by | Jul 15, 2022 | Urban and Environmental Planning
In this essay you will choose a modern urban problem and discuss the details of how it has unfolded in your chosen city. For instance, we look at problems left over from imperial planning; problems with industrialization and the environment; problems of social, cultural, and political inclusion; and problems of capitalism. Feel free to consult with me about other problems you might want to consider.
Assignment Objective
In your previous assignments you chose a city and explained the reasoning undergirding your choice. Then, you chose three eras of that city’s history and discussed those eras through the lens of three areas of urban studies. The next step is to go beyond the reflective and historical descriptive exercises in the previous assignments, to a more analytical, solutions-oriented examination. In this third assignment, you will be investigating an urban problem/issue in your chosen city. You will (1) identify and describe a problem or issue (or two interconnected issues), (2) identify a solution that has been enacted or proposed to that issue(s) in your city, (3) identify a solution that has been enacted or proposed to that issue(s) in a different country.
Assignment Description
Write an essay that addresses the three points above: (1) issue(s) in your city, (2) solution in your city, (3) solution from another country.
Issue (or Two Interconnected Issues) in Your City.
You might choose an issue or problem that arose from your examination of the history of your city such as issues with housing, transportation, infrastructure, public space, etc. Or, you might think about some of the problems that are discussed in lectures such as issues of imperial planning; problems with industrialization and the environment; problems of social, cultural, and political inclusion; and problems of capitalism. However, you need to make sure that it is an issue that your city is currently dealing with/trying to address. Some guiding questions for this section include:
What is the problem or issue?
How has this problem uniquely manifested in your city? Is the problem effected by the unique context of your city?
How has this problem evolved over time in your city? Has it taken different forms in different eras?
Why has this problem arisen/continued in your city?
Are there forces in the city that are contributing to the problem, ensuring it continues, ignoring it, etc.?
Is the problem affecting specific populations? Why might that be?
Etc.
Solution that Has Been Enacted or Proposed in Your City.
Discuss a solution that has either already been enacted or proposed to this issue in your city. This can be a solution from any sector/group such as grassroots/community-based groups, some organization/institution in the public sector (planners, city councils, and other public officials), some private organization (architectural firms, private design or planning firms, corporations, etc.), nonprofit organizations (foundations and other non-governmental organizations), etc. Just make sure it is a recent intervention (1990s to the present). Guiding questions include:
What is the solution?
Who all is involved in its proposal or implementation? Who funds it? Who enacts it?
What are the specifics of the intervention?
How does it uniquely address the issue(s) you outlined above?
Does it involve community engagement or participation? What does that process look like?
What are the positive (successes) and negative (downfalls/failures) aspects of the intervention?
Etc.
Solution that Has Been Enacted or Proposed in a Different Country.
Discuss a solution that has either already been enacted or proposed to this issue in a different country. Like the previous section, this can be a solution from any sector/group such as grassroots/community-based groups, some organization/institution in the public sector (planners, city councils, and other public officials), some private organization (architectural firms, private design or planning firms, corporations, etc.), nonprofit organizations (foundations and other non-governmental organizations), etc. Just make sure it is a recent intervention (1990s to the present). Guiding questions are the same as the previous section and include:
What is the solution?
Who all is involved in its proposal or implementation? Who funds it? Who enacts it?
What are the specifics of the intervention?
How does it uniquely address the issue(s) you outlined above?
Does it involve community engagement or participation? What does that process look like?
What are the positive (successes) and negative (downfalls/failures) aspects of the intervention?
Etc.
In the conclusion:
Summarize what has been said AND
End with a short discussion of either (a) how your city could learn from/change its approach based on the solution from the other country, OR (b) why you think the intervention in your city is better than the intervention in the other country.
