the modernist planning ideal was separated areas for housing / services / retail / workplaces.
before the 20th century (1900:s) people had always worked where they lived and lived where they worked. but with the modernist movement the idea was born that we should separate these entities to create a safer and more healthy environment. industries at the time were putting off dangerous fumes and waste and most people were living in crowded conditions close to workplaces because of insufficient transportation to and from work.
the idea of a garden city was followed by the city as a machine to host people.
in the US this development was heavily supported by the automobile industry (see the post on GM at the 1939 world fair). with the use of personal vehicles everybody would be able to live in their own house far from nasty working environments. shopping and other services would be conveniently located but on safe distance from the home. recreation facilities would be present in close relations to housing.
this futuristic dream would have been all good, if everybody as ok with spending a 2 hrs commute every day, and if gas for all the cars would be cheap and readily available (not to say safe for the environment).
the dream of GM did come true faster than anybody could imagine. supported by billions of dollars put by the us government into building highways and home mortgages.
today problems are rising. cost of gas has skyrocketed. the environmental impact of traffic calls for denser building. people are getting tired of commuting and paying a lot for fuel and electricity. their conscience is telling them to take actions to spare nature.
before the 20th century (1900:s) people had always worked where they lived and lived where they worked. but with the modernist movement the idea was born that we should separate these entities to create a safer and more healthy environment. industries at the time were putting off dangerous fumes and waste and most people were living in crowded conditions close to workplaces because of insufficient transportation to and from work.
the idea of a garden city was followed by the city as a machine to host people.
in the US this development was heavily supported by the automobile industry (see the post on GM at the 1939 world fair). with the use of personal vehicles everybody would be able to live in their own house far from nasty working environments. shopping and other services would be conveniently located but on safe distance from the home. recreation facilities would be present in close relations to housing.
this futuristic dream would have been all good, if everybody as ok with spending a 2 hrs commute every day, and if gas for all the cars would be cheap and readily available (not to say safe for the environment).
the dream of GM did come true faster than anybody could imagine. supported by billions of dollars put by the us government into building highways and home mortgages.
today problems are rising. cost of gas has skyrocketed. the environmental impact of traffic calls for denser building. people are getting tired of commuting and paying a lot for fuel and electricity. their conscience is telling them to take actions to spare nature.
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