Mark Byrnes brings us a fascinating, and regrettably short, clip of Frank Lloyd Wright discussing his opinions of the city, the skyscraper, and why "the best people" are leaving New York.
On last week's anniversary of Wright's birth (in 1867), Byrnes provides a portion of an interview with the master architect from an episode of the program Omnibus, from October 25, 1953.
Wright offers some compelling opinions on skyscrapers and New York City:
On skyscrapers in cities:
Skyscrapers in cities create congestion. They were devised originally to hold concentration where it is and they proved to be the death of the city-or will, eventually, if they keep building them in cities.
On New York City:
Does anyone approve of New York? ...isn't New York just a great, grown village, created by success? ...it was the only way a landlord could control concentration and rents. But in doing it, he has really overshot the mark and now, the whole city is in agony. This traffic problem is insoluble and in never can be solved. You see everything going out. Decentralization is inevitable, taking place everywhere. The gas station was the first evidence of it. Now the department stores will go out there, even in New York, they're all going out. Factories are going out...and aren't the best people going out?
FULL STORY: Frank Lloyd Wright Hated Cities, Which Might Explain Why Americans Love Him
Frank Lloyd Wright, Enemy of the City
Katherine Don looks back at Broadacre City, Wright's attempt to replace the modern industrial city once and for all.
The Natalist Case For Sprawl (And Why It Fails)
Some commentators defend anti-urban government policies such as exclusionary zoning on the basis that homeowning suburbanites have high birth rates. But this doesn't seem to be true in recent decades.
Density and Disorder: The Imaginary Link
A recent article tries to tie public transit and walkability to social disorder — but in fact, sprawling Sunbelt cities like Memphis are as likely to have high crime rates as transit-rich metropolises such as New York and San Francisco.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.
Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
‘Quality Work, Fast’: NC Gears up for Homebuilding After Helene, Trying to Avoid Past Pitfalls
The state will field bids to demolish, repair and rebuild homes in the mountains. After struggles in eastern NC, officials aim to chart a different course.
Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.
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.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions