areas, it would be possible to overwhelm the NIMBY's if you got enough people involved in your local city council, or ran in local elections for positions that could influence your city's urbanization.

See, here's why I think the Parramatta light rail should be extended from Sydney Olympic Park to Strathfield.

It's not just that it would allow it to connect directly to many of the train lines serving the western and northern suburbs, including the T1, T2, T3, and T9. Or intercity trains to the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, and Newcastle.

It's not just that Strathfield is a major bus hub with many services across the western suburbs.

It's not just that DFO Homebush (between Strathfield and Olympic Park) is a busy shopping centre that generates a lot of traffic.

No, the big reason I say it's a good idea is because these photos were taken on the 526 bus, between Strathfield and Olympic Park, on a Sunday afternoon.

#bus #tram #LightRail #nsw #nswpol #planning #Urbanism #UrbanPlanning #transport #transit #MassTransit @urbanism

Climate resilience: Has the time come to start demanding lighter-coloured streets in hotter climates?

At this stage, the challenge with climate change is not just preventing it from happening by cutting emissions. We also need to make our cities resilient to the climate change we've already locked in.

That's where lighter coloured paving for streets, rather than dark asphalt, can help:

"Sebastian Pfautsch doesn't hesitate when asked what he would change first to cool Australian cities in summer.

"And it's not what you might expect. It's not the seemingly endless expanse of black roofs, soaking up the sun beneath a shimmering haze.

"It's the roads. About a third of any outer suburb is thermally dense black asphalt that can reach 75 degrees Celsius, according to Professor Pfautsch, an expert on urban heat at the University of Western Sydney.

...

"Lighter-coloured roads may make intuitive sense, like wearing a white shirt on a hot day, but how effectively do they reduce surface and ambient air temperature?

"In 2020, two separate cool roads trials in Sydney and Adelaide set out to conclusively answer these questions.

"The Sydney trial, which took place at about 10 sites in the Western Sydney suburbs of Blacktown, Campbelltown and Parramatta, recorded an average surface temperature reduction of 5.6C and 2C for day and night respectively.

"For context, tree shade reduced the surface temperatures of roads by 16C."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2024-01-24/why-australia-builds-dark-roads-despite-heatwaves-climate-change/103375122

@urbanism #urbanism #UrbanPlanning #transport #cities #environment #ClimateChange