Guidelines
4-5 double-spaced pages (1000-1250 words)
Times New Roman, 12 point text, with 1” margins on all sides
Should have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion
Keep introduction and conclusion short and to the point
Use subheadings to separate your 3 topics of the paper
You can use whatever sources you want, but:
Include at least three academic book chapters or articles (even if you do not cite them)
Include a bibliography
by | Jul 14, 2022 | Urban and Environmental Planning
The paper will focused on writing the strategy part only. It needs some sentences for intro and conclusion related to the strategy constructed that later can be added to the main paper (by customer). A proposal will be uploaded so you have a sense of what’s the plan of action about.
by | Jul 14, 2022 | Urban and Environmental Planning
In this essay you will choose a modern urban problem and discuss the details of how it has unfolded in your chosen city. For instance, we look at problems left over from imperial planning; problems with industrialization and the environment; problems of social, cultural, and political inclusion; and problems of capitalism. Feel free to consult with me about other problems you might want to consider.
Assignment Objective
In your previous assignments you chose a city and explained the reasoning undergirding your choice. Then, you chose three eras of that city’s history and discussed those eras through the lens of three areas of urban studies. The next step is to go beyond the reflective and historical descriptive exercises in the previous assignments, to a more analytical, solutions-oriented examination. In this third assignment, you will be investigating an urban problem/issue in your chosen city. You will (1) identify and describe a problem or issue (or two interconnected issues), (2) identify a solution that has been enacted or proposed to that issue(s) in your city, (3) identify a solution that has been enacted or proposed to that issue(s) in a different country.
Assignment Description
Write an essay that addresses the three points above: (1) issue(s) in your city, (2) solution in your city, (3) solution from another country.
Issue (or Two Interconnected Issues) in Your City.
You might choose an issue or problem that arose from your examination of the history of your city such as issues with housing, transportation, infrastructure, public space, etc. Or, you might think about some of the problems that are discussed in lectures such as issues of imperial planning; problems with industrialization and the environment; problems of social, cultural, and political inclusion; and problems of capitalism. However, you need to make sure that it is an issue that your city is currently dealing with/trying to address. Some guiding questions for this section include:
What is the problem or issue?
How has this problem uniquely manifested in your city? Is the problem effected by the unique context of your city?
How has this problem evolved over time in your city? Has it taken different forms in different eras?
Why has this problem arisen/continued in your city?
Are there forces in the city that are contributing to the problem, ensuring it continues, ignoring it, etc.?
Is the problem affecting specific populations? Why might that be?
Etc.
Solution that Has Been Enacted or Proposed in Your City.
Discuss a solution that has either already been enacted or proposed to this issue in your city. This can be a solution from any sector/group such as grassroots/community-based groups, some organization/institution in the public sector (planners, city councils, and other public officials), some private organization (architectural firms, private design or planning firms, corporations, etc.), nonprofit organizations (foundations and other non-governmental organizations), etc. Just make sure it is a recent intervention (1990s to the present). Guiding questions include:
What is the solution?
Who all is involved in its proposal or implementation? Who funds it? Who enacts it?
What are the specifics of the intervention?
How does it uniquely address the issue(s) you outlined above?
Does it involve community engagement or participation? What does that process look like?
What are the positive (successes) and negative (downfalls/failures) aspects of the intervention?
Etc.
Solution that Has Been Enacted or Proposed in a Different Country.
Discuss a solution that has either already been enacted or proposed to this issue in a different country. Like the previous section, this can be a solution from any sector/group such as grassroots/community-based groups, some organization/institution in the public sector (planners, city councils, and other public officials), some private organization (architectural firms, private design or planning firms, corporations, etc.), nonprofit organizations (foundations and other non-governmental organizations), etc. Just make sure it is a recent intervention (1990s to the present). Guiding questions are the same as the previous section and include:
What is the solution?
Who all is involved in its proposal or implementation? Who funds it? Who enacts it?
What are the specifics of the intervention?
How does it uniquely address the issue(s) you outlined above?
Does it involve community engagement or participation? What does that process look like?
What are the positive (successes) and negative (downfalls/failures) aspects of the intervention?
Etc.
In the conclusion:
Summarize what has been said AND
End with a short discussion of either (a) how your city could learn from/change its approach based on the solution from the other country, OR (b) why you think the intervention in your city is better than the intervention in the other country.
