New York Street Design

Earlier this year, New York City’s Department of Transportation released their Street Design Manual, with the purpose of being a guide towards quality design and sound implementation. After defining street typologies, the document continues to outline how people interact with the space, the materials used, and aesthetics, specifically lighting and furniture considerations.

The manual’s overall goals are:

1. Design for Safety: Move people and goods safely.

2. Design for Access and Mobility: Accommodate all street users,giving priority to the most energy– and space efficient modes.

3. Design for Context: Respond to neighborhood character.

4. Design for Livability: Create a vibrant public realm with high–quality public spaces.

5. Design for Sustainability: Contribute to a healthier andmore sustainable environment.

6. Design for Visual Excellence: Create coherent and harmonious streetscapes.

7. Design for Cost–Effectiveness: Provide the greatest possible value to the public.

These ideas are expanded upon here.

These guides are fun reads as they look towards innovations and successes from cities all around the world, attempting to apply international ideas to their respective city. After all, a good design can work anywhere.

The Street Design Manual can be found via New York City’s DOT.

Google SketchUp Pro 7

I just upgraded to SketchUp Pro 7 and have been playing around with it for most of the day. I love being finished school for the semester :0)

Since my work on it isn't as good as the SketchUp promotional photos, I will post this video explaining what you can do with version 7.1 instead.

Shout outs to Google for making it so easy and so free (monetarily speaking).

Download via Google SketchUp.

Wonderwall Inc.

Fred Perry Moscow by Wonderwall

I had to post this.

I'm a sucker for retail store design - boutiques, in particular - and after doing some reading I found out that a single firm is behind creating the retail identity of several of my favourite brands.

Out of Japan, Wonderwall is the leading firm in the retail design business, creating unique experiences within commercial spaces all over the world since 2000. Their work isn't limited to interiors as they also have creative direction over architectural design.

A.P.C. store in Kita-Aoyama, Tokyo

View portfolio via Wonderwall.

Better late than never, Utah

"We wanted to find out if cities are moving in the right direction, if they're realizing what they do in regard to land use

and transportation actually has a public health impact."

This story brings me back to my half-completed thesis project as it takes a look at the built environment and how it affects citizens’ health.

There are healthy lifestyle movements happening in cities all over the world, but no coordinated effort to plan healthy, walkable communities. We are required to take time out of our day to drive to a gym to run in a single place - there is something not very practical with that picture. If a healthy development plan was inherent, this would change the way people interact with cities, benefiting us in the long term, also promoting a more sustainable lifestyle - prompting us to walking to school, to amenities or even having live/work arrangements.

The following illustrates a place starting from the basics, with several neighbourhoods even lacking sidewalks. Poor design and weak policies are promoting sedentary lifestyles keeping neighbourhoods unhealthy and contributing to the rising Body Mass Index (BMI) levels.

These ideas are explored through Utah, but think of your neighbourhood when reading this, especially if you’re the type to drive everywhere.

Via The Salt Lake Tribune