ReapOR

If I think of Germany it always reminds me of something like this: This are the built-up areas of southwestern Germany and although quite abstract, this is the kind of image that crosses my mind... probably too much SC

Hey there! jeronij, what you are doing here is truly amazing! i'd love to know how you done those aligned houses (or which lots you used), because i really would like to use them for building up the town i live in (karlsruhe, germany). i know it wasn't you intention to build a german town, but it really looks like that thanks in advance

Date: 3/25/2005 1:34:38 PM Author: zilfondel Also, many areas in the US - MOST of them - encourage new housing developments outside of cities by paying for all the new roads, electricity, water hookups, schools, etc. What is ridiculous, is that most cities stopped improving these things in the cities, so it costs MORE money for a developer to build a house or building inside a city than 100 miles away. quote> well, this is what i meant by basic conditions. if it was, in peoples eyes, more desirable to live in a city they would do so. even though, there is living space and infrastructure in cities, like schools, hospitals and public transportation etc. people move away because the government encourages them to build homes by granting tax advantages. but i think it is utopic that it would be enough to change those circumstances and expect people to rush into cities. nevertheless, i think there is a kind of freedom in living where you want, because you are free to choose from a variety of alternatives. you can live in a smalltown, a village, a city, in outskirts, satellite cities etc. and of course you can't just build in the middle of nowhere. where i live, even the size and style of buildings is regulated so it fits the townscape.

hi there! i think new urbanization is the future of urban management, at least in europe. cities have always been places where cultural and social interchange took place, where poor and rich, young and old , intellectuals and common workers lived door by door (or, at least close together). imagine how many social changes happened to start in cities, just because people could meet (and now dont't say you have a car, this is clearly not the same ). citizens also were more free and independent from authorities, which is another indication for the historical importance of densly populated cities. in contrast to urban sprawl which is neither healthy for people nor for a complete region, as zilfondel stated. but to be honest, i think it is utopic to REALLY plan things like that. in free states people live where they want to, you just can set basic conditions and the rest has to be some kind of movement or so. i, for my part, love to live in a city.