Jolma Architects

I really enjoyed this article….and all of the great visuals. Looking @ the very first graphic…..I’m just wondering “why” the bike path isn’t curved throughout? I can see some slight turns in the bike path with “angles”…….just feel “curves” would work best for biking.

Hello Angus…….That’s all well and good; However, part of the role of the Landscape Architect on EVERY design project is to give good “guidance” to the client. I would have simply explained to the neighborhood committee….that people walking, jogging and biking move more easily through a space…..when the pathways are “curved”. I’m all for pleasing the clients on a given project….but, in this case, IMO, the Landscape Architect’s dropped the ball. The “curved” solution is much more “logical”.

Really, the Earth is expected to have almost 10 Billion People by the year 2050??? According to AOC in the U.S. House of Representatives here in the U.S……if we don’t solve the problem of “CLIMATE CHANGE”…..there will be ZERO people on this Planet.
So, if she’s correct, that invalidates your article.

I’m really happy for “Tampere, Finland”. If the United States did NOT provide over $50 Billion in Foreign Aid to so many Nations around the World……..just maybe, the U.S. could spend more of our GDP towards our infrastructure and internal problems. The U.S. even provides Foreign Aid to China, Russia & Cuba. I’m wondering if Finland provides ANY financial assistance to other Nations???

The U.S. Foreign Aid includes a wide variety of assistance….financial, military protection, trade, humanitarian aid and more.

I just read an article that stated the U.S. just signed a “Military Pact” with Finland…..to provide Finland with any necessary Military support they may need…..as Finland has been growing concerned about Russia. So, there are MORE of our U.S. Tax Dollars going to a foreign Nation…..finances that we could really use for OUR Nation.

Many Nations….including Finland would not fair so well without the assistance of the United States!

J. Robert (Bob) Wainner

Hi Bob,
Thanks for your comment. The investment has come from a mixture of local and international business and the local city council, so not directly national. We’re not economists, so we cannot comment directly on foreign aid, but some quick googling found that as a % of GDP the US gives a large amount (total as GDP 1.67% in 2013). As a percentage of gros national income, Finland gives 0.55% and the US 0.19% of their respective incomes (OECD, 2013: https://www.oecd.org/dac/stats/documentupload/ODA%202013%20Tables%20and%20Charts%20En.pdf).

And who’s paying for this – China?

Great summary, and this is an excellent topic for LA’s to be engaged in. With licensure constantly under attack right now anything that focuses on Health, Welfare, and Safety is huge. Good stuff.

Another Liberal “design concept”. I saw nothing about the COSTS involved to create new urban city life. This article, to me, advocates we build more cities like HONG KONG, CHINA, where people are literally living on top of each other in 400 to 500 sq. ft. apartments. No thanks. I have lived in at least a dozen different Apartment Communities in the U.S….a couple were actually very nice, but the best was in the North Dallas area and it cost me $1,600.00 per month (plus, electricity, cable TV, etc.)…and it wasn’t downtown, it was in the suburbs. I think being creative and innovative is a positive thing….but sorry, this article isn’t very sensible to me.

Just once…………….I’d really like to see a “Conservative, realistic” approach to design solutions where Landscape Architects could have a direct and positive impact.

J. Robert (Bob) Wainner

Hi Bob,

Thank you for your comments. When it comes to costs it can be very difficult to compare true like for like internationally, not to mention the issue of the projects representing different types of future housing from block design to residential and mixed-use building right down to single-family dwellings. I’m not sure what value costs would really add to the article.

Perhaps you could write that article about a conservative approach to design solutions that has a positive impact on the issues raised. I would be interested in reading it.

Best regards,
Ashley

I enjoyed and appreciated this article. But, while I have not been involved in designing any exceptionally large (Billion dollar projects or resorts)…I have designed (or assisted in the designing) of close to 600 various types of projects during my career. And, I believe that “my approach” to Landscape Architect has always been a mirror image of this Author’s approach….for most of the 40 years I have been practicing Landscape Architecture. Every Landscape Architect should approach all of their design projects as this Author has so elegantly described!

Sincerely,

J. Robert (Bob) Wainner Plano, Texas

Thank you for this very interesting article.
Although they are useful, I see Pocket Parks more as a cruel defect of public authorities (and private) investment in large public spaces.
Better Pocket Parks than nothing at all but let’s not forget that it’s a patch on a lack of commitment and decision-making.

While I “still” enjoy driving my BMW Z3 convertible sports car…..I really don’t drive around much since I’ve been retired now for a couple of years. BUT, I agree with almost everything written in this article.

I believe walkable cities (that also include bicycles) is a good step in the right direction for America.

A very good “case in point” is if you take a good look at what has been going on in CHINA. Many citizens in China “used” to walk or ride bikes everywhere……then, their economy began to BOOOOOM, big time. So, more and more people began buying and driving cars….instead of walking and biking. The results are terrible!!! The air pollution in China and other SE Asian Nations is so bad, the air is barely breathable. My wife and I watch Asian Dramas on Netflix…and you can see in almost every TV Drama…how terrible the air quality is. I mean, you can SEE how bad it is over there.

I have to admit though, I am “against” the U.S. joining the Paris Agreement…..that was created to solve air and water pollution around the World. IMO, every Nation should be responsible for the own CO2 and water pollution problems……..U.S. taxpayers should NOT be responsible for paying for ANY foreign Nations’ air pollution or water quality problems. We can maybe help “educate” them on HOW to resolve their problems. Even though President Trump has relaxed many of former President Obama’s EPA regulations, I still believe that the U.S. is far ahead of a majority of the World’s nations on cleaning up our own environmental problems.

Good Article!

J. Robert (Bob) Wainner

Hi Bob,

Many thanks for your considered thoughts and comments. Thank you for highlighting China. You make an interesting point. We’re glad you liked the article.
Kind reagrds

As a matter of fact, i really like the way the principles governing the planning and implementation for a “walkable city” been put forward in this article. Commendable, but wish this principles and effort could be adopted by various cities in Asian cities, in particular Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. I believe a concerted urge and public voices of the urbanites and local authority would make happen effectively.