Neo-suburbia

Urbanization is driving planetary destruction, but you've probably heard enough about that. In this episode, I talk about what that really means. What are we giving up when we trade our evolutionary habitats -- and those of bugs, plants, and animals -- for concrete? 

Science is only beginning to understand nature's healing power. Here, I discuss the evidence that exposure to nature can relieve depression and even lessen obesity. Residents of greener neighborhoods tend to be healthier in way more ways than there is time to cover in these fifteen minutes, but these two markers of mental and physical health tell a lot of the story by themselves.

As the world urbanizes -- I'm sure you've heard something like three-quarters will live in a "city" by 2050 -- we should consider the impact this might have on health. Scientific reviews have found urbanization, which includes suburbanization, is making us sicker. If this is true, what can we do to change our trajectory?

I present the city of Freiburg, Germany, and two of its neighborhoods, or "model suburbs," Rieselfeld and Vauban. Freiburg is an old German city at the southern edge of the Black Forest. Within the city limits, 47% is forested land. In developing its model suburbs, at least 70% of the existing landscape was preserved. This model of preserving nature forced the areas to develop densely, which citizens prefer, because their neighborhoods are walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly. In a suburbanizing world with a need for green, how might we be able to adapt this model?

Freiburg benefits from an active citizenry. They've worked alongside city council since the 1970s to have a hand in their city's development. One example of their engagement has been the baugruppen, cooperatively built and owned housing developments which diversify architecture, bring down housing costs, and give citizens unique purchase over their city.

What might Americans be able to take away from Freiburg's example? With hope, I discuss how planning and planners can be more future-friendly.

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Photo by Michael Spiegelhalter from FWTM Spiegelhalter