Environmental Impact of Cities Cities are the greatest

Environmental Impact of Cities

Cities are the greatest creations of humanity?

Or social/environmental disasters?

Cities today Cities all over the world are getting bigger as more and more people move from rural to urban sites, but that has created enormous problems with respect to environmental pollution and the general quality of life.

Historical Urban Plans l Mohenjo-daro was a city of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Historical Urban Plans The Medieval City

The Industrial City

The Industrial City l They were dark, dirty places with all kinds of diseases

Military Solutions Champs-Elyees • Designed by Napoleon’s urban planner Haussman • Used to march troops through the congested streets

Utopian Visions of the City l Reaction against the conditions in the early industrial cities l Lack of light l Social hygiene l Main ideas from: Ebenezer Howard, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier

Howard: Garden City l Light was very important l Many children suffered from Ricketts (lack of vitamin D) l Howard (1850 1928), sought to combine city and country living

Howard: Garden City

Le Corbusier: Radiant City l Le Corbusier (1887 -1969) l Founder of “International Style” of architecture l Embraced technology and the machine as the metaphor of modern life l Embraced new building technology that allowed for high-rise development l High-rise density and open space

Le Corbusier: Radiant City l Father of the modern high rise l “The Death of the Street”

Le Corbusier: Radiant City

St. James Town l To build this

Protests Against Urban Renewal l People like the late Jane Jacobs and Toronto’s former mayor, John Sewell were very much against these types of developments l They believed that they killed neighbourhoods, increased crime, created isolation

Co-op Housing Movement l Seen as a more viable alternative to high rise apartments and other “project” type developments l Sometimes residents buy a share in the building l Some models require the residents to participate in the democratic running of the building

Think About… l What makes neighbourhoods liveable? l Does Cabbagetown have anything in common with our neighbourhood? l How could we create a more pedestrian -friendly neighbourhood? l How can we make Scarborough residents less dependent on the car?