Guidelines
4-5 double-spaced pages (1000-1250 words)
Times New Roman, 12 point text, with 1” margins on all sides
Should have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion
Keep introduction and conclusion short and to the point
Use subheadings to separate your 3 topics of the paper
You can use whatever sources you want, but:
Include at least three academic book chapters or articles (even if you do not cite them)
Include a bibliography
by | Jul 8, 2022 | Urban and Environmental Planning
I already chose the city. Kyoto (this is why I chose and just in case for the basic info from me to chose the city) If you want to change the city, let me know and we would discuss about it.
I choose Kyoto, Japan for this assignment. I also chose Kyoto as my favorite City. I chose Kyoto because it is a city where I can experience the traditional side of Japan, with many valuable buildings and areas such as historical buildings and world heritage sites that are not found in my birth city, Sapporo, as I have mentions there. But these heritage and historical buildings contribute to a serious problem that arises with regard to the development or redevelopment of the city. This is because many of the “old” ones are inappropriate for the needs of a modern metropolis. But they are also a great source of redevelopment, including the renovation of old private homes into hotels. By renovating old houses into hotels while preserving the atmosphere, materials, and interior design of historic houses to the maximum extent possible, they have succeeded in attracting more tourists to Kyoto, making the city flourish, and allowing people to experience Japanese history up close, without destroying the character of Kyoto as it used to be. When I saw the news, I thought that Kyoto could be a model for the development of Japanese cities and suburbs, and I began to pay attention to Kyoto.
City History Essay
In this essay you will discuss the history of your chosen city. The point of this essay is not to be as comprehensive as possible, but rather to choose at least three eras you consider to be most important in the city’s history and be as detailed about those periods as possible. Possible periods to consider could include things such as the founding years, periods of growth, periods of transition, periods of decline, or periods of innovation. The choice of these periods is completely dependent on what you consider to be most important to the city’s history.
Assignment Objective
In your previous assignment you chose a city from around the globe and explained the reasoning undergirding your choice. This might have included academic interest, issues that are central to your studies, or personal preference. Nonetheless, the next step is to go beyond the reflective exercise of the previous assignment, to a more research-oriented examination. In this second assignment, you will be investigating the history of your chosen city in a descriptive manner. In other words, you do not have to worry about analyzing the problems of urban studies issues in this essay. Though, you are more than welcome to begin that process!
Assignment Description
Write an essay examining the 3 historical eras of the city you have chosen through the lens of areas of urban studies.
Choosing Historical Eras.
You might choose eras based on what you have read in academic books or articles or even time periods found on Wikipedia.com. These eras should be a large grouping of years. Your chosen eras should at least encompass 30 years (for younger cities like those in the United States); however, for older cities the eras could span hundreds of years. If you are struggling with choosing time periods to discuss, contact me and I’ll look at what you are considering and give feedback.
Discussing the Historical Eras.
Examine the 3 historical eras you have chosen through 2-4 areas of urban studies. Areas of urban studies might include housing, transportation, infrastructure (water, sanitation, etc.), environment, architecture, public space, important public buildings, hierarchical systems (class, race, gender, sexuality, etc.), etc. You might use different areas of urban studies in different historical eras; however, you will likely get more out of the assignment by using the same areas of urban studies over all three eras. If you are struggling with what areas of study to consider or what to write, consider three things:
Watch the lectures for the Ancient City, the Antiquity City, and the Medieval City to see examples of discussions of different areas of urban studies.
Contact me to let me know what you are considering and I will give feedback.
Don’t worry about choosing the right areas of study, this assignment is meant to be exploratory to shape your next essay.
Guidelines
4-5 double-spaced pages (1000-1250 words)
Times New Roman, 12 point text, with 1” margins on all sides
Should have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion
Keep introduction and conclusion short and to the point
Use subheadings to separate your 3 historical eras
If it makes sense, use different paragraphs for the urban studies areas you discuss
You can use whatever sources you want, but:
Include at least two academic book chapters or articles (even if you do not cite them)
You do not have to cite all historical information!!!
