From the category archives:
Have you noticed the disconnect between reality and expectations for housing options in the Baby Boomer crowd?
A recent AARP study, for example, found a massive disconnect between perceptions of aging and its reality. The vast majority of people surveyed expressed optimism that they would not only be in good physical health in their later years, but [...]
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As of February 1, 2010, the BC Building Code has been amended to require the consideration of potential for slope instability and it’s consequences at a building site becomes an explicit requirement in the design of structures and their foundations, additionally, the seismic design criteria has been increased to a probablility level of 2%-in-50 year. [...]
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The big push from the government, builders, banks and just about everyone else who has been part of the consumer driven craze for more stuff has built their pitch to the citizenry based on a desire for home ownership, particularly ownership in the suburbs.
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Don’t worry North America, African Villages had a housing boom as well…
A Housing Market Built on Mud Takes Off, and Then Goes Thud – WSJ.com
local residents and home builders let their enthusiasm get the better of them, turning out a spate of new construction. Now, rows of newly built houses stand empty in the village, [...]
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Boulder County is in the process of reviewing it’s credit transfer scheme that allows bigger homes to be built if you trade the right to do so with someone else on a smaller lot. My question is why does this start at 6,000 square feet of floor space?
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The idea of collecting water from the roof of our home elicits some primeval response related to survival – we need water, we need security, it is natural to want to be able to grow things. The crazy suburban fiesta of the past 40 or 50 years has removed us from the realities of food and survival, with centralization and expansion of everything being the theme of the era.
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The new form of suburbs were built up in a mere 50 years, and society has suffered as a result through these times. It is impossible to reverse the decisions of previous generations without a large scale effort, and at great expense.
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The Smart Growth Manual
by Mike Thomas on November 4, 2009
in Design, Development, Housing, Regulation, Subdivision Design, Sustainability, Urban Planning
Smart Growth is slowly being recognized as having benefits outside of the usual talk of walkable neighbourhoods and streetscapes. This book, The Smart Growth Manual runs through the principles from the Regional context, the Neighbourhood, the Street, down to the Building design. If you are interested in New Urbanism, this is a book worth checking [...]
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