For better or worse, cities mimic each other, making replicas of great landmarks down to unique light fixtures. The Infrastructurist selects top 5 cities that do the job well. Not surprisingly, Shanghai earns the title as the hallmark of knock-offs.
Ranked at No. 5 is the Rabbit Island, Michigan. Alexa Miller writes, "Manhattan native Rob Gorski proved you can buy just about anything off of Craigslist - he used the site to purchase a deserted Michigan island. At the time, Rabbit Island was 91 acres of undisturbed terrain, but Gorski has big plans for its future - he wanted to create an artist residency that mimicked the island of Manhattan."
Also on the list are Lyon, Dubai; Las Vegas, Nev.; Leavenworth, Wash.; and Thames Town, Shanghai.
Convincing as they may be on the surface, these replicas prove that - like food and fashion - nothing beats the original.
FULL STORY: 5 Cities That Are Ripoffs of Other Cities
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Village of Glen Ellyn
City of Laramie
American Planning Association, Sustainable Communities Division
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport
Rockdale County Board of Commissioners