New Urbanists and Seaside

     Suburbia, a sector of the United States dedicated to neighborhoods of closely built "cookie cutter" houses. Architecture, consistently and cohesively designed. Yards, perfectly green and manicured. Families, middle-class individuals all trying to outdo their neighbors. This concept of suburbia pushes people out of the city to their secluded neighborhoods where they are isolated from stores and city/town community events. There is a large disconnect from the rest of the world and even those who live in the same subdivision or cul-de-sac. 

    Sprawl is another term closely associated with suburbia and the subdivision. More of the landscape is covered in roads connecting large, spread-out neighborhoods to one another. Population density across the land is low compared to population density in the city, and many believe that to be a waste of land. Development and architecture had become car-centric. 

    In the 1980s, a new theory of urban development and planning gained momentum as it combated urban sprawl and car-centric design: New Urbanism. New Urbanism seeks to create communities focused on creating a place of human connection, sustainability, and social vibrance through challenging density zoning laws placing dwellings closer to one another. New Urbanism also encourages the design of a complete community by integrating mixed-use buildings, walkability, public transportation, retail locations, and shared outdoor community spaces. 

    New Urbanism creates communities where people can live, work, and play all in the close vicinity of the development. It reverts back to how Old World civilizations were built for the scale of a walking person. New Urbanist developments are significantly more organized than these Old World cities and communities They draw inspiration from the proximity of spaces. This encourages people to leave their cars at home and walk or use public transportation to commute. 

    When individuals are given the opportunity to walk to work, they can develop a better respect and connection to their own community. They are forced to slow down and process the world around them at a slower speed.  Respect for the community is how a rich community spirit comes to fruition. 

    Seaside Florida is a well-known and popular New Urbanist Community. With the character of an old southern town in mind, Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk designed 350 dwellings centered around an 80-acre beach. Pastel-colored cottages overlook pedestrian-friendly streets. The vibrant town center is the life of Seaside. The community has a large tourism economy that facilitates visitors wanting to experience the New Urbanist lifestyle (whether they know it or not). 

Seaside Aerial Photo

SoWal Staff Offering news. “The Story of Seaside, Florida.” SoWal.com, December 18, 2022. https://sowal.com/story/the-story-of-seaside-florida.

Seaside's Master Plan by Duany and Plater-Zyberk

How Seaside Helped Revive Urban Design | Architect magazine. Accessed November 08, 2023. https://www.architectmagazine.com/design/urbanism-planning/how-seaside-helped-revive-urban-design_o.

    New Urbanism allows us to reshape neighborhoods in the United States. It also is a step in the right direction for the next generations in teaching a better respect for the environment, built and natural. New Urbanist developments help improve the quality of life of those who live in and around them.