by zdehondt | Dec 10, 2012 | Global Urban Study, Large-scale Planning, Uncategorized, Urban Insights, Urban Research
There has been a lot written about Detroit lately. Some of it has been overly negative, some of it overly positive. Projects such as Detroit Works seek to rethink the land use patterns of the entire city while organizations such as D-Hive strive to connect energetic...
by zdehondt | Dec 4, 2012 | Civic Leadership, Placemaking, Streets, Uncategorized, Urban Insights, Urban Research, Walkability and Non-Motorized Systems
There has been extensive dialogue about the way that the built environment has been created since the end of the Second World War in 1945. That was a seminal point in global history, where cities of the world started to build and rebuild themselves after severe...
by zdehondt | Nov 27, 2012 | Global Urban Study, Placemaking, Streets, Uncategorized, Urban Insights, Walkability and Non-Motorized Systems
The study of urban spaces has a long established history. Urban cultural critic, Louis Mumford studied spaces as they related to the function of urban life. Renowned urban researcher William Whyte studied the way the design of spaces affected human behavior....
by zdehondt | Nov 5, 2012 | Civic Leadership, Global Urban Study, Placemaking, Streets, Uncategorized, Urban Insights, Walkability and Non-Motorized Systems
Question: Why did the pedestrian cross the street? Answer: To enjoy a positive, walkable built environment Many may think that the answer should have been “to get to the other side”. In truth, the more commonly known answer, “to get to the other side” falls a bit...
by zdehondt | Oct 15, 2012 | Uncategorized, Urban Insights, Urban Research
Globalization and Its Effect on Urban Design- Part 1 In this post we will attempt to place the city within its current global context by looking at current factors shaping cities as well as the historical elements that have defined urban form. Global Icons outside of...
by zdehondt | Oct 8, 2012 | Civic Leadership, Placemaking, Uncategorized, Urban Insights
Alternative Approaches to the Working City This past week I had an opportunity to visit one of the most pleasant small towns in North America, Mackinac Island, where I participated in the annual conference for the Michigan Municipal League. Even though I have traveled...
