AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.06.2005, Side 16

A new "Renaissance" for cities
Based on Urban Task Force 1999. Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir, Planner
A New “Renaissance” for Cities
is the title of a new approach to
the redevelopment of cities where
emphasis is put on encouraging
people to live in the city again.
A New “Renaissance" for Cities
is based on excellent planning
and design, taking into account
the well being of the public and
environmental consciousness within
a realistic fiscal and legal framework.
This approach originated in Britain
at the beginning of this century and
today influences urban planning in
all across the world. To succeed
this new renaissance must reach
each and every road. Looking at
history there are many examples
of flourishing urban life. Cities
were places where new ideas
were born and knowledge was
transferred between people. On the
other hand, if one looks at more
recent examples a different picture
appears. The prevailing policy has
been to segregate people and
places. Cities expand and suburbs
come about like Phoenix, Arizona
(see picture 1). Icelanders have to
stop and think if they want to walk
down the same blind alley as other
countries or if we should stop and
choose a better road.
Cities are first and foremost
gathering places of people. The
city is a frame that contains many
systems that are part of our daily
lives. As the city grows it becomes
more fragile as it becomes more
and more difficult for the basic
systems to fulfil the demands put
upon them. The city becomes
weaker as the distance between
people and work grows.
This requires a new approach
in the planning of cities. The post-
modern society that we live in
is typified by increasing access
to information through the web,
increased environmental concern
and increased leisure time.
The new “renaissance” policy
puts emphasis on good design
as the key to better cities. To
create the sustainable cities of
the future city authorities have to
commit themselves to use quality
and imagination in the design
of buildings, public areas and
transportation systems. This applies
both to the planning process and
the final outcome. To make this
possible it is necessary for an
interdisciplinary design team to
coordinate the different premises as
shown in picture 2.
This is not a question of more
regulations. We have to trust the
knowledge and creative abilities of a
good designer rather than the letter
of the law, which has until now not
delivered good results.
7. mynd. Georgetown, Washington DC (Martin Crookston). / Georgetown, Washington DC (Martin Crookston).
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