Planning is not Building Design

March 12th, 2007

When I am asked to describe what I do at work, I often have difficulty defining urban planning.

I did not know about urban planning as a profession until I decided that majoring in mathematics was a mistake and began browsing through VCU’s degree catalog. I had been interested in architecture most of my life but gave up on pursuing it as a career when I learned how competitive the admissions process is for architecture programs at universities. It turned out that urban planning is kind of like architecture on a larger scale and this idea appealed to me as a way to affect positive change in the world.

“Planning, also called urban planning or city and regional planning, is a dynamic profession that works to improve the welfare of people and their communities by creating more convenient, equitable, healthful, efficient, and attractive places for present and future generations.” American Planning Association

In other words, urban planning guides the space, facilities, and land uses of a place over time in order to preserve options for the future. Planners may work in a variety of specialized fields including urban design, community development, transportation planning, economic development, housing, historic preservation, land use and code enforcement, and environmental management in both the public sector and the private sector. Regardless of a planner’s specialization, his or her primary obligation is to accommodate the public interest.

It is in this sense that planning is politics. What is good for the welfare of one community may be detrimental to another. Evoking change in the built environment, something that may affect large populations, often requires government support and may be regulated by local ordinances. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, seven out of ten urban planners are employed by local governments. Even within the private sector, the implementation of development plans may require the approval of several constituencies or, in my job in particular, may depend on the generosity of others.

Some architects believe that urban planning is a branch of architecture dealing with the design and organization of urban space and activities. However, I like to think that urban planning encompasses architecture as it addresses not only the physical characteristics of a place, but the social and economic aspects as well. Planning exceeds building design by addressing the purpose of architecture and the consequences of place-making, only setting guidelines or making recommendations regarding aesthetics when appropriate. We are consultants, demographers, cartographers, and architects… but ultimately, we are planners.

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Alternative Fences

March 1st, 2007

Good fences make good neighbors.

Fences are used to control access to a place, whether it is inclusive (keeping livestock in) or exclusive (keeping intruders out), and to visibly define property boundaries. Today, fences adorn the developed landscape, cluttering views and isolating neighbors. Instead, replace man-made fences with organic barriers that enhance the landscape and avoid reflecting an arrogant message.

Thoughtful landscaping may achieve the same effect of designating borders and restricting access. In fact, plants such as prickly holly bushes may be more effective at deterring intruders than traditional fences because they are more difficult (and painful) to cross. Hedgerows are another appealing alternative to man-made fences and are not only functional as a barrier, but serve as an important wildlife habitat and prevent soil erosion as well. They are popular in Great Britain.

Perhaps less versatile but more congenial to the landscape is the ha-ha fence. Designed to not interrupt long views, a ha-ha fence consists of a sloped trench that ends abruptly at a perpendicular wall. Until approached, the ha-ha fence is practically invisible. A modern example of a ha-ha fence can be found at the Washington Monument.

A creative adaptation of the ha-ha fence is a moat. Moats do not have to be deep or filled with alligators to deter trespassers. A simple meandering creek may be more inconvenient to traverse than a fence and is a natural barrier than improves the quality of the natural landscape.

If a traditional fence is unavoidable, consider the aesthetic quality of the product you choose. A lace fence serves the same purpose as a common chain-link fence while also acting as a public exhibition of art!

“Fencing is a sign how we modified and cultivated our environment. Like brambles fences are rising rampantly around us. What would happen if a patch of embroided wire would meet with and continue as an industrial fence. Hostility versus kindness, industrial versus craft. The strong industrial fence is challenge in its function and appearance by a delicate lace decoration, showing how something which was meant for pure functionality can also be decorative.”

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