So how do we fix unsustainable cities and suburbs? How do we go back from the machine scale to the human scale? In the same way that a one-size-fits-all sort of lifestyle was imposed on our cities, there are going to be as many solutions as there are cities and developments...
...a combination of leading by example, studying the past while trying to put ourselves in the shoes of those coming after us. Both carrots and whips. There is no need to raze and rebuild, rather we should consolidate, and stop subsidizing that which can't be sustained.
Good cities are always built on the human scale, useful to anyone regardless of age or possession of a driver's license, and have access to sun and water to some degree. Apart from that they can differ, a city in Algeria will look and work differently from a city in Ecuador.
Buildings and architecture should fit its local climate, soil, and altitude. A building that enriches southern California will impoverish northern Norway. That is why fashions in building can be so costly, or in some cases even deadly.
There's almost 20,000 villages, towns and cities in the U.S. If we ask 1% of them to come up with a human scaled model habitation of say 0.1 square miles (the size of large shopping mall or stadium, with parking), we'd have something to start work with. We don't lack the space.
Naturally, this leads to questions, from the practical: how do you move a washing machine without cars? Can you have a city of 1 million without traffic? How can we afford to build new rail? to the more philosophical: what is the role of religion in cities? Why do we need order?
Out of personal interest (I am just some laborer in a far east Asian megacity who reads a lot) I collect examples of how our ancestors answered these questions. They are not admonitions, but examples. Above all, they are meant to reassure: don't fear, we have done this before.
There is no need to despair about the future, whether you live in suburb to Toronto or work a small field outside of Karachi. We'll get through this. Our ancestors have already shown us the way. We just need to get back to it.

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More from @wrathofgnon

23 Apr
All countries have their defining flowers, Dutch tulips, the English rose, for example. Today we associate Japan with the Cherry blossom, or maybe the Chrysanthemum, but for about 300 years, the Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) was a major player in Japanese agricultural-economy. ImageImage
Once grown all over the country as a major cash crop, today it is only properly grown in the iconic Tachiya River valley in Yamagata prefecture, where locals liked to bring impressed Imperial and Shogunate officials to view the endless fields of orange flowers from the mountain. Image
The flower arrived in Japan via Korea, according to tradition, in 538 A.D. It had come a long way from its origin on the shores of the rive Nile in Egypt (it probably made its way via the silk route together with Roman Imperial glassware which has also been found in Japan). ImageImageImage
Read 10 tweets
20 Apr
Three myths of cars:
1. Without cars we can't get around.
It is because of all the space devoted to cars and car infrastructure that we need them to get around in the first place. Traditional cities are compact and usable by anyone on foot or wheel.
Three myths of cars:
2. It would take draconian rules to rid our cities of cars.
It is because of draconian rules that we can't build the kind of neighborhoods and cities where we don't need them: try going against your city zoning laws, building codes, traffic regulations etc.
3. We need cars for the large populations of cities.
Modern cities typically devote 55% of their surface space to parking, and less than 2-3% to homes and housing. Add traffic infrastructure to this and you end up with what we have now: cities built for cars.
Read 4 tweets
14 Apr
Beautiful 3D reconstruction of the acropolis of Pergamon, one of the largest cities of the ancient world. Building something of this size is one thing, but how did they supply a city built on top of a 350m tall mountain without springs in an arid climate?
The water infrastructure of Pergamon was a wonder of the ancient world. At first they used cisterns to store rainwater, but the city quickly outgrew what they could possible hope to harvest and store, so they dug deep wells, so deep they could only be used for emergencies...
In the 2nd century B.C. they built a system of clay pipes connecting a series of natural springs up to 25km away to two sediment basins 4km away from the acropolis, at a height of 376m. But the acropolis was separated from the reservoir by a deep valley. How to get water across?
Read 7 tweets
10 Apr
The 1912 old Yokohama Rubber Co. Hall is a gorgeous example of how to build to achieve comfort in sub-tropical climates without modern air conditioning: tall ceilings and windows and a large cupola ensures natural ventilation, the wrap around porch controls solar (over) heating. Image
All buildings are compromises, and with bearable winters and unbearable summers you build to see you through the summers. Indoor humidity is effectively controlled by plaster and wooden surfaces throughout over a breathable timber frame. ImageImage
The company wanted to tear it down in 2003 but a public and official outcry stopped the destruction and it is now open to the public. Beauty literally saved it. Here are my own photos from today's visit. ImageImage
Read 4 tweets
9 Apr
There is no way we can keep up the waste that is single use packaging. The future will be reusable containers brought from home and bulk markets in everything from wine to shampoo. And we will be better, healthier, richer, and happier for it.
"But Wrath, bringing your old jars to fill with milk or pickles from a barrel is unhygienic!"
"I sterilize my old jars by the dozen, we could've shop staff or machines sterilize the jars customers bring in. It'ld also cut down greatly on food waste to always buy just enough."
“But Wrath, I have a big brain and a phd in economics and your idea is inefficient and expensive. We can't afford it!”
“But we can afford this?”
Read 5 tweets
2 Apr
In temperate climates, if you can't build your town near water you simply build water near your town. The cost of digging a canal deep enough for boat, barge, sail, is peanuts compared to the land value increase. And don't forget to make it the main route, for maximum effect.
If the authorities disapprove tell them it is not a canal but a wetland restoration/preservation project or a commercial aquaculture project to grow ecological fish or crayfish for the local markets.
The goal of course is to have water so clean that on summer nights your town is surrounded by millions of fireflies, an insect so sensitive to pollution only the cleanest waters can host it. And that is surer proof than any Government or corporate greenwashed LEED certificate.
Read 4 tweets

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