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Multiple Choice 1. Ebenezer Howard believed that the city lacked a. opportunity. b. entertainment. c. a sense of freedom. d. diversity. Answer: c. a sense of freedom. 2. Early planning efforts were directed at all of the following EXCEPT a. to glorify those in power. b. to conserve natural resources. c. to reflect cultural values. d. to solve specific problems. Answer: b. to conserve natural resources. 3. City planning in the industrial era was driven primarily by a. profit. b. tradition. c. politics. d. a concern for the masses. Answer: a. profit. 4. The sociological concept of a ___________ deals with the large-scale, holistic planning of a mixed-use, self-sufficient community. a. greenway b. communal city c. new town d. housing community Answer: c. new town 5. New Towns have been criticized for being a. too small. b. too low density. c. inflexible. d. All of the above Answer: d. All of the above 6. Government planning of new towns is absent for the most part in a. Britain. b. United States. c. France. d. Brazil. Answer: b. United States. 7. The new town in the United States that has been most successful in creating racial and social class integration is a. Reston, Virginia. b. Radburn, New Jersey. c. Columbia, Maryland. d. Irvine, California. Answer: c. Columbia, Maryland. 8. Celebration, Florida, is notable for a. its city plan, which calls for homes to re-create the atmosphere of the pre-World War II small town. b. a mixture of both expensive and low-cost housing. c. a model school given a financial boost from the Walt Disney Company. d. All of the above Answer: d. All of the above 9. The utopian planner most associated with “arcologies” is a. Howard. b. Le Corbusier. c. Soleri. d. Wright. Answer: c. Soleri. 10. In Frank Lloyd Wright’s ideal world, a. homes could be constructed in an organic way. b. virtually equal densities would be found throughout the city. c. cars would be abolished. d. a minimal amount of land would be used. Answer: a. homes could be constructed in an organic way. 11. The utopian visionaries share all of the following features EXCEPT a. high-population densities. b. financial impracticality. c. sociological naiveté. d. rigidity in their visions. Answer: a. high-population densities. 12. Heckscher emphasizes which of the following as being important to urban life? a. squares b. artwork c. architecture d. All of the above Answer: d. All of the above 13. Toronto, Ontario, is notable for a. efficient metropolitan planning. b. modern and postmodern planning phases. c. its “Official Plan” for the new millennium. d. All of the above Answer: d. All of the above 14. All of the following are true about city planning EXCEPT a. changing a city’s physical form does not automatically reshape social life. b. planners should be allowed to control all aspects of how cities are built. c. planning always takes place within a framework of economic and political realities. d. the goals of the planning experiments of the last century have not been met. Answer: b. planners should be allowed to control all aspects of how cities are built. True/False 15. Ebenezer Howard sought a marriage of town and country. Answer: True 16. Urban planning began with Ebenezer Howard. Answer: False 17. Early British new towns were anti-growth. Answer: True 18. French new towns were designed as “bedroom communities.” Answer: False 19. In Canberra, Australia, all business is centrally located for reasons of transportation efficiency. Answer: False 20. Brasilia is a model city in Latin America. Answer: False 21. The largest planned community in North America is Irvine. Answer: True 22. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the principal challenge of rebuilding the city of New Orleans is to avoid piecemeal efforts and to overcome the segregation and poverty problems that existed previously. Answer: True 23. Le Corbusier sought to build tall skyscrapers surrounded by huge open spaces. Answer: True 24. Soleri continued to develop Wright’s Broadacre City utopia. Answer: False 25. Jane Jacobs argues for large-scale citywide planning to improve a city’s diversity. Answer: False 26. Heckscher argues that spatial organization of cities reflects deep cultural values. Answer: True 27. The area that was to become the city of Toronto was first established as a trading post in the 17th century. Answer: True 28. Essentially, Toronto functions as a single-tiered government. Answer: False Essay/Discussion 29. Discuss the successes and failures of New Towns in Europe, Australia, Brazil, and the United States. Answer: New Towns have been implemented in various countries as a way to manage urban growth and create sustainable communities. Here is a brief overview of the successes and failures of New Towns in Europe, Australia, Brazil, and the United States: Europe: • Successes: European New Towns like Milton Keynes in the UK and Vauban in Germany have been successful in creating well-planned, sustainable communities with high-quality infrastructure, public spaces, and housing. • Failures: Some European New Towns have faced challenges such as social segregation, lack of economic diversity, and limited access to services and amenities, leading to criticism of their planning and design. Australia: • Successes: Australian New Towns like Canberra and Canberra's suburb of Woden have been successful in creating livable, well-connected communities with access to amenities, employment, and public transport. • Failures: Some Australian New Towns have faced challenges such as over-reliance on car transport, lack of affordable housing, and limited community facilities, leading to issues of social isolation and urban sprawl. Brazil: • Successes: Brazilian New Towns like Brasília have been successful in creating modern, planned cities with well-designed infrastructure and public spaces. • Failures: Some Brazilian New Towns have faced challenges such as social inequality, inadequate public services, and environmental degradation, leading to criticism of their planning and implementation. United States: • Successes: American New Towns like Reston in Virginia and Columbia in Maryland have been successful in creating vibrant, mixed-use communities with a strong sense of identity and community. • Failures: Some American New Towns have faced challenges such as suburban sprawl, lack of public transport, and social isolation, leading to criticism of their impact on urban development patterns. Overall, the successes and failures of New Towns vary depending on factors such as planning, design, governance, and local context. While some New Towns have been successful in creating sustainable, livable communities, others have faced challenges that highlight the importance of effective planning and implementation strategies. 30. What are the problems that New Towns visionaries see with modern cities? Answer: Visionaries advocating for New Towns often see several problems with modern cities, including: 1. Urban Sprawl: Modern cities often suffer from unplanned expansion, leading to inefficient land use, increased reliance on cars, and environmental degradation. 2. Lack of Community: Many modern cities are criticized for lacking a sense of community, with residents feeling disconnected from their neighbors and local environment. 3. Infrastructure Challenges: Aging infrastructure in many modern cities can lead to issues such as traffic congestion, inadequate public transport, and limited access to essential services. 4. Social Inequality: Modern cities often have high levels of social inequality, with disparities in access to housing, education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. 5. Environmental Degradation: The rapid growth of modern cities can lead to environmental problems such as air and water pollution, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity. 6. Economic Sustainability: Some modern cities struggle with economic sustainability, facing challenges such as unemployment, poverty, and unsustainable growth patterns. 7. Quality of Life: Visionaries argue that modern cities can sometimes prioritize economic development over the quality of life for residents, leading to issues such as stress, overcrowding, and lack of green spaces. In response to these problems, advocates for New Towns propose creating planned communities that address these issues through thoughtful urban design, sustainable development practices, and a focus on community building. 31. Critique the New Towns movement and the utopian visions of Le Corbusier, Wright, and Soleri. Answer: The New Towns movement and the utopian visions of architects such as Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Paolo Soleri have been subject to critique for various reasons: 1. Lack of Human Scale: Critics argue that the designs of New Towns and utopian cities often fail to consider the human scale, resulting in environments that feel alienating and disconnected from the needs of individuals and communities. 2. Social Engineering: Some critics view the New Towns movement and utopian visions as attempts at social engineering, imposing a particular vision of society onto residents without considering their diverse needs and preferences. 3. Environmental Impact: The large-scale, centralized nature of many New Towns and utopian cities can have significant environmental impacts, including habitat destruction, resource depletion, and increased carbon emissions. 4. Economic Viability: Critics question the economic viability of many New Towns and utopian cities, arguing that the high costs of construction and maintenance may not be sustainable in the long term. 5. Cultural Homogenization: The emphasis on modernist aesthetics and standardized planning principles in New Towns and utopian visions has been criticized for promoting cultural homogenization and erasing local identity and diversity. 6. Failure to Adapt: Some New Towns and utopian cities have been criticized for failing to adapt to changing social, economic, and environmental conditions, leading to abandonment or decay over time. Despite these critiques, the New Towns movement and the utopian visions of architects like Le Corbusier, Wright, and Soleri have also inspired positive change in urban planning and design, influencing ideas about sustainability, community, and quality of life in cities around the world. 