Russia's secret architecture

In his book Cosmic Communist Constructions Photographed, French photographer Frédéric Chaubin captures the eerie beauty of Soviet brutalism. In his quest to document Brezhnev-era architecture, he stumbled upon 90 Soviet buildings scattered across 14 former-USSR republics. The diversity and lack of a recurring theme across the buildings signaled the end of the Soviet Union.

Cosmic Communist Constructions Photographed by Frederic Chaubin, published by TASCHEN.

http://www.sciencedump.com/content/russias-secret-architecture

hyde Park Flats Sheffield

http://hydeparkflats.webs.com/

Is 'shared space' a safe place for blind and partially sighted people?

Shared space is a concept used in urban planning to encourage a more integrated use of public space - kerbs are dropped, and traffic lights and pedestrian crossings are often removed. Pedestrians walk along designated safe areas similar in width to a pavement but there is no kerb, instead cars, cyclists and pedestrians are all on the same level. But how suitable is it for visually impaired people? Supporters say that safety records are higher than traditionally designed high streets but some blind people argue that these spaces are not only dangerous but have become no-go areas for blind people.

Peter visits Exhibition Road, a 'shared space' in London's museum district, and talks to David Bonnett, one of the architects behind the design, as well as guide dog user Dave Kent and blind campaigner Jill Allen King.

And we hear more from blind and partially sighted listeners about their experiences of the job market.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b019rqcn

Video Links from my Bookmarks

The following Blog contains links to videos, sites and articles which I are related to the Urban design and Town Planning profession. They are simply a collection of articles I have found interesting and feel others may agree. I have tried to put them under a series of sub-headings to make finding articles easier.

Housing

What,s the Future for Sheffield's Park Hill housing estate? http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/architecture/sheffields-park-hill-estate-expectations-2297385.html

A documentary discussing the history of Park Hill flats.

YouTube Video

What future for social housing? A BBC Slide-show of the future of Social Housing. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-13979860

Do the poor have a right to live in expensive areas? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11674864

Tutti Frutti - A house for everyone. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/3359295/Tutti-Frutti-has-room-for-all-sorts.html

Sheffield's Hyde Park flats. Whats it like to live there? http://hydeparkflats.webs.com/

Planning

The Eric Pickles house lol: http://www.24dash.com/news/housing/2011-04-01-Squatters-target-house-that-looks-like-Eric-Pickles

The shape of Britain to come … as designed by Prince Charles http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/jun/24/prince-charles-influence-architecture-poundbury?INTCMP=SRCH

What does the future hold for Abu Dhabi? This video aims to show how sustainable and effective the city will be in the future.

YouTube Video

The day to day challenges are covered in this Channel 4 TV program. Planning Outlaws. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/planning-outlaws

Enterprise Zones are back; http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/mar/05/george-osborne-enterprise-zones

Grant your own planning permission, government tells homeowners :/ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/greenpolitics/planning/8181694/Grant-your-own-planning-permission-government-tells-homeowners.html

Pressure on planners following the abolishment of regional planning http://www.guardianpublic.co.uk/town-planning-new-regulations-development-targets

Building and town and country planning http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/buildingandtownandcountryplanning?INTCMP=SRCH

Planning History

This British Pathe Video from 1942 shows how post war planners had big ideas for the war damaged cities. http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=38333#.Tk8FR8Pl_1U.facebook

BBC Town Planning Programme circa 1961

A powerful look at the impacts of planning on black communities in the US and the ways in which green infrastructure and architecture could be incorporated into social strategies. http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/majora_carter_s_tale_of_urban_renewal.html

Cities

In this one and a half hour lecture, Jan Gehl, architect and Professor of Urban Design in The School of Architecture at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, discusses the impact Modernist planners had on the cities we see today and how planners of the future can learn from there mistakes. http://fora.tv/2011/05/02/Jan_Gehl_Cities_for_People#fullprogram

In this TED talk, Robert Hammond, the co-founder of Friends of the High Line in New York City discusses how the cities disused railway has being modified to create an elevated linear park in one of the worlds busiest cities. http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_hammond_building_a_park_in_the_sky.html

The BBC TV program, Sustaining the City looked at how cities can be the sustainable future we require and how the cities work. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011w7xm

New York's highest residential building currently under construction.

http://www.e-architect.co.uk/images/jpgs/new_york/56_leonard_street_as140908_chdem_1.jpg

Britain from above. This BBC Two program looked at the UK from the Sky and provided an incite into the sheer complexity of human habitation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00d1kd1

Colourful Cities across the globe: http://paintersoflouisville.com/colorful-cities/

Different urbanisation policies have varying impacts on a region's ecosystem services, researchers report. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14804551

Smart cities get their own operating system http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15109403

Architecture

Interesting Architecture http://www.architizer.com/en_us/blog/dyn/25626/house-in-tainan-by-fchy-architect-lab/

