Since the early seventeenth century; when the cultivation of exotic plants and fruit became fashionable in northern Europe; glasshouses have offered an artificial climate in which they could flourish. At first these structures were within reach only of the very richest; and growing ones own oranges; orchids; pineapples or bananas was a sign of great wealth; but by the mid-nineteenth century manufacturers emerged to cater for a growing middle-class market. Glasshouses became increasingly sophisticated; with different types tailored to house specific crops; and manufacturers competing with one another by developing their own house styles; leading to a wealth of designs endlessly fascinating to the garden or architectural historian. In Glasshouses; Fiona Grant provides an illustrated introduction to the subject; including the twentieth century decline and recent attempts at restoration.
#715723 in eBooks 2011-03-31 2016-02-15File Name: B01BVRKCVW
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. full of interesting ideasBy Michael LewynThis book; as the title indicates; addresses a variety of issues related to making sprawl more walkable. The very first essay shows both why retrofitting suburbia is desirable and why it will be difficult. On the one hand; numerous surveys show that roughly half of households desire to live in walkable places; even if it means living in a smaller house. However; most neighborhoods (especially suburbs) are not very walkable: only 27 percent of city neighborhoods have Walkscores over 70; and only 8 percent of suburban neighborhoods. (Walkscore.com rates places based on the number of amenities within walking distance; high-amenity areas have high Walkscores). The mismatch between supply and demand is especially great in suburbia: 28 percent of Americans prefer mixed-use suburbs to cities; residence-only suburbs; small towns and rural areas; yet only 4 percent of neighborhoods are both walkable and suburban. Similarly; an essay on one Washington suburbrsquo;s attempt to update its zoning code shows the political difficulty of reforming zoning codes to promote walkability: although the reforms only affected 5 percent of the county; they still generated enormous political controversy and were significantly watered down.Another set of essays focuses on ideas for reforming suburbs. June Williamsonrsquo;s essay covers the basics: reform ldquo;big boxrdquo; stores by bringing buildings up to the sidewalk; build shorter blocks to give pedestrians more travel options; improve connections between streets; build streets within a development that are narrower (and thus more easily crossed). Her essay also addresses trade-offs between these goals: for example; one Texas apartment complex placed parking decks in the center of the block (good because pedestrians did not have to cross unsightly parking lots) but in doing so; created large blocks (not so good). As a remedy; she suggests building less parking. Another problem she mentions is when neighbors donrsquo;t want a new development to connect to nearby streets; as a remedy; she suggests ldquo;mini streetsrdquo; that could be connected to those streets if neighbors changed their mind.Another essay discusses suburban downtowns. In the case studies addressed in the essay; suburbs sought to create their own miniature downtowns. Unlike much other new development; these downtowns tend to have considerable support from local residents; on the negative side; they are often expensive to build; and thus tend to occur only in well-off areas.A less conventional essay discusses informal pedestrian paths. In suburbs without street grids or sidewalks; pedestrians often create their own dirt paths to reach stores. Should these paths be somehow institutionalized? On the one hand; paving the paths would certainly enhance walkability. However; property owners might be unwilling to accept formal easements through their land.A more radical article discussed on-street parking in one Oregon town; pointing out that in both urban and suburban parts of the city; over frac34; of parking spaces were vacant. The essay suggested using some of these spaces as greenspace to absorb stormwater; or as urban farms.
