Leon Krier and New Urbanism

UrbDP 450

Christine Bae

Oct 11, 2007

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Andres Duany,AIA

NU Project: Kentland, MD

Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, AIA

NU project: Seaside, FL

Miami based firm “Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company”

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Leon Krier: Influential Figure in NU• "Léon Krier is one of the most important

influences on the principles espoused by the charter for the New Urbanism. For those who don't know, Krier is a European architect who has spent a lifetime writing, drawing, lecturing, and teaching. He has designed a number of noteworthy plans for European cities, including for Poundbury, whose developer is the Prince of Wales -- who might be called a New Urbanist. I would highly recommend Krier's books, including 'Architecture, Choice or Fate'."

Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk

http://zakuski.math.utsa.edu/krier/

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Leon Krier: Influential Figure in NU

• DUANY: "One day I went to a lecture by Leon Krier, the man who designed the English model town of Poundbury for the Prince of Wales. Krier gave a powerful talk about traditional urbanism, and after a couple of weeks of real agony and crisis I realized I couldn't go on designing these fashionable tall buildings, which were fascinating visually, but didn't produce any healthy urban effect. They wouldn't affect society in a positive way. The prospect of instead creating traditional communities where our plans could actually make someone's daily life better really excited me. Krier introduced me to the idea of looking at people first, and to the power of physical design to change the social life of a community. And so, in a year or so my wife and I left the firm and went off to do something very different."

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Leon Krier• Born in Luxembourg in 1946.

• Studied Architecture at the University of Stuttgart.

• Professor of Architecture and Town Planning, Architectural Association and Royal College of Arts, London, 1974-1976.

• Professor of Architecture, Princeton University, 1977.

• Jefferson Professor, University of Virginia, 1982.

• Consultant to His Royal Highness, Charles, the Prince of Wales, since 1988.

• Davenport Professor, Yale University, 1990-1991.

• Eero Saarinen Professor, Yale University, 2002.

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Leon Krier

• “I am an architect, because I don’t build.”• The Intellectual Godfather of New Urbanism• Anti-modernist• Anti-skyscraper (cf. Le Corbusier)• Anti-zoning• Anti-American Cities• Anti-Industrial Cities

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Leon Krier: NU

• “New Urbanism is not utopian and does not impose social and architectural collectivism. New Urbanism is not utopian and does not impose social master plans. Instead, it allows the infinite variety of human talent and ambition to build harmonious and pleasing environments. It channels competitive forces to flourish as good neighbors while pursuing their own self-interest. The very great challenge of the future, however, will be the urbanization of suburbia, the redevelopment of sprawl.”

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Leon Krier: NU

• “The theoretical models are ready, but their application is slow. What is now already certain is that even the most soulless dumps on earth can…be turned around to become places of beauty and human thriving.”

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Krier’s buildings

• http://zakuski.math.utsa.edu/krier/BUILDINGS/krierbuildings.html

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The Reconstruction of the European City

• http://zakuski.math.utsa.edu/krier/

• http://zakuski.math.utsa.edu/krier/reconstruction.html

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Charter of New Urbanism

• http://www.cnu.org/charter• Guiding principles for policy,

planning & development practice:– Metropolis, city, town– Neighborhood, district, corridor– Block, street, building

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War on Cul-de-Sacs!!

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Calthorpe, Next American Metropolis

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Isolated Schools (from Dr. R. Jackson)

Credit: Constance E. Beaumant, NTHP

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Smart Schools (From Dr. R. Jackson)

Credit: Hummel Architects, Boise, IDCredit: Constance E. Beaumant, NTHP

Credit: Manitoivic Public School District

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CNU & selective NU websites

• Congress for the New Urbanism: http://www.cnu.org

• Kentlands, MD: http://kentlandsusa.com/kentlands/community.php

• Seaside, FL: http://www.seasidefl.com/default.asp

• Orenco Station, OR: http://www.orencostation.net/

• Northwest Landing, WA: http://www.nwlanding.com/

• Issaquah Highlands, WA: http://www.issaquahhighlands.com/