New Urbanism

Definition

New Urbanism is a planning and design movement that promotes walkable neighborhoods, mixed-use development, and sustainable living, emphasizing a return to traditional urban forms. This concept aims to create communities that prioritize human scale, reduce reliance on cars, and encourage social interaction, fundamentally reshaping the way urban environments are conceived and built.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. New Urbanism emerged in the 1980s as a response to the negative effects of urban sprawl and car-centric development.
2. Key principles of New Urbanism include creating neighborhoods with a mix of housing types, promoting pedestrian-friendly streets, and incorporating green spaces.
3. The movement seeks to enhance community engagement by designing public spaces that facilitate social interactions among residents.
4. New Urbanist designs often include features such as front porches, narrow streets, and close proximity to shops and services to promote walkability.
5. Prominent examples of New Urbanism can be seen in developments like Seaside, Florida, which exemplifies the movement's principles with its traditional town layout and community focus.

Review Questions

• How does New Urbanism differ from traditional urban planning approaches?
  • New Urbanism differs from traditional urban planning by emphasizing walkability and mixed-use neighborhoods rather than car dependency and zoning separation. While traditional planning often leads to sprawling suburbs with distinct areas for residential, commercial, and industrial use, New Urbanism advocates for integrating these elements within a community. This approach fosters a sense of place and encourages social interaction among residents, ultimately creating more vibrant and connected neighborhoods.
• Discuss the potential environmental benefits associated with New Urbanism principles.
  • The principles of New Urbanism can lead to significant environmental benefits by reducing reliance on automobiles and promoting sustainable transportation options like walking, biking, and public transit. By designing compact, walkable communities with mixed uses, New Urbanism can decrease traffic congestion and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, incorporating green spaces and parks within urban settings enhances biodiversity and contributes to improved air quality and overall public health.
• Evaluate the impact of New Urbanism on community engagement and social interaction within urban environments.
  • New Urbanism has a profound impact on community engagement by prioritizing public spaces that encourage social interaction among residents. Features such as parks, plazas, and pedestrian-friendly streets create opportunities for individuals to connect with one another, fostering a sense of belonging. This increased interaction can lead to stronger community ties and collective action towards shared goals. As communities become more engaged, they are better equipped to address local issues collaboratively, ultimately enhancing the quality of life in urban areas.

Related terms

Smart Growth: A planning theory that advocates for sustainable urban development by promoting higher density, mixed-use developments, and the preservation of open spaces.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD): A design strategy that focuses on creating high-density residential and commercial areas around public transit stations to promote sustainable transportation.

Urban Sprawl: The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural land, often characterized by low-density development and heavy car dependency.