THE FUTURE OF CITIES Donald Carter, FAIA, FAICP
The Rockefeller Foundation defines resiliency as “the capacity of a city to survive, adapt, and grow, no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience. Shocks are typically considered single event disasters, such as fires, earthquakes, and floods. Stresses are factors that pressure a city on a daily or reoccurring basis, such as chronic food and water shortages, an overtaxed transportation system, endemic violence, or high unemployment.� When Urban Design Associates was formed in 1964, Pittsburgh had a strong economy, a vibrant downtown, and a vision for its future. Twenty years later, in 1984, Pittsburgh was in economic free fall as manufacturing jobs and industries moved to Asia. The downtown was failing, factories and mills were closing, people were leaving the city, and many neighborhoods were in decline. Gloom and despair prevailed. Similar scenarios were being played out in the US in Buffalo, Cleveland, and De-
THE WORK OF URBAN DESIGN ASSOCIATES
troit; and, in Europe in Liverpool, Rotterdam, Ruhr Valley, and Turin. In the 35 years since many of these cities have come back. There are lessons to be learned about resiliency from post-industrial cities that experienced the shock and stress of precipitous economic decline in the 1980s. The lessons can be applied to cities that may be devastated by natural disasters, war, social and ethnic conflicts, as well as those facing the impacts of climate change. Pittsburgh is perhaps the best example of the successful transformation of a post-industrial city. UDA was deeply rooted in the remaking of Pittsburgh, but our practice also encompasses regeneration projects across the U.S. and around the world. Along the way, we uncovered the strengths of post-industrial cities and extracted lessons that are applicable for resilient cities.
Tools For Recovery & Resiliency
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