Two British firms are designing new ways to organize space in dense urban neighborhoods: one through pre-fab construction, the other through an efficiently modern take on one-bedroom living. Both plans aim to bring high-quality, low-cost housing to cities
In order to lower the cost of housing in Britain, two design teams have created new building methods as a means to assure quality while dropping the bottom-line. Urban Spash's concept for Moho in Manchester relies on pre-fabricated apartments, tested off-site, to be hoisted into place on a stainless-steel spine. Catering to a market of young professionals priced out of city centers, Ask Development has created a mock-up of a 347 sq. ft. 'pod' that offers a full kitchen, balcony, and fold-away bed.
Thanks to Jeffrey Goodman
Read the full story: Absolutely pre-fab
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Malls are becoming the midtowns of the future
Mall and office park redevelopments are a generational opportunity to create new nodes of urbanity.
NYC breaks ground on anti-flooding infrastructure project
New York City's new system will reduce stormwater flows to local sewers by 90%.
One Kentucky town’s secret to affordable housing
The Smoketown Community Land Trust has already built seven affordable homes for community members.
Houston gains petal-shaped cooling infrastructure to make streets more ‘delightful’
The city has installed the pavilions along 15 blocks in Houston.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority