How would it feel like living in a place where everything you need is just a few steps away? You need not wake up so early in the morning to get to work. You could have breakfast with your loved ones. Your kids may opt to bike to school. You have a choice of a dozen dishes, or the time to cook one yourself. You can spend more time with your kids and avoid the stress of commuting. You even have time to read a good book or go home for lunch on a weekday!
Due to the high cost of land, people are forced to live farther and farther away from the city centers, thereby contributing to traffic congestion, lack of parking space, pollution, etc. But should it remain this way?
Addressing this dilemma is the greatest factor in shaping the places in which we live. In a fast-paced world, needs are continuously being created and must be met. More affordable and logical choices are being offered to the homemakers for them to achieve a healthier quality of personal and family life.
This is called the new urbanism.
There is now a rise in mixed-use development wherein commercial, business, entertainment, learning and health institutions, as well as places of worship, are intertwined with the residential areas. Walking and the pedestrian are given more importance than ever before. A healthy lifestyle is being promoted through gyms, areas for sports, open spaces, and a “walk-able” pollution free environment. One can now step out of one’s home to shop, dine, study, worship, or even work – all within a reasonable distance.
This is now the objective of many developers. And with the developments in information and communication, establishing a home office and subscribing to multiple options in entertainment and learning, have never been easier.
Some real estate developments have gone to the extent of having all the conveniences of community living literally beneath your own private residential space. However, great care is taken that one’s privacy and comfort is still assured.
Some housing developments have adopted the concept of having totally separate vehicular and pedestrian accesses. The main entrance of the house is in front while the garage and service entrance are found at the rear.
In newer developments, the concept of the work place or business space juxtaposed to the residence has again become acceptable. This idea is nothing new, however. It is typical for our Filipino -Chinese community in Binondo, where you find the work place at the lower level and the family home directly above it.
How far this revolution in city living will go no one can tell. But the response from developers has been to seek the convenience and comfort of the increasingly sophisticated urban dweller. Where time is as precious as lucre, opportunities for working and relaxing, business and pleasure, health and wealth, must be equally accessible. Giving the homeowner enough time to do all these is the battle cry of New Urbanism.
No comments:
Post a Comment