The following link provides information about 'Open House London' which is a annual architecture showcase in the city of London when a number of the cities fantastic buildings open there doors to the public and allow people to see the fantastic interiors of some of England's finest buildings. This year it takes place on the 17th and 18th of September. http://www.londonopenhouse.org/

Sheffield's large scale landscape architecture plans. http://mp4-interreg.eu/page/15/Sheaf+Valley+Park.html

The Prince's Foundation for the built environment. http://www.princes-foundation.org/

Urban Task Force report: http://www.urbantaskforce.org/UTF_final_report.pdf

Northwest Regional Development Agency http://www.nwda.co.uk/default.aspx

Forum about tall building's http://www.skyscrapercity.com/index.php?s=0935e98dc8fa445c14753d14dc1b4deb

“ARCHITECTURE OF URBAN DISCORD” http://www.urbanautica.com/post/1581778780/chivers-degeneration

Transport

Urbanization Around the World http://fora.tv/2011/09/15/Urbanization_Around_the_World 2 hour lecture and discussion

YouTube Video

Solar highways

In this article, the parking structure's we have all grown to hate are viewed in a different light. http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/urban-choreography/25836/no-more-boring-labyrinthine-car-parks?ref=popular_posts

Eko Traffic Lights? http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/dec/16/traffic-lights%20%20%20-%20sent%20from%20my%20Android%20phone%20with%20Guardian%20Anywhere

A City with Too Many Bicycles – Amsterdam’s Unique Problem: http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/big-city/26257/city-too-many-bicycles-amsterdam-s-unique-problem (A problem many cities would be happy to have).

Residents of award-winning, transit-oriented development say no to transit? http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/kaidbenfield/20212/residents-award-winning-transit-oriented-development-say-no-transit#node-20212

Traffic Waves

Regeneration

As my home town of Macclesfield looks to the future, the Town Centre looks set to get a make over with a multi million pound city centre regeneration scheme. The following link provides an incite into how local people react when such schemes take place. http://www.makeitmacclesfield.co.uk/forum/threads/town-centre-redevelopment.8/

Urban Design

Street clutter enhances problems for elderly, researchers announce at the British Science Festival at Bradford University.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14902884

Active frontages matter, and this article shows some of Sheffield's finest. http://shopfrontsofsheffield.tumblr.com/

Uses for parks and open spaces. http://www.playinnovation.co.uk/

Studies Show the Connection Between Travel Times to Food Stores and Public Health http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/thecityfix/18142/studies-show-connection-between-travel-times-food-stores-and-public-health

CABE discuses the beauty of Sheffield http://vimeo.com/16726236

"Wendy on High" Urban Design alleys

District Energy: http://sustainableindustries.com/articles/2010/10/rail-and-district-energy-streets-paved-better-gold

CABE: What is beauty? http://vimeo.com/14572924

Could Urban Planning Reduce Childhood Obesity? http://www.good.is/post/could-urban-planning-reduce-childhood-obesity

Want to asses the quality of an area? http://www.placecheck.info/

Architecture & Urban Design Graduation Project - NCFC - New Cairo Financial Center

The Urban Design Compendium: http://www.urbandesigncompendium.co.uk/

The Sheffield 'Gold Route' wins public realm scheme of the year. http://www.24dash.com/news/Local_Government/2006-11-20-Sheffields-Gold-Route-wins-Public-Realm-of-the-Year-award

Approaches to improving the public realm:

http://www.oxfordpartnership.org.uk/PDF/JULY/Paper4.8-App7-Approaches-public-realm-examples.pdf

xs urban design

Urban Design Group Catalog of Videos. http://www.urbannous.org.uk/udgevents.htm

The Public realm Toolkit: http://www.ignite-ne.com/ignite/resources.nsf/0/891060447D8ABE0480257464002E7A74/$file/Public_Realm_Toolkit_Handbook.pdf

Los Angeles Re-imagined with Narrow Streets http://www.good.is/post/los-angeles-reimagined-with-narrow-streets/

Sheffield Civic Trust: http://www.sheffieldcivictrust.org.uk/join.aspx

Under The Skin - Urban Design (Swansea) 1999 pt 1

BBC1 Wales - Under The Skin - Urban Design (1999)

YouTube Video

Alternative waste removal strategies. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23638906-block-of-flats-where-rubbish-is-sucked-away-in-underground-tubes.do

Can tree lined streets make people feel happy? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11889768

Using Waste, Swedish City Cuts Its Fossil Fuel Use http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/11/science/earth/11fossil.html

Welcome To Masdar City

Turning alleys into neighbourhood spaces http://newurbannetwork.com/article/turning-alleys-neighborhood-spaces

Safer Places: The Planning System and Crime Prevention http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/saferplaces

Crime deterrence through urban design http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=202718

