Redefining Suburban Peripheries

Abstract

The perception of a city as a defined, communal entity is becoming rapidly less apparent every day. New developments result from business owners and developers working to achieve their primary motive which is profit. This motive is driving suburban development into a spreading pattern that is uncarefully planned and not designed thoughtfully to embrace humans. Rather it is an exercise of acquiring the most affordable land, and building the most affordable facility that will enable respective businesses to reap a profit. Victimized by this reality is not just the communal integrity of the original city, but also the value of location, architecture, and human intimacy. The population in America has become dependent on automobiles as their primary source of mobility, and this has further allowed suburban outgrowth issues to reach this state of blended extremes. Despite the problematic cases that the suburbs have presented over the past quarter century, there still remains opportunity to disrupt this current outgrowth pattern, and begin applying design and planning principles to the areas that more closely resemble a dense, urban environment. With a mixed use collection of carefully designed spaces, and an increase in density, it is possible to alter the standard behavior of present and future suburban function.