WHAT IS NEW URBANISM?

 New Urbanism (NU) is a reaction to sprawl. It is a growing movement based on principles of planning and architecture that work together to create human-scale, walkable communities.  NU promotes the creation and restoration of diverse, walkable, compact, vibrant, mixed-use communities composed of the same components as conventional developments, but assembled in a more integrated fashion—in the form of complete communities. These communities contain housing, work places, shops, entertainment, schools, parks, and civic facilities essential to the daily lives of the residents, all within easy walking distance of each other.

 

New Urbanists (architects, developers, planners, etc...) take a wide variety of approaches — some work exclusively on infill projects, others focus on transit-oriented development, still others are attempting to transform the suburbs, and many are working in all of these categories. New Urbanism includes traditional architects and those with modernist sensibilities. All, however, believe in the power and ability of traditional neighborhoods to restore functional, sustainable communities. The trend had its roots in the work of maverick architects and planners in the 1970s and 1980s who coalesced into a unified group in the 1990s. From modest beginnings, the trend is beginning to have a substantial impact. More than 600 new towns, villages, and neighborhoods are planned or under construction in the US, using principles of the New Urbanism. Additionally, hundreds of small-scale new urban infill projects are restoring the urban fabric of cities and towns by reestablishing walkable streets and blocks.

 

 

WHAT IS A TND?

 The acronym TND stands for Traditional Neighborhood Design, a comprehensive planning system that includes a variety of housing types and land uses in a defined area. The variety of uses permits educational facilities, civic buildings and commercial establishments to be located within walking distance of private homes. A TND is served by a network of paths, streets and lanes suitable for pedestrians as well as vehicles. This provides residents the option of walking, biking or driving to places within their neighborhood. Present and future modes of transit are also considered during the planning stages.

 

Public and private spaces have equal importance, creating a balanced community that serves a wide range of home and business owners. The inclusion of civic buildings and civic space—in

the form of plazas, greens, parks and squares—enhances community identity and value.

 

For a complete listing of TND’s worldwide, visit www.tndtownpaper.com or www.newurbannews.com.   Another great source for New Urbanism information is the movement’s national organization, the Congress for the New Urbanism, www.cnu.org.

THE TOWN OF SEASIDE AND NEW URBANISM:  

The town of Seaside is considered the most successful example of neotraditional town planning in existence today. The concept that guided the development of Seaside--the New Urbanism--has been embraced and adopted by an increasing number of scholars, developers, planners and critics. The principles of the New Urbanism underlie The Institute’s approach to bettering civic life.

As expressed by The Congress for the New Urbanism, "The built environment must be diverse in use and population; must be scaled for the pedestrian, yet capable of accommodating the auto and mass transit and must have a well-defined public realm supported by an architecture reflecting the ecology and culture of the region. These principles--diversity, human scale and a formative public realm--apply equally to physical design, economic policy and social form."

New Urbanism communities seek to bring to their residents new opportunities to experience neighborliness in their personal lives and facilitate greater participation in the life of the community. There are now many cities, towns and neighborhoods which manifest New Urbanism ideals. These communities demonstrate that inspired community design has a positive impact on both the quality of civic life and the human spirit.

The Seaside Institute, through its members and programs, contributes significantly to the dissemination of New Urbanism ideals and information.

Robert Davis' Speech: Developing New Urbanist Communities