Making Sense of Place

Making Sense of Place Phoenix the Urban Desert or A true Desert City Deserts of the West of North America We, in Phoenix, dwell in one of the great deserts of the world. Desert Cities are Growing. But, in this economic hiatus, this might be a good time to ask should a Desert City, like Phoenix, eventually resume its growth at its present low density of about 2.7 thousand per square mile? Phoenix Growth • These were scenarios for the future growth of Greater Phoenix derived from the Greater Phoenix Regional Atlas published by ASU in 2003. Populations of between 9.6 and 28.2 millions by 2050 were forecast. • Land area increasing from 1,202 square miles to between 3,525 and 10,467 square miles was also anticipated Greater Phoenix Land Area • The total Land area here is 17,700 sq. miles of which about 7,800 sq. miles would be available for urban development. Room for about 21,000,000 people at current densities. Dream Houses in the Desert “Dream multiplied by a million” = ? Two Arizona Visionaries Frank Lloyd Wright and Paolo Soleri • Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1930’s and Paolo Soleri in the 1970’s developed their urban concepts. • Wright’s was Broadacre City, a very low density, dispersed, automobile dependent city with the majority of houses sitting on one acre lots. • Soleri’s was Arcology, a very high density, three dimensional, compact city with the preservation of nature between dense nodes a major goal. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Broadacre City. Begun in Chandler in 1932. One acre per house. 5,000 people on 2,600 acres, approx 4 sq.m at about 1,250 people per sq. mile Commuting in Broadacre City Paolo Soleri’s Arcology Exhibited at the Corcoran in Washington DC in the ‘70’s. A very high density, passive solar, mixed use, urban concept. Architecture plus Ecology preserving Nature. Soleri’s Maps of Despair and Miniaturization “MAN ISOLATED FROM THE REMAINING POCKETS OF NATURE” “MAN CONNECTED WITH IMMENSE NATURE” Urban Visions Neither of these visions has been realized, but of the two Frank Lloyd Wright’s came closest. Low density dispersed development, with an emphasis on individual home-ownership and automobile accessibility, not just to the home but to all the institutions of the community, has prevailed. It remains the dominant model, but its costs in land, energy, health, pollution, social interaction, politics, and money, are beginning to be calculated, and alternatives sought. Dispersed Low Density Cities and Compact High Density City Cores Phoenix developed as a low density, dispersed city, fulfilling the dreams of millions for a house and some land. But now we are beginning to consider at least a more compact core, and higher densities along transit routes. Alternative Urban Models Paolo Soleri’s Arcology concept for a compact city, while having great ethical appeal, remains for most an unrealizable utopian vision. But history is rich in examples of wonderful compact cities, and some of the most fascinating are desert cities which evolved over centuries to meet the demands of their settings. Coastal City Chile Jodhpur India Fez Morocco Compact Desert Cities are to be found in many countries of the world. Cusco Peru Compact Yemeni Desert Cities of Tower Houses and Courtyard Mosques Sana’a Shibam Courtyard Houses and the comparison between theOrder Islamic andUrban the French Islamic Urban OrderThe in Tunis Cairo The Vitality of Markets Bazaars and Souks Jodhpur Cairo Fez Arcaded Streets in Cusco Peru Plazas in Chile and Peru Antofagasta Santiago Lima Cusco Australia offers Lessons of Shade as did our own Territorial Buildings White Cliffs Adelaide Broken Hill Sun and Shade in Modern Australia Yulara, Alice Springs, and Brisbane Australian Mass Transit Old and New Adelaide Trolleys Sydney Monorail And now we have Light Rail Phoenix Roosevelt East X Deck Park X One quarter square mile X X Arizona Center Two studies for Compact Urbanism Compact Diverse Pedestrian Shady The New Arizona Urban Street Desert Cities: Surviving the 21st Century? • The fundamental question, is whether we, not just in Phoenix, but all over the world, are on track to deliver to our children and our grand children a sustainable, and rewarding, quality of life? • We, in Phoenix, whether or not we want to, will be a model of modern desert city building. Are we prepared to learn from other cultures and times? A Compact Desert City Shibam Yemen.

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