Twin Cities developer and software guru Rick Harrison believes that, through innovative urban design configurations such as 'coving,' suburban areas can be transformed from "disdainable to sustainable."
Harrison aims to emphasize efficiency and livability through advanced design configurations that he visualizes through software created by his design studio. Using this unique software he is able to configure the shape of a residence to the lot that it will sit on without giving up any of the coveted maximum square footage.
"His wife calls such communities 'prefurbia,' a take on the term suburb. Think of a PREFerred community rather than a SUBstandard one."
"Professional Builder Magazine even gave him an achievement award for his concepts, which have been used to varying degrees in 700 communities around the country."
"Several years ago he started with a concept he called 'coving.' It is an alternative to traditional grid-style planning that focuses on siting homes on non-uniform lot shapes along curved streets. The goal is a minimum of pavement and a maximum of green space."
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service