[Frey]

What do you think? how it will look like? What is the major change from this what we have now? In my opinion everything is going to point when we will lose something from a symbolism of smaller parts, but cities as entirety a will take a new shape and meaning, they will recive functions...so waiting for your opinion!

[James Bond Agent 007]

Here is the American City of the Past, Present and Future. No symbolism, no meaning. It exists merely to satisfy material desires.

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1505/northphoenix65zj9.jpg
source (http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=pmbnrd5n7q00&style=o&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=5717467&encType=1)

[Marcu]

^ Very profound

[Frey]

And you are totally sure that this will be future? Don't you think that we are getting a litle bit annoyed with this?

[DJM19]

who is we? People who frequent this forum, yes.

[Chicago2020]

Here is the American City of the Past, Present and Future. No symbolism, no meaning. It exists merely to satisfy material desires.

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1505/northphoenix65zj9.jpg
source (http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=pmbnrd5n7q00&style=o&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=5717467&encType=1)

This is what 80% of the Phoenix Area looks like

[James Bond Agent 007]

And you are totally sure that this will be future? Don't you think that we are getting a litle bit annoyed with this?
Who is we?

The great popularity of this housing type in the US tells me that "we" aren't very annoyed with this.

[zaphod]

you just mean the sort of ideal that everyone can own a home and a vehicle in a pleasant enviroment? Or are you trying to say we all must live at low densities in houses that all look identical on dead end streets that require 2-4 mile car trip to get anywhere? It seems like the second part is simply how the first part is obtained by the majority of people for the most affordable price. Not because %100 of people want it exactly like that pic..

Anyways, this is something I wonder about too. Say flying cars were invented in the distant future. 200 mph and can go in a straight line. People wouldn't have to live anywhere near where they lived, they would live somewhere that was interesting to them instead. Some places that could mean super low density sprawl. Houston and Dallas's areas of influence could overlap if people live as far travel time wise as they do now but by a flying vehicle. But then, since you could commute to your job from anywhere, In other places people might cram into desirable spots like say by the beach, the mountains, or stay nearer exciting urban areas like Manhattan, SF, etc.

A Post-scarcity society probably would have the same effect, regardless of advances in transportation.

There was a documentary/book about this, but mostly it just showed things like 8000 foot tall towers :rolleyes:

[TexasPlaya]

So it's all about materialism? There are no families who want affordable housing and live in a good school district? Don't try and generalize this as a greed thing.

[Marcu]

Very few people in America, especially outside the newer sunbelt cities, live in those types of environments. Sure houses may look identical, but most suburbs these days have a decent downtown/walkable shopping district near by, some access to transit, and some form of unique identity or linkeage to larger city with identity. And the situation is getting better, not worse.

[kpexpress]

Who is we?

The great popularity of this housing type in the US tells me that "we" aren't very annoyed with this.

I am annoyed at this style of growth. It is against everything sustainable and this country (and the world) cannot afford to have this continue.

[kpexpress]

you just mean the sort of ideal that everyone can own a home and a vehicle in a pleasant enviroment? Or are you trying to say we all must live at low densities in houses that all look identical on dead end streets that require 2-4 mile car trip to get anywhere? It seems like the second part is simply how the first part is obtained by the majority of people for the most affordable price. Not because %100 of people want it exactly like that pic..

Anyways, this is something I wonder about too. Say flying cars were invented in the distant future. 200 mph and can go in a straight line. People wouldn't have to live anywhere near where they lived, they would live somewhere that was interesting to them instead. Some places that could mean super low density sprawl. Houston and Dallas's areas of influence could overlap if people live as far travel time wise as they do now but by a flying vehicle. But then, since you could commute to your job from anywhere, In other places people might cram into desirable spots like say by the beach, the mountains, or stay nearer exciting urban areas like Manhattan, SF, etc.

A Post-scarcity society probably would have the same effect, regardless of advances in transportation.

There was a documentary/book about this, but mostly it just showed things like 8000 foot tall towers :rolleyes:

Show me a sustainable flying machine and I will consider, but until then I prefer higher density areas where I can bike/walk more and drive my car less. It is in places like this where true urban culture exists and gives people a spark of joy.