Seaching for the City of Tomorrow

John King, SF Chronicle's urban design writer, visits an urban design studio on transforming an area into a high-density neighborhood, and discovers some interesting proposals that reflect a trend in some cities such as San Francisco, Seattle and London to build up instead of out. Despite the fact that many cities have been through the trauma of urban renewal in the 1950's and 60's, he wonders if cities have become too conservative in welcoming architecture that is both fresh and radical. Inspired by the student work, he writes: "San Francisco's natural environment is so striking that it needs vigilant care. But in terms of architecture and urban design, there's danger in being too protective, too dutiful. If all we do is mimic the past, there's a danger that we'll suffocate the very qualities that make San Francisco distinctive as a city. So let the search for the city of tomorrow continue -- even if we rear back at some of the results."

Thanks to Connie Chung