[pt] A cidade que não é – Leituras do subúrbio carioca analisa o conceito carioca de subúrbio para tentar compreender de que forma o processo de ressignificação desse espaço impactou o imaginário existente sobre ele. Produto do crescimento das cidades e um dos elementos definidores da modernização das mesmas, o subúrbio é um território singular na constituição das metrópoles. Compreender as definições que ele ganhou nos discursos culturais é essencial para entender a cidade moderna. Na tentativa de contribuir para a análise teórica sobre o tema, este projeto parte da fundamentação geográfica, sociológica e histórica sobre as questões urbanas e da leitura de representações culturais desse espaço para conceituar e historicizar o subúrbio e analisar as superposições entre urbanismo, arquitetura, imaginário e experiência urbana nas narrativas do início do século XX aos primeiros anos do século XXI no Rio de Janeiro. / [en] The city that is not – Reading the suburb of Rio de Janeiro analyses the specificities of the concept suburb in the city of Rio de Janeiro to try to comprehend how its process of resignification impacted cultural discourses existent about it. Result of the cities growth and one of the defining elements of its modernization, the suburb is a singular space in the constitution of the metropolis. Understanding the definitions this territory gained in cultural discourses is essential to comprehend the modern city. In an attempt to contribute to the theoretical analysis of this theme, this dissertation departs from an historical, sociological and geographical bibliography to read cultural representations of the suburb during the twentieth and early twenty-first century in Rio de Janeiro, aiming to conceptualize and historicize the concept suburb and analyze the relations between urbanism, architecture, imagery and urban experience in the narratives concerning this space.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Hyung Jin Kim / Walkability is a challenge for most suburban metropolitan areas. Specifically, the Kansas City suburban cities of Overland Park, Olathe, Leawood, and South KCMO have sprawled and disconnected urban patterns and a low average walkability score of 37 out of 100 (Walk Score, 2013, https://www.redfin.com/how-walk-score-works/). The Indian Creek Trail, an existing recreational trail that extends throughout the southern Kansas City neighborhoods, has the potential to improve walkability. It connects major destinations, including residential communities, businesses, and commercial districts throughout the suburban neighborhoods. Many studies have analyzed suburban sprawl and walkability, but few studies have identified the possibility of enhancing existing trail systems to provide for greater mobility, connectivity, and activity. The study examines the feasibility of reusing an existing trail system to act as a catalyst to promote walkability in the Kansas City suburbs. The goal of the project to create a paradigm shift in the way people think about transport and development. The purpose is to identify how centering walkable strategies around an active transportation network can promote walkability in sprawled suburban areas. The question: How can focusing improvement around existing trail infrastructure enhance walkability in suburban areas? has guided the project and helped define strategies for improvement. This project identifies the Indian Creek Trail’s current and potential uses from an in depth community and spatial analysis. Surveys, interviews, and observations were conducted within 13 major destination areas along the Indian Creek Trail. The results were then analyzed to create an evidence‐based design framework that will address walkable concerns. The project results showed there were three primary causes for walkable limitations along the trail network: current transportation trends, suburban development patterns, and social perceptions. Understanding these important aspects of walkability helped identify a framework for improvement. The findings from the analysis determined the site restrictions and prospects of creating a walkable environment along the Indian Creek Trail. The results identified primary locations of needed intervention and revealed major opportunities for connection. The design then applied walkable components based on analysis findings to create nodes of complete communities. Design decisions were tailored to amend community needs and alter traditional transport perceptions. The objective of the designs was to address specific walkable limitations to create reasonable solutions in suburban areas. The project identifies 5 primary components of walkability that can be used to create a walkable plan. Future studies would revolve around implementing the designs and analyzing the effectiveness to create a model that can be applied to enhance walkability for other suburban areas. Ultimately, the results could establish how improved walkability can promote multi‐modal transportation opportunities where population, density, diversity, and funding do not allow for typical transportation or development enhancements.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / William P. Winslow III / A 2009 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for Social & Demographic Trends found that people living in suburban areas are significantly more satisfied with their communities than are residents of cities, small towns, or rural areas. With almost 50 percent of Americans living in suburban areas, and not enough infill opportunities to accommodate future population growth, suburban development will likely continue to be a primary location for development (Berens 2010). As suburbia continues to develop there are two options: continue to use conventional suburban strategies or implement alternative suburban strategies. The city of Springville, Utah is currently experiencing suburban growth near a future transit station to the west of the downtown core. Since suburban sprawl has already begun in this area, the city has an opportunity to design for growth and become a positive example of suburban development in the region. What are the possibilities and impacts of using conventional suburban strategies versus alternative suburban methods? A 60-acre tract of land in west Springville, Utah is planned and designed for development. The first master plan is designed to demonstrate Conventional Suburban Development. The second plan is designed to demonstrate Alternative Suburban Development. A comparative analysis of the two master plans accompanies the designs to compare the two solutions. This method has been used by New Urbanists to illustrate the difference in their method of suburban development. This tract includes a future transit station, a major highway corridor, and nearby access to Interstate 15. Additionally, the tract is located approximately two miles from downtown Springville. The focus of this study is to provide the background and evidence that there are design alternatives which can contribute to the mending of suburban sprawl. In this project, city officials, planners, developers, business owners, and housing consumers are provided with an objective comparative analysis of conventional versus alternative methods of suburban development in the Wasatch Front Region of Utah. The analysis of the two design proposals provides valuable insight into the feasibility or desirability of key design principles contained in each design proposal. The study provides compelling evidence that alternative methods of community design and suburban development are to be considered to help the region achieve its long range planning goals set forth in the Envision Utah initiative.

