Question: "Why Planner 47?"
Answer: "Why not?"
Other Answer: Its somewhat random. Planner 47 just seemed interesting to me. I'll give a little more detail on the story at some other time. For now, Planner 47 is just a handle and just part of getting to the starting line.
Question: "How and why did this blog come to fruition?"
Answer: As stated in the previous post, there were some that suggested having a blog to feature my work. Also if anything in the urban planning world peaks my interest it'll go here too. In terms of my work and ideas, I'll share them when I have time. 3D modeling projects are still going on and will be released when I see fit.
Question: "Will you have featured content from Planner 47?"
Answer: That's pretty much why the blog exists. I'll show some designs and 3D models in order to gain feedback. I'll also take a look at my models critically, perhaps as part of an evaluation and learning experience.
Question: "Why 'Urban Planning'?"
Answer: Its my trade. Simple as that.
Well not really. To me, urban planning, buildings, architecture, urban design, how buildings, cities, regions and nations function, its been an interesting topic for me. Sure, there are plenty of ideas out there and with this blog hopefully some of the greatest ideas will be considered while also sharing ideas and examples of my own. Also, there is the thought of pushing urban planning and urban design to the forefront when it comes to public thinking.
Question: "Urban Planning sucks."
Answer: That's not a question. Moving on.
Question: "No seriously, Urban Planning sucks."
Answer: And again, not a question. But since some people won't let that go, I'll address it.
One of the things about urban planning that people should at least consider is that people should live in well designed, functional, versatile and very productive environments. Depending on where you live and your experiences, your mileage may vary. I'll use the U.S. as an example (and that will be a primary theme here on the blog since its most familiar to me). For the U.S., there has been the movement to build "McMansions" or copy and paste houses in copy in paste subdivisions, far from the core city. Also, when it comes to design of satellite cities or exurbs, the rule of thumb is to design everything for the car.
Subdivisions - wide streets, no sidewalks
Shopping venues - strip centers with excessive seas of parking
Schools - isolated on some green plot surrounded on all sides by parking, located or designed so it'd be impossible to walk to
Sports and Activity hubs - again wide streets, massive parking, located far from where everything else is
You get the picture.
There is currently the exchange of vibrant and creative cities, for bland, ultra-safe and isolated exurb living. Said exurb development is the typical formula: houses in isolated subdivisions, commercial strips set far from the street and cushioned by exorbitant parking surfaces, the car is king. Ironically, there is talk from suburban and exurban residents about wanting an urbanist environment, yet the exact opposite occurs [insert irony laugh here]
The point is, urban planning tries to consider different and more effective ways at creating houses, schools, parks and communities, so more people can benefit from them. It shouldn't be "don't have a car, you're out of luck" or "well we have massive parking that's just unsightly and not used for hours on end, but at least that half dozen of customers can park for 10 to 20 minutes, even sideways if they choose".
Question: "Why question the way we do things when it comes to building? It's worked the past few decades."
Answer: Really?
Here are a few things to consider. People are more and more disconnected even if they live in the so called "neighborhoods" of the subdivision. You just go home, live there in a box, drive off to work, and repeat as necessary.
We also have an obesity epidemic brought on by the shift of lifestyle from "the past few decades". Its now a drive-thru, drive there, can't walk - don't want to walk, culture. A good portion of time is spent sitting down rather than being active (hour or so commute to work, then back, or you are stuck in traffic, and so forth).
Also, design of buildings and places has been set back for the most part. Just keep building those strip centers with no focus on design and vast parking all around, soon everywhere will look exactly the same, like crap. Thoughtless and indiscernible crap. Everything's starting to look exactly the same and frankly I find that boring and repugnant (something to note as the blog goes on).
Question: "This is another one of those 'urbanism' 'walkability' 'green building' type blogs isn't it?"
Answer: Actually no. This is just for 47's thoughts and ideas. Sometimes those might be topics, other times the subject matter may be completely different. Also if you don't want 'urbanism' and all of that other fanfare, don't complain to me about it.
Question: "What's Planner 47's sign?"
Answer: Build it damn well or don't build it at all.
Question: "What gives you the right to question current building practices?"
Answer: My blog. I'll do whatever I want. Don't like what's being said, get your own blog and complain there.
FAQ to be updated as the blog grows and evolves.
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