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Arcologies and Reality
Mar. 29th, 2009 09:35 pm
So, I was doing a Google search of arcologies to look for ideas for Under the Green Moon, and I came across this quote by Paolo Soleri, the inventor of the Arcology concept.
"The problem I am confronting is the present design of cities only a few stories high, stretching outward in unwieldy sprawl for miles. As a result of their sprawl, they literally transform the earth, turn farms into parking lots and waste enormous amounts of time and energy transporting people, goods and services over their expanses."
I have to wonder if he considered that one of the main reasons cities are designed the way they are is the limitations of technology. A whole host of practical problems, ranging from load bearing architecture, to steel quality, to elevator technology had to be solved to make buildings above 10 stories feasible. And even for modern skyscrapers, the technology of elements like elevators and plumbing limit their convenience and utility beyond a certain height.
I suppose if there's an actual point here, its that there's a huge gap between interesting designs on paper, and actual physical accomplishment, and in the process, accommodations have to be made with reality.
"The problem I am confronting is the present design of cities only a few stories high, stretching outward in unwieldy sprawl for miles. As a result of their sprawl, they literally transform the earth, turn farms into parking lots and waste enormous amounts of time and energy transporting people, goods and services over their expanses."
I have to wonder if he considered that one of the main reasons cities are designed the way they are is the limitations of technology. A whole host of practical problems, ranging from load bearing architecture, to steel quality, to elevator technology had to be solved to make buildings above 10 stories feasible. And even for modern skyscrapers, the technology of elements like elevators and plumbing limit their convenience and utility beyond a certain height.
I suppose if there's an actual point here, its that there's a huge gap between interesting designs on paper, and actual physical accomplishment, and in the process, accommodations have to be made with reality.