ONESQKMMONTREALBEIJING
LAND-USE MIX | PIERRE FANZHU
blocks, it is more difficult to walk from one large block to the other. In this sense, the Beijing super-block is like an island marooned in a grid-like sea of concrete paving. Due to this condition of isolation caused by the encouragement of automobile circulation, it becomes necessary for these large-scale blocks in Beijing to accommodate for all types of needs. The development guidelines are required in China to provide a basis of accessible amenities for the residents within a block. It is the reason why building areas for basic necessities like grocery stores, schools, and health services are outlined and prescribed.
Conclusion In conclusion, there is no direct causal relationship between the degree of variety in land use and the resilience of a community. Rather, a high degree of mixed uses allows for the potential of these resilient communities to develop. This concept can be seen in the Plateau and the Beijing model: the former’s diversified land use is the result of years of accretional development while the latter’s finer grain of diverse land use is generated as a remediation strategy to the large-scale urban planning schemes. In both cases, the diversity of land use is both contributive and symptomatic to the formation of localized communities; like a feedback loop that continually shifts and adjusts according to the needs of the residents. This continuous adaption is not found in the suburban model, hindering its capacity to be truly resilient. In essence, it is the feedback loop model between community and land use that fosters the sustainability of a community.
As an anti-thesis to the two hybrid environments, the suburbs represent an entirely different perspective. There is almost no diversity in terms of land-use and, although it deserves its due criticism, the suburb is designed to be that way. There is no urge to diversify, not due to the absence of pressure, but due to the desire to remain isolated. Developments in the suburbs are all oriented towards keeping uses segregated: the houses are separated from the shopping malls; cars are the most reliable form of transportation; and the epitome of a high density mix use is a strip mall. The lack of accessibility to all the various uses is what prevents the suburbs from truly becoming a resilient community.
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