Although buildings signify human encroachment of nature, they are necessary systems for human civilization. These systems create a great burden to the environment from their construction phase and throughout their lifetime as they are maintained. Conscious of the need for buildings, homes and neighborhoods as well as our responsibility to the environment, architects Judy and Michael Corbett wrote a book, Designing Sustainable Communities: Learning from Village Homes after building such a community in Davis, CA. It was based on their vision to lead architecture in a sustainable direction.

This paper will investigate how to establish sustainable communities. It will also discuss the social, economical, and environmental issues by looking at both the beneficial and controversial standpoints.

References:

Posted at Mar 29/2005 08:10 PM:
Peter Saeta: As we discussed, this sounds like a great topic and will require some careful selection to treat a few aspects of the model community in depth.

(p.s. I'm a bit surprised at the use of man's in the first sentence. Seems a bit sexist to me.)

Posted at Apr 02/2005 05:09 PM:
Sara Al-Beaini: Prof. Saeta, I reworded my first sentence. I didn't intend it to be judgmental...sorry about that!

Posted at Apr 19/2005 09:01 PM:
Peter Saeta: I have a number of comments, Sara, on the draft. The most important point is that I need you to analyze and think carefully about context, extensions, and consequences.

Your project is about the growth of suburbia, the wasteful car culture that encouraged it and was encouraged by it, and modern ways to think about restructuring new communities. The opening of the paper should really say something about how we got where we are. Human civilization didn't necessarily produce suburbia, nor is it universal throughout the world. European cities grew very differently. My sense of your opening page is that it is not broad enough. The phrase "sociopsychological needs" leaves me cold; paint a more vivid picture of what you are talking about.

The end of the introduction tells me This paper will investigate how to establish a sustainable community by reviewing the principles the Corbett's abided by. Additionally, it will present the winning standpoints and the controversial issues that arise with sustainable communities. I'm not sure what "winning standpoints" are, and I can't yet tell what you envision by "controversial issues." Probably what you really mean by these things will firm up as you write more, but you should come back and improve this language. More importantly, I want you to be a critic, not just an advocate for the Corbetts. Assess their work, critique it, play with it to find its strengths and weaknesses; don't just report it.

Aim to explain concepts and answer questions, not merely narrate their paper or book. For example, the opening of the Layout section reads:

The basis of Village Homes' layout is a circulation system, which is actually used in Radburn, New Jersey, a garden city.

What is the point you're trying to get across here? Are you going to tell us something about the role that layout plays in energy efficiency? in promoting non-polluting transportation? exercise? social relationships? Tell us something about the good' of this aspect of the planning enterprise. Tell me why I should care. Then you can fill in details. Otherwise, it reads like a laundry list.

The outline you show has many good topics; be sure to evaluate their usefulness, potential cost, potential savings, etc. "All homes are well-insulated and incorporate passive solar construction." How much does this cost? How effective is it, etc.

We can talk more about it, but this should give you some ideas.

Posted at Apr 28/2005 01:32 AM:
Sara Al-Beaini: Attached is my draft term paper

SustainableCommunities_sbeaini.doc

Posted at May 05/2005 11:58 AM:
Sara Al-Beaini: This is my FINAL term paper on Sustainable Communities

SustainableCommunities_sbeaini.doc