32. Compare and contrast the utopian visions of Le Corbusier, Wright, and Soleri. Answer: Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Paolo Soleri were all influential architects and urban planners who had utopian visions for the future of cities, but their approaches and ideas differed in significant ways: Le Corbusier: • Vision: Le Corbusier envisioned a modernist utopia characterized by tall, concrete skyscrapers surrounded by green space, known as the "Ville Radieuse" or Radiant City. He believed in the separation of functions, with distinct zones for living, working, and recreation. • Architecture: Le Corbusier's architecture was characterized by geometric forms, pilotis (columns) to elevate buildings, and open floor plans. He emphasized functionality and efficiency in design. • Influence: Le Corbusier's ideas had a significant impact on urban planning and architecture, influencing the design of many cities and buildings around the world. Frank Lloyd Wright: • Vision: Wright's vision was centered around organic architecture, which sought to harmonize human habitation with the natural environment. He believed in creating decentralized, organic communities that were in harmony with nature. • Architecture: Wright's architecture emphasized natural materials, open floor plans, and integration with the surrounding landscape. He often used the term "Usonia" to describe his vision of an idealized American landscape. • Influence: Wright's ideas had a lasting impact on architecture and urban planning, particularly in his emphasis on organic, sustainable design principles. Paolo Soleri: • Vision: Soleri's vision was focused on the concept of arcology, which combines architecture and ecology to create self-sustaining, densely populated urban environments. He believed in the need for cities to evolve into more sustainable, compact forms. • Architecture: Soleri's architecture featured large, compact structures that integrated living spaces, workspaces, and green areas. He emphasized the use of passive solar design and renewable energy sources. • Influence: Although Soleri's ideas have not been widely implemented, they have inspired discussions about sustainable urban development and the need for cities to address environmental challenges. In summary, while Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Paolo Soleri all had utopian visions for the future of cities, their approaches differed in terms of their architectural styles, urban planning principles, and ideas about the relationship between humans, nature, and the built environment. 33. How do economics, politics, and values make the city planner’s job more difficult? Answer: Economics, politics, and values can all significantly impact the job of a city planner, making it more challenging in several ways: 1. Economics: • Limited Resources: City planners often have to work within budget constraints, which can limit the scope of projects and the implementation of desired plans. • Economic Development Goals: Balancing economic development goals with social and environmental concerns can be challenging, as planners strive to create vibrant, economically sustainable cities without sacrificing other important aspects. • Public and Private Sector Interests: City planners must navigate the interests of both public and private sectors, which can sometimes conflict, especially regarding issues such as land use and development. 2. Politics: • Political Priorities: City planning decisions are often influenced by political priorities, which can change over time and impact the direction of urban development. • Bureaucratic Processes: The bureaucratic nature of government can slow down decision-making and implementation of plans, leading to delays and inefficiencies. • Stakeholder Engagement: City planners must engage with various stakeholders, including politicians, community groups, and businesses, which can involve navigating competing interests and viewpoints. 3. Values: • Diverse Values: Cities are home to diverse populations with varying values and priorities, making it challenging to create plans that are inclusive and reflective of the needs of all residents. • Cultural Considerations: City planners must consider the cultural heritage and identity of a city, balancing the preservation of cultural assets with the need for modernization and development. • Ethical Considerations: Planners must navigate ethical considerations, such as ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities, and addressing issues of social justice and environmental sustainability. Overall, economics, politics, and values all play significant roles in shaping the work of city planners, adding complexity to the task of creating and implementing effective urban plans that meet the needs of a diverse and dynamic population. Test Bank for Cities and Urban Life Plus John J. Macionis, Vincent N. Parrillo 9780205902583, 9780205206377,9780133869804
