Zoning is far too complex, because instead of revamping the code every so often to reflect new realities, these codes are amended and amended until they are a contradictory compilation of confusing and conflicting provisions. For the most part zoning ordinances are so convoluted that they require constant applications for exceptions. The more exceptions required the more antiquated the zoning codes are.
And when considering zoning always keep in mind that Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States, has no zoning code. Yet it functions just fine, and for the most part the mix of uses is not any different than the mix of uses of land in other cities, no matter how stringent or lenient their code. If all cities are basically the same regardless of their zoning codes then it strikes me that their codes are either woefully out of sync with reality, or they are driven by other reasons -- like social and economic control.
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The entire permiting and zoning process in all cities must be greatly simplified. Easier said than done because so many people have an interest in the complexity of the system. But cities are stagnating because of the intense encumberances on business growth. The complexity leads to corruption and to ennui. It leads to slower growth and less development, jobs and investment. Staggered horizontal bands of alternating shades of blue glass give this tower a brick-like effect. Breaking up the tower at about 1/3rd the way up is several floors of a protuding gray glass squares that cuts the tower in three parts. The crown is a curving, twisting pointed dome. |
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No city can be held responsible for its geographic location. Yet too often I hear that a city is ugly because of where it is. Cities developed where they are because of commerce. The economic power of many cities may have faded but that's where the visionaries, and often the crack pots, come in. They are often the ones who preserve old neighborhoods which have become tourist meccas. They are the ones who bring in new uses to a cities old factories and buildings. Too often, though, the 'establishment' dismisses the crack pots and the visionaries. Only to find that they were right. So it's necessary for many of establishment to change their outlook on this way. A highly articulated facade, rising in bold vertical, alternating dark spandrels and light glass colored maroon, triangles to a star shaped crown to this short tower. The base is a square classical columned temple like space, with huge expanses of clear glass. . |
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Old buildings that are no longer useful for commerical use should be given over to residential and cultural space. To the greatest extent possible the newer buildings should be set within the older structures, filling in any open spaces, to make dense urban cores when before things were more spread out. There are many parcels of land that are no longer used in many cities, the abandoned lots. At least one quarter of all empty land should be set aside for parks, of even mini and vest pocket proportions, with larger development projects clustered around them. From a cantilevered corner-cut lobby entrance with a pristine white stone backdrop, this green and aquamarine horizontal bands of glass rises in a square tower, with gray aluminum spandrels. The whole culminating in a pointed dome sinuously growing out of the square facade. Bold jet black diagonal trim lines are even spaced in an upside down chevron design, leading the eye up. . |
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The idea that we should limit the heights of buildings works against the ideal that we should limit the outward growth of the city. By going taller and bigger now we can preserve more open space later. To dream of the way things were possible in the past doesn't allow for increase in population. The call against the Manhattanizing of other cities does not bode well for the preservation of open space. Dramtic red metal, white square glass windows in rectangles are cantilevered out from the white glass, with red undertones, tower, seeming to hover in air. Capped by a red reflective metal dome. . |
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Foreign cities, especially in Asia have adopted the tall skyscraper, because they desire to show power and economic clout. The unintended net affect though will to be a better urban structure and sufficient density in the long run. And more open space in the long run. The more people who congregate in cities the easier it will be to preserve the wild areas of the world. Urban development saves wildlife. It's managing the obtaining resources and food from the wild that becomes the problem. A yellow and black octogonal tower, with buttress like flanges in an opposite coloring, capped by an origami like dome. |
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