Please follow this link to read the James Surowiecki column on the expense and difficulty of building infrastructure in the US as compared to the rest of the world.
I disagree with his point about making things nice. We don't make public spaces nice enough - he might take a peak at Europe again. If we made public spaces nicer, people might want more of them.
The high school I attended was basically a prison - closed campus and fenced in, with low ceiling and almost no windows. I'm sure its merciless visage was justified by cost considerations - and I'm sure it was too expensive anyway.
Or how about the hideous federal courthouse in downtown Austin?
The primary design consideration was stopping an OKC style attack with no apparent consideration given to its use by human citizens. The totalitarian posture is greatly enhanced by vast expanses of concrete without shade that serve to boil waiting citizens in this climate. Again, I'm sure it was very expensive anyway while still being super ugly.
This book influenced my thinking on design quite a bit.
I disagree with his point about making things nice. We don't make public spaces nice enough - he might take a peak at Europe again. If we made public spaces nicer, people might want more of them.
The high school I attended was basically a prison - closed campus and fenced in, with low ceiling and almost no windows. I'm sure its merciless visage was justified by cost considerations - and I'm sure it was too expensive anyway.
Or how about the hideous federal courthouse in downtown Austin?
The primary design consideration was stopping an OKC style attack with no apparent consideration given to its use by human citizens. The totalitarian posture is greatly enhanced by vast expanses of concrete without shade that serve to boil waiting citizens in this climate. Again, I'm sure it was very expensive anyway while still being super ugly.
This book influenced my thinking on design quite a bit.
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