American Cities are UGLY: Why We Don’t Build Nice Places Anymore

Video Description

Have you ever been somewhere and thought: Wow! This place is beautiful! Maybe its the fine details in the architecture, the sounds of people chatting and enjoying themselves, or simply the energy and atmosphere the place gives off. But you might have also wondered, why are American cities so ugly? Its the cookie cutter sameness of suburban neighborhoods, and the commercial strips surrounded by parking lots, chain stores, and gas stations. Of course there are many exceptions, but the vast majority of our cities are forgettable and soulless places. Places you only go to if you have to, and leave as soon as possible. And if this is all you’ve known, how could anything be different? ➜ Follow Me: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flurfdesign Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flurfdesign/ ➜ References & Further Reading: How to Make an Attractive City - The School of Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy4QjmKzF1c The Rise and Fall of Modernist Architecture http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1687/the-rise-and-fall-of-modernist-architecture North Vancouver Zoning Guidelines https://www.dnv.org/business-development/residential-zoning-learn-size-location-and-dimensions-buildings-permitted-any The I-45 Expansion Is Happening, So Get Out of the Way https://www.houstonpress.com/news/ready-or-not-the-i-45-expansion-is-happening-15253672#:~:text=The%20expansion%20will%20run%20from%20the%20start%20of,45%20that%20runs%20from%20I-10%20to%20Beltway%208. Donald Shoup - The High Cost of Free Parking https://www.amazon.ca/High-Cost-Free-Parking-Updated/dp/193236496X The trouble with minimum parking requirements http://shoup.bol.ucla.edu/Trouble.pdf Henry Grabar - Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/634461/paved-paradise-by-henry-grabar/ Walmart or Smallmart? https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2016/5/12/walmart-or-smallmart How to Fight Those "Boxy Buildings" https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2021/4/23/how-to-fight-those-boxy-buildings Why McDonald’s looks sleek and boring now https://www.vox.com/22736636/mcdonalds-design-aesthetic-look-buildings Parking Reform Map https://parkingreform.org/mandates-map/ ➜ Timestamps: 0:00 American cities are ugly 1:06 The birth of Modernist planning 2:41 Highways destroyed our cities 3:48 The high cost of free parking 6:28 How to design a beautiful street 10:09 What does your city value? 11:31 It doesn't have to be like this - flurf #urbandesign #urbanplanning #americancities