Concept design for affordable housing. The picture is for a larger 4 bedroom unit, but smaller units are possible.

This housing style has a preliminary estimate of 50-60% reduction in construction costs compared to a comparably sized traditional stick frame design. Preliminary estimates also indicate a 30% reduction in expected heating costs.

Reshaping Cities 2+

The Reshaping Cities 2+ presentation at the Ecocity World Summit 2011 in Montreal confirmed the need and interest for cities to better design for families. Households with 2+ generations is essential for a city's human sustainability.

While many green cities experience a decline in the child population, Denver tops the list of green cities growing the child population. Two case studies show the potential of increasing family households living in Denver: Stapleton development and Benedict Park Place. The core guiding principle for Reshaping Cities 2+ is interdependency. Cities endure over time by designing for the youngest to the oldest resident, acknowledging the interdependency between families, businesses, and natural resources.

The conference was attended by 1,500 delegates from 280 cities and 70 countries.

View PowerPoint Slides for Reshaping Cities 2+
http://humanlifeproject.com/ReshapingCities2Plus.pdf

Ecocity World Summit 2011 Montreal

Reshaping Cities 2+

On August 24, I will be presenting at the Ecocity World Summit 2011 in Montreal, Canada.

Abstract:

Designing cities for 1 to 2 adults per household is easy. The real challenge is to attract and retain households of more than 2 people. Families raise the next generation of residents, ensuring ecocities endure over time. How can we reshape our cities to better support family households?

Key concepts include reversing sprawl by creating family centers closely tied to a city’s business center, dramatically reducing work commute and resource usage. Family centers are defined by places that encourage a high degree of social interaction such as schools and cultural venues. Daily living components are conveniently clustered together including healthy food access, recreation, and child care. Residential neighborhoods are located near the family center, providing a variety of green housing options with 2+ bedrooms across a spectrum of income levels. People walk and bicycle daily from their residence to the family center as well as the business center. Public transportation is also prominent, providing a viable substitute to the automobile. Design for the youngest to the oldest resident is integral to overall success.

The Denver metropolitan region is an excellent example to show the complexities and possibilities of the business center relationship to its family centers. Inspiring examples include the Stapleton development, America’s largest urban infill project, with approximately half of the residents representing family households with homes designed to conserve 40-70 percent of natural resources. Public transportation is rapidly expanding to connect all metropolitan cities to downtown Denver called FasTracks, one of the largest regional transit programs in North America. The recently launched Denver B-Cycle program combined with a pedestrian and bicycle master plan is a positive shift towards green transportation.

Reshaping cities for 2+ makes it possible for families to live and work in the city.

This session will provide ideas to better support families living and working in the city, reversing urban sprawl and saving resources. Green housing, transportation, and land use are integral to designing the ecocity for families.