Today, I'd like to talk about part of my observation/thoughts from the reading we read for today in "Ecocities" on the chapter called "The City in History."
It was very interesting learning about how cities have come from villages to small towns to eventually the giant places they are today. What particularly stood out to me was the World Trade Center replacement model or scheme. Initially the author portrays (on page 84) a variety of forms representing all versions proposed for the new World Trade Center - "with 11 million square feet of commercial space...Not mixed uses. Not community." The plot or diagram illustrates a large white blank space void where the World Trade Center (and all of its proposed designs) would be located. Interestingly, on page 87, there is an actual image or diagram of it as a "world community facing the Statue of Liberty." The author describes it this way: "A highly mixed-use community celebrating the best of Manhattan and the United States brings the best of trade to the site." He describes that facing south on the 20th floor is a "view plaza" or "keyhole" that has a great view towards the south over some of the other buildings in the area.
This diagram really stood out to me. I thought it was excellently portrayed by the author between both pages/diagrams and it really gives a visual of what our communities can really be like - how they can be designed. To me, as an architecture and planning student, this really helps me visualize the constraints of our society today with not building directly for people, as well as helps me recognize the potential for the design of communities in a way that enhances the quality of life in an area or project.
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