Architectural Renderings Depict Only the 'Wired and Young'

John King shares his thoughts on modern renderings. In too many drawings a hipster cult of youth is normalized, and it threatens to paint regular folks and true nonconformists out of the picture.

1 minute read

March 24, 2015, 7:00 AM PDT

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Transit Rendering

Eric Fischer / Flickr

Heightened diversity is one of the hallmarks of any urban center. But according to John King, "[the] city imagined by designers and developers is a monoculture of the wired and young."

From a set of architectural renderings, mostly native to San Francisco, King picks out the roots of gentrification. "The difference now is the narrowness of the vision conveyed. For all the debate over gentrification and saving the 'soul' of San Francisco (whatever that means), the future will arrive with a backpack slung over its shoulder."

These renderings might indicate a deeper cultural disruption. Not only do they fail to include homeless people and other "problem" signs: they also write out office workers, tourists, and most of those who will actually use the spaces depicted. For King, this celebration of carefree digital age faddishness—and the death of seriousness—is new. "Not only are the figures in the renderings from past decades obviously not real — wonderful figures brought to life by a seemingly casual line or two — they convey a sense that societal norms were here to stay. The establishment will continue to set the tone, thank you, whatever that era’s fashions or hairstyles might be."


Friday, February 27, 2015 in San Francisco Chronicle

Black and white Rideshare Pick-Up Zone sign

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing

From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

June 1, 2023 - Human Transit

Urban sidewalk shaded by large mature trees

Cool Walkability Planning

Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

June 1, 2023 - Todd Litman

Traffic on the 405 interstate freeway through the Sepulveda Pass at Getty Center Drive in Los Angeles, California

Congestion Pricing Could Be Coming to L.A.

The infamously car-centric city is weighing a proposed congestion pricing pilot program to reduce traffic and encourage public transit use.

May 30, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Two blue and white tents on a paved bike trail under an overpass in San Diego, California with palm tree and vegetation on one side

How San Diego Camping Ban Could Impact Neighborhoods

An ordinance supported by the city’s mayor would bar people from sleeping on the street near shelters or services, but critics say it will simply push people to other neighborhoods and put them farther away from the supportive services they need.

June 8 - Voice of San Diego

Small white one-story building with Maggie Hathaway Golf Course sign with American flag on flagpole and green lawn

Expanding Access to Golf in South Los Angeles

L.A. County’s Maggie Hathaway Golf Course getting up to $15 Million from U.S. Open Community Legacy Project to expand access to the sport in South L.A.

June 8 - Los Angeles Times

Wood-frame two-story housing under construction

Opinion: Failed Housing Bills Could Signal California-Style Housing Crisis in Texas

Legislators in a state that so often touts its policies as the opposite of California’s defeated several bills that would have made housing construction easier, leading to concerns that a constricted housing market may exacerbate the housing crisis.

June 8 - The Dallas Morning News

Principal Planner – Advanced Plans

Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department

Planning Officer

City of Bangor

Planning Director

Park City Municipal Corporation

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.