Only cite paraphrased or quoted sentences.
Include a bibliography
Examples of Themes/Questions to Guide Essay Content
Housing
What types of housing are prevalent in the city?
What materials are used?
Is there density?
What types of rooms were present?
IF YOU WANT: What problems were present in these housing types?
Etc.
Transportation
How did people move about the city?
Did infrastructure exist for this (roads, sidewalks, public transit, etc.)
What materials were used for infrastructure?
IF YOU WANT: Are there problems? Was it efficient?
Etc.
Infrastructure (water systems, sanitation systems, etc.)
What types of infrastructure existed in terms of public works?
Did all people have access to these forms of infrastructure?
How was the infrastructure constructed?
IF YOU WANT: What problems existed with acces to infrastructure?
Etc.
Environment
Was the environment important in the city?
How were natural systems utilized in the city?
How did the environment shape the form and growth of the city?
IF YOU WANT: What environmental issues existed?
Etc.
Architecture
What style of architecture dominated in the city?
What was the importance of that style to the city?
What materials and design elements were used?
IF YOU WANT: How was architecture connected to hierarchical systems?
Etc.
Public Space
What types of public space existed?
Who were these spaces available to?
How were these public spaces utilized?
IF YOU WANT: What types of public space were noticeably missing?
Etc.
Important Public Buildings
What important public buildings dominated the city?
What types of buildings were these and what were their purpose?
What did these buildings symbolize in the city?
IF YOU WANT: Were these buildings used to reinforce oppressive systems?
Etc.
Hierarchical Systems (class, race, gender, sexuality, etc.)
How did hierarchical systems influence city space?
How did hierarchical systems influence social relations in the city?
IF YOU WANT: How were these systems reflected in other aspects of the city?
Etc.
by | May 1, 2022 | Urban and Environmental Planning
Write a paper of 1750 to 2000 words in which you describe your ideal sustainable city.This is unrelated to your assigned city from your group discussions. You can pick any region and/or climate type you want. Follow the structure and details listed below, and use headers to identify each of the 4 sections.
Section 1: Introduction
In one paragraph, explain your overall philosophy or vision for your city. Make sure to specify the geographic region/climate conditions for your ideal community – a place you would especially like to live in, and that is sustainable (in whatever way you want to define the term).
Your introduction should be approximately 150 words.
Section 2: Sustainable Development Goals
Write 5 paragraphs in which you discuss which SDGs will guide your city plan, features, and development.
Pick 5 Sustainable Development Goalsyour ideal city is working towards to.
At least two choses SDGs should be related to the social aspects of sustainability (i.e. no poverty, quality education, gender equality…)
Explain why the 5 SDGs you selected are important in order for a city to be sustainable.
How can these SGDs guide the development and growth of your ideal city?
Each paragraph should be approximately 150 words.
Section 3: Urban Fabric
Write as many well-organized paragraphs as appropriate to describe some of the features or answer some of the questions below.
How is this place laid out in terms of streets, buildings, public spaces, parks, homes, workplaces, and shopping areas?
What planning strategies influenced your vision of a sustainable urban fabric (Buildings, Transportation, Green Infrastructure). How do the chosen strategies support your vision?
How does your city reduce social and environmental equity issues?
How does your vision work towards the chosen SDGs and to overall sustainability of your city/neighborhood?
This section should be approximately 750 words.
Section 4: Conclusion
Write one paragraph in which you explain how your envisioned city/neighborhood can be achieved in the near future. Is this actually realistic? If so, what would be required to achieve it? If not, why not?
Your conclusion should be approximately 150 words.
Feel free to use GIS, photos, maps, or other creative visual images or techniques to illustrate your point.
Support your paper with at least four reputable sources, but only one can be the textbook.
by | Apr 23, 2022 | Urban and Environmental Planning
Discuss what an Urban heat island.
Explain different strategies that help to mitigate the urban heat island effect. i.g trees and vegetation, green roofs, cool roofs, cool pavement, heat island reduction activities.
use www.epa.gov website for heat island information and strategies
