Fun Bridges

 I could be wrong, but I am not sure that these are ADA approved. But they look cool.

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2009/07/getting_to_know_west_8_the_fir.php

Ecological Urbanism

Ecological Urbanism is a relatively new theory that has potential for resolving some the problems associated with living in an urban community. Ecological urbanism seems to have evolved from a closely related theory, landscape urbanism.  The difference between the two is that landscape urbanism attempts to comprehend how to progress away from “traditional urbanism” and ecological urbanism is about using nature to connect, reinvent and to increase the sustainability  our cities (Lapides 2010). Traditional urbanism has been about “preserving or adding ecological elements such as green spaces to urban environment (Yang 2010). Ecological urbanism expands this idea “by linking the urban forms and flows of material, energy, water and organism across the system boundaries” (Yang 2010).

Eco Village

This type of community is a very deliberate attempt to live in a manner that will reduce one’s ecological impact on the Earth. Housing is typically made from natural materials, farming is very important to the daily life and local commerce is supported whenever possible.  

Cohousing

Cohousing is very similar to a traditional neighborhood, but it has some additional benefits. There is a stronger sense of community with cohousing. Social ties are strengthened by sharing meals, community space and decision making.

Baptist Town

In my “spare” time this semester, I have been working with MSU’s Carl Small Town Center. We are working on a master plan for a small community in Greenwood, Mississippi. The focus for the plan is to offer ideas for new housing and to address community needs.

The name of the community is Baptist Town. It is located next to the heart of downtown. There are several factors that will make this project a challenge. The first is that the area has experienced a decline and a lot of the businesses are moving out of the downtown area. Another problem is that the community is somewhat cut off from the rest of the town. Train tracks run on the West side, water and trees are to the North, an extremely large cotton factory is on the East side and a road with limited access is to the South.

Here is a community web site I found.

http://www.ratpackstlouis.com/baptist_town.htm

To woo or not to woo?

As I sit watching UT’s possible last game of the year, I hear Rocky Top in the background every two or three plays. At the finish of each chant I hear the crowd add woo to the end of Rocky Top. There are currently two sides to the debate, to woo or not to woo…I say woo away! It just feels right after doing it for so many years. GBO!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's truly Thanksgiving until everyone has sang the Thanksgiving song. You gotta love the classics!

http://vimeo.com/2363700