What aspects of urbanism and quality of life got lost with the
creation of today's modern post-industrial urbanism, or the Sanitary City?
And what bearing does this have on the future of green urbanism and
sustainability?
Going back just 100 years, cities were filled with noise, smell, smoke,
sewage, animals, slaughter houses, trash incinerators, market gardens, stables,
etc. Through building codes, use-based zoning, water system upgrades, creation
of the electricity grid, and the emergence of the automobile, and establishing
environmental regulations, we were able to eliminate most of these urban
problems. Overall this has led to large increases in the quality of human
life.
But what has been the cost of moving up Maslow's pyramid? Are we
healthier? - absolutely. Happier? - maybe. Sustainable? – not even
close.
Achieving urban sustainability requires more than tinkering with the
efficiency and intelligence of the modern city. The future urban experience needs to
be built on principles of ecology, biological processes, and cyclical
metabolisms. This means that compost,
water management, and local wastewater are part of the cityscape, as is the smell
of compost, ripe fruit, and sounds of chickens, pigs, goats, and the occasional
rooster. Reinstating these organic qualities as norms, rather than
idiosyncratic aberrations, is essential to the transition from the Sanitary
City to the Sustainable City.
In other words, sometimes you need to go backward to go forward.
Art in Action: USC Event Calls for an Urgent Green Energy Transition
The El Respiro / Respire event at USC uses a large-scale human geochoreography to demand an urgent and equitable transition to green energy, blending art, activism, and community engagement to amplify the message of climate justice.
LA’s Trees Absorb More Carbon Than Expected, But Can’t Do It Alone
A USC study finds that Los Angeles’ urban trees absorb more carbon than expected, but while they provide crucial environmental benefits, they cannot replace the urgent need for systemic emissions reductions.
Elevating Environmental Journalism: A Masterclass in Climate Storytelling
Pulitzer Prize finalist Rosanna Xia visited the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, sharing her climate reporting expertise through sea level rise field tours, engaging storytelling workshops, and an inspiring public lecture.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
Honolulu's Iwilei Center Plans for Redevelopment Into Mixed-Use Space
Striving to expand affordable housing options for Oahu residents, Honolulu's Department of Land Management requests to redevelop the Iwilei Center into a mixed-use space.
Biketown Lives
Despite public perception of its decline, Portland’s bike share system is alive and well.
‘Stockholm Tree Pit’ Saves Dying Urban Trees
After noticing that two-thirds of its trees were dying, Stockholm developed a new planting method to protect trees surrounded by concrete.
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.
City of Edmonds
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
