Comments for Ecosphere http://www.ecosdesign.com/wordpress Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:57:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Today’s Headlines for Rural Georgia by sarah http://www.ecosdesign.com/wordpress/?p=423&cpage=1#comment-104 sarah Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:57:40 +0000 http://www.ecosdesign.com/wordpress/?p=423#comment-104 Reading this article makes me think of the many other cities in the southeast that have/ are/ and will continue to experience the same issues as those that exist in Atlanta. In an ideal world, a commuter rail would span the entire southeast mega-region, connecting the it in such a way that would decrease road congestions, while benefiting the environment and overall quality of life (we have all seen this plan in books and on the web). However, there are many realities preventing such a system like this from occuring: (1) the U.S. Highway System is like none other found anywhere in the World- the money that funds it; the jobs it supports- everything about it in many peoples' eyes stands for America and what it is like to live here. Designers can begin addressing this "issue" at a much smaller scale. Don't fight the system we have and give up on it- find the good about it and make it better. Yes, it would be great to create a train system like that in Europe that finally "releases" people from vehicle reliance; however this is extremely costly. Until someone is able to think of a more creative way for supporting such a system other than "just increasing taxes," designers should be thinking of how to make life less vehicle-friendly and more pedestrian oriented. Successful planning then requires complete vehicle extraction- beginning with the most reliable form of transporation- our feet. For planning to be successful in the future- we must all be designers on the sidewalk of life. Constantly imagine yourself as the pedestrian; play out the experience; see the world in the eyes of the traveler. Go to the place- and specifically address and idenitfy gaps and shortfalls. Planning has not been successful because we have become too reliant on drawing "large lines" in "small areas." We see everything through the eyes of the computer rather than those of a child attempting to walk to school. We need to get back to thinking at all levels- both site and regional. Successful design and planning for the future will require creativity and hard work. It will require investigating "thresholds" and understanding systems thinking as we have never had to before. I guess I play devil's advocate in this discussion, because while I do agree in the need for communities to have plans for their future- I disagree with the methods we have been using to achieve such a result. The answer to how we convince communities that they need a comp plan is that we can't. Ms. Duncan identified strong instances where rural communities do not know what direction to go- but this is because (especially as it relates to water shortages) they have no role model. Why would you ever follow someone who did not have the results you were looking for. This proves its time to change the way we think about design- and redefine our responsibilities. It is naive to say that we can ignore the needs of the client; however, it is our responsibility to find a way to educate them about their needs- which we have gotten so far away from, because we are so used to and comfortable "operating as we always have." Get out of your comfort zone- show rural communities how you are going to help them- investigate watersheds and catchments- produce real data related to the impacts of your design- address connections on the surface while addressing those below the ground. Does every design you produce utilize models to show the increase in run-off percentages and where the water is going? How are you going to slow it down, but create a design that improves health, wellness and community. Honestly.... do you know where natural streamlines exist in your design if there was no impervious surface? Do you know that you can actually increase density through proper soil remediation, and not affect the "natural system" at all. This means creating places for people AND the environmental- and going beyond the surface to do so. I stand by this as the solution for future planning and design. I realize this may have gotten off on a tangent, but the comments above really made me think............. Reading this article makes me think of the many other cities in the southeast that have/ are/ and will continue to experience the same issues as those that exist in Atlanta. In an ideal world, a commuter rail would span the entire southeast mega-region, connecting the it in such a way that would decrease road congestions, while benefiting the environment and overall quality of life (we have all seen this plan in books and on the web). However, there are many realities preventing such a system like this from occuring: (1) the U.S. Highway System is like none other found anywhere in the World- the money that funds it; the jobs it supports- everything about it in many peoples’ eyes stands for America and what it is like to live here. Designers can begin addressing this “issue” at a much smaller scale. Don’t fight the system we have and give up on it- find the good about it and make it better. Yes, it would be great to create a train system like that in Europe that finally “releases” people from vehicle reliance; however this is extremely costly. Until someone is able to think of a more creative way for supporting such a system other than “just increasing taxes,” designers should be thinking of how to make life less vehicle-friendly and more pedestrian oriented. Successful planning then requires complete vehicle extraction- beginning with the most reliable form of transporation- our feet. For planning to be successful in the future- we must all be designers on the sidewalk of life. Constantly imagine yourself as the pedestrian; play out the experience; see the world in the eyes of the traveler. Go to the place- and specifically address and idenitfy gaps and shortfalls. Planning has not been successful because we have become too reliant on drawing “large lines” in “small areas.” We see everything through the eyes of the computer rather than those of a child attempting to walk to school. We need to get back to thinking at all levels- both site and regional. Successful design and planning for the future will require creativity and hard work. It will require investigating “thresholds” and understanding systems thinking as we have never had to before. I guess I play devil’s advocate in this discussion, because while I do agree in the need for communities to have plans for their future- I disagree with the methods we have been using to achieve such a result. The answer to how we convince communities that they need a comp plan is that we can’t. Ms. Duncan identified strong instances where rural communities do not know what direction to go- but this is because (especially as it relates to water shortages) they have no role model. Why would you ever follow someone who did not have the results you were looking for. This proves its time to change the way we think about design- and redefine our responsibilities. It is naive to say that we can ignore the needs of the client; however, it is our responsibility to find a way to educate them about their needs- which we have gotten so far away from, because we are so used to and comfortable “operating as we always have.” Get out of your comfort zone- show rural communities how you are going to help them- investigate watersheds and catchments- produce real data related to the impacts of your design- address connections on the surface while addressing those below the ground. Does every design you produce utilize models to show the increase in run-off percentages and where the water is going? How are you going to slow it down, but create a design that improves health, wellness and community. Honestly…. do you know where natural streamlines exist in your design if there was no impervious surface? Do you know that you can actually increase density through proper soil remediation, and not affect the “natural system” at all. This means creating places for people AND the environmental- and going beyond the surface to do so. I stand by this as the solution for future planning and design. I realize this may have gotten off on a tangent, but the comments above really made me think………….

