Housing typologies

... for Quebec:

"Why Québec? Because (...) Québec has a special focus on low-rise developments lacking in a lot of North America."

Side note: low rise is usually under 6 storys. Reference: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/564018

from: http://urbankchoze.blogspot.ca/2017/03/a-catalog-of-density-quebeccanada.html

Town squares 101

"Recipe for a town square:

1. Beauty
2. Walkability
3. Ideal Location
4. Focal Point
5. Pride
6. Community
7. Parking
8. Supply and demand
9. Our voice
10. Health"

from: http://buildabetterburb.org/ten-reasons-town-square/

The secret to life in the city?

"There’s one thing other than my wallet and my travel card I wouldn’t be without in a big city, and it’s my headphones. But I don’t actually listen to music that much: I just activate the noise-cancelling feature, and leave it at that. No sound plays into my ears – instead a quiet fills my head, as if the sounds of the world have been turned down. Until I got noise-cancelling headphones, I had no idea how loud the city always was, and just how hungry I’d been for silence. On public transport, using the noise-cancelling feature will soften the roar of engine and traffic. In the open-plan office, it eliminates the constant chatter and limits interruptions. On an airplane, it’s a revelation. I’m not alone in using state-of-the-art headphones not for music, but to tune out the constant drone of urban living – it’s becoming a modern life survival tool."



from: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/16/noise-cancelling-headphones-sound-modern-life

The difference a park makes

“Urban policy often focuses too much just on housing,” Mr. Emanuel told me, grateful to focus on what has become a central plank of his administration and not talk policing or murder rates. “Housing alone doesn’t make a neighborhood.”



from: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/12/arts/design/chicago-philadelphia-parks-rahm-emanuel.html

The human scale

"Reconnecting America is a national nonprofit that integrates transportation and community development"

"Reconnecting America advises civic and community leaders on how to overcome community development challenges to create better communities for all. Reconnecting America develops research and innovative public policy, while also building on-the-ground partnerships and convening players needed to accelerate decision-making."

from: http://reconnectingamerica.org/who-we-are/

The 20-minute neighborhoods

Definition:
"20-minute neighborhoods are places where residents have easy, convenient access to many of the places and services they use daily including grocery stores, restaurants, schools and parks, without relying heavily on a car. They are characterized by a vibrant mix of commercial and residential uses all within an easy walk. They have higher concentrations of people and are complete with the sidewalks, bike lanes and bus routes that support a variety of transportation options."

from: https://www.eugene-or.gov/1216/What-is-a-20-Minute-Neighborhood

Or comparing a neighbourhood using the three D's method:

• "Distance: how far can you walk in 20 minutes?
• Destinations: is everything you need on a daily basis within that distance?
• Density: are there enough people in the area to support the businesses and facilities you need for daily needs?"

"No one has to give up their car, or walk, bike, or take the bus to anywhere they want to go. Instead, they're aimed at making life easier for those who do want to walk, bike, or use transit -- by strengthening those modes."



"Important, too, the 20-minute neighborhood concept is aimed at meeting the broader strategic goals of Portland being a "high performance city."



from: http://plannersweb.com/2013/07/distance-destinations-density/

Running heatmaps quiz

"Smartphones and GPS watches now leave digital traces behind many urban runners, as they wind their way along the river or round the park. Can you identify the cities from the telltale tracks?"




from:
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/aug/01/quiz-identify-world-cities-running-heat-maps-strava