Cities are growing at unprecedented rates. Most continue to sprawl into the countryside. Some are only now adopting policies that attempt to control air pollution from vehicles; reduce water pollution from urban runoff; and repair fragmented urban ecosystems. Can good urban design and sound environmental design coincide at a neighborhood level to create healthy communities?Absolutely; and the strategies presented by Cynthia Girling and Ronald Kellett in Skinny Streets and Green Neighborhoods illustrate how to weave together contemporary thinking in urban planning with open space planning and urban ecology. Drawing from eighteen case studies; these green neighborhoods are the best examples of how the natural environment can play integral roles in neighborhoods.Green neighborhoods offer a mix of housing types in order to serve a broad cross-section of people with a finely-grained variety of land uses and services; all close to home. In ecologically sound communities; the urban landscape is a functioning part of the whole ecosystem. Wooded areas; meandering streams; wetlands; and open spaces are planned and engineered to clean the air and the water. Skinnier streets and practical pathways weave into a functional; economical network to provide a range of equally good transportation choices; from walking to mass transit; that move people efficiently and economically.This book moves beyond identifying problems to demonstrate proven methods and models that solve multiple; complex problems in concert. With innovative ideas and practical advice; Skinny Streets and Green Neighborhoods is a guide for todays planners; architects; engineers; and developers to better neighborhoods and a more natural metropolis.
#773582 in eBooks 2012-07-03 2012-07-03File Name: B005K98PWQ
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Dark at first but worth the effortBy Michael W. KonradAs indicated by the title. this book is a collection of different stories by various authors describing history of the Arctic from hundreds of years ago to the present. The beginning of this book is so depressing that you may want to just give up. The indigenous people of the Arctic have been treated badly in the past and now they have to try and live through global warming and oil exploration. The facts arent always nice. but they are the facts. As the book progresses it lightens up a little so you can keep on to the end. Its well worth it. for you get a real feeling of the Arctic.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Insightful. inspiring. important.By ermwatersGreat selection of stories providing a crucial insight into the struggles of wildlife and people in the arctic. while also bringing to light why everyone around the world should start asking questions about the current oil industry activities and the consequent repercussions.1 of 3 people found the following review helpful. boring and repetitiveBy Andres IturriagaThe topic of the book is important. but the stories are very basic. really almost all are not stories at all but accounts. reports or testimonies. many not written for this book. prefaced by long introductions very boring about when the author met someone or the date he asked someone to write something or what photos he took and when. Very repetitive too. it seems to me there are much more places people or animals they lost the opportunity to inspire. Here again and again about the same topic. how they have fought or how they will fight big oil when in reality they never se a fight. only complains or talking. words without taking any risk. if that means to fight to them it is no surprise they are getting nowhere. Only two stars because I like the Arctic and environment
