Many people cynically criticize the desire to build a better, more beautiful world as idealistic or overly romantic.
But fewer things could be more necessary than creating the kinds of walkable, dynamic, sustainable, & lovable places of our dreams.
ourbuiltenvironment.substack.com/p/a-call-to-bu…
But fewer things could be more necessary than creating the kinds of walkable, dynamic, sustainable, & lovable places of our dreams.
ourbuiltenvironment.substack.com/p/a-call-to-bu…
As I argue in my latest piece, we can no longer tolerate the consequences of our destructive, dangerous, and profligate status quo of building.
We need to move beyond a world ruled by codes, theory, and ideological fiat, to one of tested practice, common sense, and humanity.
We need to move beyond a world ruled by codes, theory, and ideological fiat, to one of tested practice, common sense, and humanity.
There's a notion that we can't build like we used to, or even if we could, that it's undesirable to do so. But these are myths.
The places we’re most attracted to perform better on just about every metric one can imagine compared to our car dependent world.
The places we’re most attracted to perform better on just about every metric one can imagine compared to our car dependent world.
It makes little sense, then, to settle for travelling around the world, chasing a few days in these dreamy places, only to return to a bad status quo.
Would it not be better to experience the places we romanticize about, all the time, adjusted for context, culture, & traditions?
Would it not be better to experience the places we romanticize about, all the time, adjusted for context, culture, & traditions?
From sustainability, societal health, & economic vitality perspectives, this pursuit isn't idealistic. It’s common sense.
Building a better world isn’t outrageous. But maintaining one that guarantees worse outcomes, that people don’t even really like, at greater expense, is.
Building a better world isn’t outrageous. But maintaining one that guarantees worse outcomes, that people don’t even really like, at greater expense, is.
If we want a more sustainable, equitable, affordable, beautiful, diverse, healthy, and vibrant world, the only solution is to build as many "places of our dreams" as possible, such that the status quo is not only unacceptable, but cannot compete on price either.
This path towards realizing a better world requires us to bring just one with us: Optimism.
If we don't believe that building a better world is possible, we're doomed to a self-fulfilling prophecy. But if we believe a better world is possible, we can fight for it!
If we don't believe that building a better world is possible, we're doomed to a self-fulfilling prophecy. But if we believe a better world is possible, we can fight for it!
This isn't a blind optimism. The work towards realizing a better world will doubtless be hard & encounter much opposition. It might seem like every code, neighbor, & official is conspiring against us. Indeed, they might be.
But, we have common sense & desirability on our side!
But, we have common sense & desirability on our side!
This is a call to anyone reading this to seek to imbue beauty & joy into your own communities. Be bold. Be unafraid. But most importantly, go out & create the world of your dreams around you.
It's not only possible, but it's desperately needed.
It's not only possible, but it's desperately needed.
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