Manual for Streets

Cabe page: Radburn Reconsidered? http://www.rudi.net/books/12409

Journal of Urban Design http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cjud20/current

Design for London poised to survive spending cuts http://m.bdonline.co.uk/news/design-for-london-poised-to-survive-spending-cuts/5013484.article

Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature

Steel City Square Urban Design Proposal

Urban Sprawl

In this fascinating TED talk, James Kustler dissects suburbia and discusses how urban design can be used to improve the suburbs. http://www.ted.com/talks/james_howard_kunstler_dissects_suburbia.html

History of Cities

In this fantastic set of video's the daily life of Sheffield is looked at in some detail. The fly-on-the-wall documentary was filmed in 1973 and provides some interesting watching for people who have an interest in Sheffield. http://sheffieldblog.com/2011/05/29/all-in-a-day-bbc4-sheffield-documentary/

The hidden Tunnels under Sheffield Hallam's Collegiate Campus. http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=52743&highlight=sheffield

Britain's Lost Cities http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article3050987.ece

American City of Future (1925) http://www.sadanduseless.com/image.php?n=658

One Street/Lane/Row/Square/Walk (anything but Road) http://www.sheffieldhistory.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/6523-one-streetlanerowsquarewalk-anything-but-road/

Other

In this RSA talk, Jeremy Rifkin discusses the empathetic civilization in some thought provoking ideas. http://www.ted.com/talks/jeremy_rifkin_on_the_empathic_civilization.html

Can Capitalism really work? This RSA Animate video questions Capitalism.

YouTube Video

An interesting image showing the political spectrum in one clear image. http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/left-vs-right-world/

A time capsule of a sort. The 100 year old untouched building. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12213195

What next for Sheffield's Castle Market? http://sheffieldblog.com/2010/12/21/castle-market-in-sheffield-will-not-be-listed/

City Building Apps... everyone wants to be a planner. http://www.theplanningboardroom.net/city-building-apps-gain-popularity/

Historic pictures of Sheffield: http://s1007.photobucket.com/albums/af196/picturesofsheffield/Contemporary/Archive/?start=all&mediafilter=images

An interesting idea for photography: http://vimeo.com/10130305

Core Cities: http://www.corecities.com/

Place Marketing in the US and Europe http://lib.tkk.fi/Diss/2003/isbn9512266849/isbn9512266849.pdf

Ever fancied studying at MIT? Well they have open source educational information for people to view whenever they wish. http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm

Detroit in ruins: the photographs of Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/jan/02/detroit-ruins-marchand-meffre-photographs-ohagan?intcmp=239

Unbelievably Cool – Swedish Subway System http://sprki.com/swedish-subway-system/

http://fora.tv/2011/07/01/Michael_Graves_A_Grand_Tour

Housing - What's the future hold?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-13979860

Creating Transport Diagrams

Urban Design Techniques

Creating Transport Diagrams

Creating transport diagrams with key information is a important skill for urban designers from students to professionals. Below is a simple step-by-step guide describing how to create a simple but effective transport diagram for a neighbourhood. The same method can be used on all scales. I have chosen to use free software to make the process available to everybody.

OK, to make a map such a the one above, we need to use either Photoshop or a similar program. I am going to use Paint.net which free as is described hear. Photoshop provides the same features.

Step 1: Open paint.net and import the map of the neighbourhood you wish to create the map for.

(File > Open)

Step 2: Once the map is open you need to add a second layer which will be used to create the diagram. To do this click on the small green arrow in the layers box (Shown Below) and add a second layer. (If there is no layers box on the screen go-to Window > Layers or press F7)

Step 3: Now you have a layer on which to draw your design (like tracing paper over a map). Using the Line/curve button you will be provided with the line drawing tools at the top of the screen.
Using these lines you can begin to trace over all the roads you wish to keep in the diagram. Note: each line is broken into sections allowing you to curve it with the 'hand' tool.

The drop down box allows you to change how you want the line to look and if you want arrows. The centre box allows for dotted and dashed lines.

#

Using the Ellipse tool allows you to add nodes. The box below shows how to make filled or unfilled circles.

The colour box (Window > Colours or F8) allows you to change the colour of the lines or circles as you go along. The More>> button provides more verity of colour.

Step 4: Once you have traced over the roads and transport routes you wish to keep, the add place names and any other important information you would like on your diagram. You can add a key showing the different features at this point if you wish.

Step 5: Once you are happy with the diagram you can view the final product by removing the original map layer from below. To do this untick the 'Layer 1' button shown in the image below.
If you are happy with the product you see you can now delete the original layer by selecting it and clicking the red cross.

Step 6: You will now notice you have your diagram with a grey and white square background. Don't worry, this will become white when you save it (It just looks like that because its currently transparent).

The final step is to save the image in a location of your choice. Remeber to change the format to .Jpg (Or .Png if you wish to have a transparent image).