tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394091530012769761.post4395853032702695425..comments2024-03-27T04:02:47.206-04:00Comments on Old Urbanist: The Densest (Urban) Environment in the WorldCharlie Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07317335121565650040noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394091530012769761.post-40945200872696750942011-09-23T18:32:54.146-04:002011-09-23T18:32:54.146-04:00Anonymous: the New York Times article actually emp...Anonymous: the New York Times article actually emphasizes the polyglot composition of the ship's passengers, which seemed to rival any assortment you'd find on the streets of Manhattan. Of course, there is probably less economic diversity, but the cruise is not for the mega-rich only.Charlie Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07317335121565650040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394091530012769761.post-83932701440277142332011-09-23T14:29:31.643-04:002011-09-23T14:29:31.643-04:00I would say most people don't mind the density...I would say most people don't mind the density on-board the ship for two reasons: most passengers are similar to one another and the ocean does a good job in keeping the riffraff out. Neither of these benefits are available in the typical urban area.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394091530012769761.post-74670433528987176202011-09-20T11:34:27.865-04:002011-09-20T11:34:27.865-04:00I might also note that the Allure of the Seas also...I might also note that the Allure of the Seas also presents something like a high-density Traditional City environment. The "Central Park" area you show is surrounded by walls six stories high, which is right in line with typical Traditional City dimensions.Nathan Lewishttp://newworldeconomics.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394091530012769761.post-74918237960923821382011-09-20T11:18:19.283-04:002011-09-20T11:18:19.283-04:00One thing examples like this show is that it is no...One thing examples like this show is that it is not "density" per se that people don't like. In fact, people tend to like "density," for the same reason that they want to go to the popular nightclub rather than the unpopular one. It's more fun with more people. The problems of "density" are rather things like sanitation (not a problem today but it was in the past), lack of appealing outdoor space (New York and most any other 19th Century Hypertrophic City), and of course the excessively large roadways dominated by automobile traffic. Once you solve these problems -- in this case on a ship, which is a 100% pedestrian place -- people's concerns about "density" disappear and in fact they are happy with colossally high densities.<br /><br />This is one reason why I am not 100% opposed to the Corbusier high-rise/parks combo. Unfortunately, instead of highrises/parks, in short an appealing interior environment combined with an appealing exterior environment, what we tend to get is highrises combined with superhighways, parkings lots and "green space," a totally sterile and hostile outdoor environment. In other words, we could do a lot of different things than what we have done. There's an interesting history of "multi-use highrises" in Hong Kong, where the building becomes a sort of vertical village with shops, restaurants, etc. scattered throughout. I would look at the Kowloon "Mansions" such as the infamous Chungking Mansions or neighboring Mirador Mansions. They are slummy but also a lot of fun.<br /><br />With all that said, however, I'm not sure that any sort of highrise development really presents a meaningful improvement on the Traditional City, which can achieve densities of 100,000 people per square mile while providing a wonderful, exciting environment.Nathan Lewishttp://newworldeconomics.comnoreply@blogger.com