2 ms·

In my experience places in the US that have strict aesthetic zoning rules end up with bland cookie-cutter buildings that look like a disneyfied facsimile of the

by pavon 8y ago

In my experience places in the US that have strict aesthetic zoning rules end up with bland cookie-cutter buildings that look like a disneyfied facsimile of the aesthetic they are are trying to enforce. I don't know if the problem is in the details of their regulations or if the entire idea fundamentally failed, but I'll take unregulated variety over forced aesthetics anyday.

sonnyblarney 8y ago
"but I'll take unregulated variety over forced aesthetics anyday" I doubt it really. The 'enforced aesthetic' in North American regions generally are very poorly conceived in the first place and are usually utilitarian, not actually aesthetic. Typically 'forced aesthetic' only happens in places wherein there is a strong and obvious history in the area. Vienna, Stockholm, Zurich as easy and obvious examples. This 'forced aesthetic' is also culturally impinged, meaning that it's kind of what people would do anyhow. Would you seriously consider knocking down and old building in Zurich and putting up a McMansion? I doubt it. It might be an impossible thing to do from scratch, wherein there are no obvious references either. A 'new development' in Switzerland could easily have it. A suburb of Chicago ... probably not. It would take an enormous degree of thoughtfulness and careful consideration to do in most places in North America, but it might be possible, particularly in places like New England. I could see a village in Maine saying 'no new development within the township unless it meets colonial era criteria' or something like that. Without it, you get a deluge a true kind of blandness of hyper mediocrity. A lack of critical mass around cultural ideals, meaning corporate developments rule: a shopping mall on every corner. Every city council and local government official wants to 'increase the GDP', and a few new Wallmarts and a 'Starbucks on Every Corner of our Community' would do just that - so it takes quite a lot of cultural momentum to keep those things in check. And I'm just scratching the surface: how we design our living spaces goes a long way to defining who we are as a people as well.
pds74 8y ago
I think partly zoning especially the way it is implemented in US is something that is pushed by bigger businesses to suppress the competition from mom-and-pop stores. Look at Japan where zoning seem to be quite lax, you see huge number of tiny groceries, coffee shops etc. in the most amusing but very convenient places. Here is states it is mostly big and medium grocery chains with ultimately less choices that could otherwise be available.

by pavon 8y ago

sonnyblarney 8y ago

"but I'll take unregulated variety over forced aesthetics anyday" I doubt it really. The 'enforced aesthetic' in North American regions generally are very poorly conceived in the first place and are usually utilitarian, not actually aesthetic. Typically 'forced aesthetic' only happens in places wherein there is a strong and obvious history in the area. Vienna, Stockholm, Zurich as easy and obvious examples. This 'forced aesthetic' is also culturally impinged, meaning that it's kind of what people would do anyhow. Would you seriously consider knocking down and old building in Zurich and putting up a McMansion? I doubt it. It might be an impossible thing to do from scratch, wherein there are no obvious references either. A 'new development' in Switzerland could easily have it. A suburb of Chicago ... probably not. It would take an enormous degree of thoughtfulness and careful consideration to do in most places in North America, but it might be possible, particularly in places like New England. I could see a village in Maine saying 'no new development within the township unless it meets colonial era criteria' or something like that. Without it, you get a deluge a true kind of blandness of hyper mediocrity. A lack of critical mass around cultural ideals, meaning corporate developments rule: a shopping mall on every corner. Every city council and local government official wants to 'increase the GDP', and a few new Wallmarts and a 'Starbucks on Every Corner of our Community' would do just that - so it takes quite a lot of cultural momentum to keep those things in check. And I'm just scratching the surface: how we design our living spaces goes a long way to defining who we are as a people as well.

pds74 8y ago

I think partly zoning especially the way it is implemented in US is something that is pushed by bigger businesses to suppress the competition from mom-and-pop stores. Look at Japan where zoning seem to be quite lax, you see huge number of tiny groceries, coffee shops etc. in the most amusing but very convenient places. Here is states it is mostly big and medium grocery chains with ultimately less choices that could otherwise be available.