4 ms·

Remember back in the 1970s; if you ever saw anything on the news about China, it would feature rank upon rank of cyclists pouring through Peking's great thoroug

Remember back in the 1970s; if you ever saw anything on the news about China, it would feature rank upon rank of cyclists pouring through Peking's great thoroughfares, with nary a motor vehicle in sight. We all laughed at how backward they were. Now we'd view a similar scene from any major city in the world as signs of a great environmental advance. Funny how times change, isn't it?

trgn 4y ago
Yes! Can't believe we thought car-clogged city streets were actually aspirational. Truly mass delusion.
panick21_ 4y ago
Sadly china embraced 'modernity' and they literally just used the single worst ideas from urban design and traffic engineering. They went with single use superblocks connected by highways. A terrible system in so many ways. Thankfully they protected some of the old city centers and those still have the beautiful chinese urbanism. Thankfully, leadership in China has realized that they really fucked up. Sometimes when building the 5 ring road highway that is clogged you start to rethink the problem. Funny enough by turning to Western New Urbanism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqldZhxl86I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqldZhxl86I https://www.efchina.org/Reports-en/report-lccp-20171214-en https://www.efchina.org/Reports-en/report-lccp-20171214-en The book is really interesting, a great set of guidelines for city building. I don't agree with everything but its pretty fantastic.
- seoulmetro 4y ago
  Single use superblocks? Most Korean/Chinese apartment block regions feature multi-use (without industrial) and do it very well, incorporating commercial slots surrounded by a throng of greenery and apartment blocks for residents, with nearby lower-density, medium-density housing. Got any examples of China? Because Koreans follow density principles extremely well.
  - panick21_ 4y ago
    The talk I linked goes into detail. Many Chinese superblocks are not walkable and have no commercial and offices are also in a different place. But its not everywhere. I don't know about Korea, no comment on that.
    - seoulmetro 4y ago
      Interesting. I've seen some videos of the empty apartment blocks with small empty commercial areas below them. Actually, now that I think about it. Korea is actually migrating towards a more Chinese vibe (I call it Americanisation of their planning) where they build the buildings super far apart and make it all way less walkable but still bikeable. The city I refer to that recently disappointed me and is brand new in Korea is Dongtan, take a look if you get a chance. I think Korea has slipped down the slippery slope unfortunately. Either that or they just haven't filled in the lines yet, but I doubt that. It's just more car-centric. Things built 5-10 years ago weren't like this, but then neither was the car status symbol race.

trgn 4y ago

Yes! Can't believe we thought car-clogged city streets were actually aspirational. Truly mass delusion.

panick21_ 4y ago

Sadly china embraced 'modernity' and they literally just used the single worst ideas from urban design and traffic engineering. They went with single use superblocks connected by highways. A terrible system in so many ways. Thankfully they protected some of the old city centers and those still have the beautiful chinese urbanism. Thankfully, leadership in China has realized that they really fucked up. Sometimes when building the 5 ring road highway that is clogged you start to rethink the problem. Funny enough by turning to Western New Urbanism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqldZhxl86I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqldZhxl86I https://www.efchina.org/Reports-en/report-lccp-20171214-en https://www.efchina.org/Reports-en/report-lccp-20171214-en The book is really interesting, a great set of guidelines for city building. I don't agree with everything but its pretty fantastic.

seoulmetro 4y ago
Single use superblocks? Most Korean/Chinese apartment block regions feature multi-use (without industrial) and do it very well, incorporating commercial slots surrounded by a throng of greenery and apartment blocks for residents, with nearby lower-density, medium-density housing. Got any examples of China? Because Koreans follow density principles extremely well.
- panick21_ 4y ago
  The talk I linked goes into detail. Many Chinese superblocks are not walkable and have no commercial and offices are also in a different place. But its not everywhere. I don't know about Korea, no comment on that.
  - seoulmetro 4y ago
    Interesting. I've seen some videos of the empty apartment blocks with small empty commercial areas below them. Actually, now that I think about it. Korea is actually migrating towards a more Chinese vibe (I call it Americanisation of their planning) where they build the buildings super far apart and make it all way less walkable but still bikeable. The city I refer to that recently disappointed me and is brand new in Korea is Dongtan, take a look if you get a chance. I think Korea has slipped down the slippery slope unfortunately. Either that or they just haven't filled in the lines yet, but I doubt that. It's just more car-centric. Things built 5-10 years ago weren't like this, but then neither was the car status symbol race.