Master of Fine Arts thesis by Mackenzie Browning

This thesis investigates the condition of the contemporary suburban landscape and the potential of transit infrastructure in re-establishing the continuity of the fragmented social fabric. It follows the emerging discourse in addressing low density environment as a phenomenon that is becoming the dominant form in our individualistic and consumption-based society. The investigation focuses on Mid-Scarborough, Ontario, as a case study of a suburban ethnic community. Recognizing that high-intensity activity nodes are potential incubators of density and social meaning within the otherwise dispersed and fragmented suburban setting, this thesis proposes to expand an existing intermodal station into a mixed-use complex. Th rough diversifying the function of transit infrastructure with public and commerical programming, the design proposal channels existing intensity towards activating the social potential of interstitial public space. Ultimately, improved interconnectivity and communications between public fragments will foster social integration and the development of regional identity.

This thesis investigates the condition of the contemporary suburban landscape and the potential of transit infrastructure in re-establishing the continuity of the fragmented social fabric. It follows the emerging discourse in addressing low density environment as a phenomenon that is becoming the dominant form in our individualistic and consumption-based society. The investigation focuses on Mid-Scarborough, Ontario, as a case study of a suburban ethnic community. Recognizing that high-intensity activity nodes are potential incubators of density and social meaning within the otherwise dispersed and fragmented suburban setting, this thesis proposes to expand an existing intermodal station into a mixed-use complex. Th rough diversifying the function of transit infrastructure with public and commerical programming, the design proposal channels existing intensity towards activating the social potential of interstitial public space. Ultimately, improved interconnectivity and communications between public fragments will foster social integration and the development of regional identity.

Diploma work is about suburbanization and suburbs in the near hinterland of the city of České Budějovice. It monitors development of these suburbs in socialist and post-socialist period, whereas suburbs are divided in suburbs of urban and country landscapes, towns and small towns of agglomeration and distant suburbs except agglomeration. More detail attention is presented northwest and northeast sector of the hinterland of the city. We analyse statistics data about numbers of resident population between 1950 - 2009, data about numbers of settled houses from single periods of construction time, which we elicited from cross-country research and we also analyse statistics data about construction time of flats between 1997 - 2009. Another part of diploma work is focused on evaluation architectural, urban and urban planning positives, negatives and problems connected with suburbanization in solid area, which we elicited from cross-country research and questioning mayor of suburban municipalities. Third part of work is about involvement suburban migrants to life in suburbs and suburban municipalities. Data were found out from questioning mayor of suburban municipalities. As components there are thematic maps with illustration of analyzed data according suburbs.

abstract: This is a study that tests the New Urbanist claims that neighborhood design impacts sense of community and residential habits. Through the framework provided by New Urbanist theories, a social survey is used to examine residential perception and behavior among three fringe neighborhoods in southeast Tucson, each representing a different approach to neighborhood design: New Urbanist, traditional suburban, and a hybrid variety. The primary relationships studied are between neighborhood design and use of public space, neighborhood design and travel habits, and neighborhood design and sense of community. The findings show that the New Urbanist community does support the highest levels of sense of community and use of public space, but conclusions cannot be drawn concerning the relationship between sense of community and travel behavior, especially non-vehicular travel to public space. While these results are inconclusive concerning the direct impact of the neighborhood type on certain behaviors and perceptions, the findings support the notion that a New Urbanist design does indeed enhance social interactions and use of public space. It also offers insight into the importance of residential preferences, not as much towards walkability but towards general environmental concern. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.U.E.P. Urban and Environmental Planning 2012

Future architectural relics are everywhere, manifest in the ultimately unsustainable patterns many American communities have replicated - endless weed-infested parking lots, decrepit malls, the abandoned Walmart glowering across the street at the even bigger Super Walmart. Gone are many of the small, independently owned businesses that lined main streets in small and medium-sized communities across the country, rendered relics by shopping malls lauding big-name brands or cheap products. Malls, too, may be on their way to becoming relics, due in part to the Internet and The Great Recession. However, architectural relics in the form of big box stores have haunted the American landscape since 1964. These box-like, impossibly large structures continue to be built, only to stand empty several years later when an even larger store model is constructed. The country is facing a new obsolescence of extravagance. No longer can our floundering economy support an infinite boom of boxes. Every new big box is a future relic. While many architectural and cultural historians such as Richard Longstreth, David Smiley, and Neil Harris have dissected the relic of the American shopping mall, few have grappled with the ubiquity of the big box store and how this structural form has departed from a longstanding tradition of retail architectural design. In this thesis, I analyze the factors have contributed to the rise and fall of these creaking behemoths of retail architecture. Ultimately, I contend that big box stores mark a stark departure in architectural theory and practice, and that this departure has manifested in a multitude of cultural, economic, and environmental consequences.

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