History of Live-Work Developments
With the onset of the industrial revolution and concomitant advances in transportation technology, commuting to work over some distance became the rule rather than the exception. Technology and the intense urbanization gave rise to movement for social improvement and the introduction to zoning. The primary mode of land use regulation, which continues to the present day as the mainstay of modernist city planning: today mixed-use development is the exception rather than the rule and primarily a remnant to earlier times. Commuting is hell – on our time, our money, the environment and our childcare. The introduction of the Internet, fax machines and teleconferencing make travel to face-to-face meetings less necessary. Affordability of a single home and workplace, less transportation money and the elimination of childcare are all advantages. Artists have done this for years, using their homes as working space and living, mainly due to the fact they get the urge to produce at various times of the day. Today Americans aspire to telecommute, to run a small business at home, or to simply enjoy the flexibility, light and space afforded by urban loft living.
Posted in Historical and tagged architecture, automobile, commuting, development, economy, environment, history, live-work, review, suburbs, urban by Studio Render with 21 comments.
The Constitution and Religion
Religion and government have been a matter of great importance and concern for centuries, but religion makes only one direct and obvious appearance in the original constitution. The end of the third clause in Article 6 states that no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
It should be noted that without exception, the Framers were Christian or, at the very least, believed in God (Deism).
As state constitutions had a Bill of Rights, the Constitution of the United States would also frame one. In the subsequent discussions of framing a federal Bill of Rights, religious freedom was introduced as an issue. The 1st Amendment states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Although the Free exercise clause of the Constitutions First Amendment codified one of the founding principals of the U.S., “the establishment clause is implicated because the law provides special treatment to religion and thus may be seen as tending to establish some religious traditions contrary to the separation of church and state.” The notion of church and state conceptually claims that government should not become enmeshed in religion. Does this include zoning regulations on religious structures? Are we treating religions preferentially?
“In recent years congress has looked for ways to help religious institutions with these perceived problems. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 was passed by congress, but was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1997. In 2000 Congress addressed more narrowly the conflicts between local land use authorities and religious institutions with RLUIPA. Focusing on 2 areas: land-use laws and the rights of prisoners. RLUIPA provides a new tool for religious institutions in their dealings with local government. Because they frequently lack the resources of large commercial businesses and are not politically adept, religious institutions often have been incapable or unwilling to fight local land use decisions.”
Reference
The Constitution and Religion. The U.S. Constitution Online. www.usconstitution.net/consttop_reli.html (accessed November 30, 2005).
Bixler, Albert G. 2002. Religious Land Disputes. Urban Land, 2002 Nov.-Dec., v.61, 31.
Giaimo, Michael S. 2003. Church V. State. Planning, 2003 Apr., v. 69, 16.
Posted in Historical and tagged church, church v state, consitution, government, religion, state by Studio Render with 5 comments.
Villa Savoye
Villa Savoye, dubbed as Le Corbusier’s masterpiece was constructed in 1929 in Poissy, France. This structure sits on an open site and gives the feeling that the building is floating. This open site has been said to be the reason for its stature. The site gave Corbusier a chance to apply his 5 points of architecture without the constraints of an urban site. The main section of this residence is a box that sits atop slender pilotis or stilts that are offset from the edge of the structure above. The building which was designed out of concrete and plaster unit masonry shows the purist Modern design of Corbusier. This modern structure designed to be “machine a habiter”, a machine for living, uses a flat roof and strip “ribbon” windows to give this freestanding building a distinct modern look. In addition, the design is simplified with the pure white color and lack of ornamentation as well as the curvilinear forms on both the roof and lower level to further support the machine imagery.
The modern design continues into the interior of Villa Savoye. Corbusier uses non-traditional conveying systems, an open plan, an integral ground floor garage, built-in furniture and a roof garden to give this machine a habitable and efficient feel. The interior flows well from one space to another with the use of ramps and spiral staircases, while creating a modular feel and keeping movement from one space to overlapping spaces available. The use of the “ribbon” windows provides this interior with ample sunlight and giving the framed look to the exterior.
The theory behind this structure is based on a Modernist view and directly affected by World War II. The use of industrial materials associates this residence with the Modern Movement. These facts teamed with Corbusier’s preference to a square plan and pure, natural form come together to express his theory in Villa Savoye.
Posted in Historical and tagged architecture, Discussion, history, review, villa savoye by Studio Render with 3 comments.