]]> Comment on Plastic, plastic everywhere, are landscapes becoming too fake? by Sheena http://www.ecosdesign.com/wordpress/?p=454&cpage=1#comment-97 Sheena Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:10:16 +0000 http://www.ecosdesign.com/wordpress/?p=454#comment-97 I don't know if this was his intention, but I can almost see Ken Smith's garden as a work of contemporary art, playing on the sustainability trends of today in an almost mocking manner. I don’t know if this was his intention, but I can almost see Ken Smith’s garden as a work of contemporary art, playing on the sustainability trends of today in an almost mocking manner.

]]> Comment on Today’s Headlines for Rural Georgia by scott http://www.ecosdesign.com/wordpress/?p=423&cpage=1#comment-82 scott Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:09:21 +0000 http://www.ecosdesign.com/wordpress/?p=423#comment-82 Great article and I agree, poor land planning in the Metro-Atlanta area has led to potential disasterous effects on the regions valuable water resource. I would like to reiterate the importance that rural counties and municipalities should pay attention to how development occured in the Metro area over the past 15 years. If a rural jurisdiction sees patterns of development they don't like then now is the time, during a recession, to start planning and implementing ways to drive growth and development that particular jurisdiction determines is acceptable for their area. Obviously an important factor to remember are the jurisdicitions resources and what those resource limitations are. One of the best ways to implement visioned growth is through a strong Comprehensive Plan followed by ordinances that support the Comp Plan. From my experience with rural counties, their adopted Comp Plan is usually the bare bones minimum that would pass DCA standards but would not address the long term need of the county as a whole. How do we stress to rural counties the need for a strong Comp Plan other than see how x county developed, do you want to look like that? How does the local elected official justify spending thousands of dollars on a Comp Plan to their constituents when many of them do not understand the purpose and need of such plan? Great article and I agree, poor land planning in the Metro-Atlanta area has led to potential disasterous effects on the regions valuable water resource. I would like to reiterate the importance that rural counties and municipalities should pay attention to how development occured in the Metro area over the past 15 years. If a rural jurisdiction sees patterns of development they don’t like then now is the time, during a recession, to start planning and implementing ways to drive growth and development that particular jurisdiction determines is acceptable for their area. Obviously an important factor to remember are the jurisdicitions resources and what those resource limitations are. One of the best ways to implement visioned growth is through a strong Comprehensive Plan followed by ordinances that support the Comp Plan.
From my experience with rural counties, their adopted Comp Plan is usually the bare bones minimum that would pass DCA standards but would not address the long term need of the county as a whole.

How do we stress to rural counties the need for a strong Comp Plan other than see how x county developed, do you want to look like that? How does the local elected official justify spending thousands of dollars on a Comp Plan to their constituents when many of them do not understand the purpose and need of such plan?

]]> Comment on bIXI bikes make urban cycling accessible by sandra407 http://www.ecosdesign.com/wordpress/?p=293&cpage=1#comment-50 sandra407 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:18:11 +0000 http://www.ecosdesign.com/wordpress/?p=293#comment-50 Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post... nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R. Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.

]]> Comment on Sustainable Cities by Brian Wallace http://www.ecosdesign.com/wordpress/?p=217&cpage=1#comment-43 Brian Wallace Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:20:53 +0000 http://www.ecosdesign.com/wordpress/?p=217#comment-43 Great to read some positive feedback concerning GMA's convention in Savannah! The green theme seemed to go over well with the folks attending. And we intend to carry on with many "green" activities at future meetings. Brian Wallace Manager, Online Communications Georgia Municipal Association Great to read some positive feedback concerning GMA’s convention in Savannah! The green theme seemed to go over well with the folks attending. And we intend to carry on with many “green” activities at future meetings.

Brian Wallace
Manager, Online Communications
Georgia Municipal Association

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