I was struck by how your ideas for a Christian approach are very similar to current ideas in planning practice and even Government policy in the UK. Pedestrian-friendly environments and mixed use developments, for example, are positively encouraged. Creating shared space in the home is an interesting one, more the province of housebuilders who will follow consumer demand rather than something planners can influence.

On front yards, I’d agree there’s definitely a climatic element there. But a big difference between the US and UK is of course that the UK is much smaller, space is limited (and therefore expensive), and that is reflected in smaller homes and higher densities.

I agree absolutely that while planning can encourage community, it can’t create it. It works best by working with the grain of culture than against it, so I’m not sure we’ll see a front yard culture in the UK anytime some. Radical urban ideas in the past haven’t always worked, even with the best of intentions (remember tower blocks?). We can redeem the city, but we need redeemed people to live in it.

I will be interested to watch the series and see how the kind of principles you’ve outlined Tim will or will not be reflected in the projects they undertake.

I was going to wait until Sunday to discuss this in person but I couldn’t let that particular typo go ignored.

This is similar arguments that the great architectural minds of the past 50+ years have been “preaching”. Essentially, architecture can change people. I realize your point was more about opportunity for fellowship and community (“Architecture and town planning cannot of themselves create community. But they can facilitate the flourishing of community or they can impede community.”) but one question people seem to never ask is “why don’t they?”

Why don’t people seek out the neighborhoods that foster community? Most of my brothers and sisters (like David, Drew, etc) look at their home as a place for fellowship and gathering. When we were looking for a home, our budget limited us to a condo. one of our top priorities was a place that offered lots of guest parking – because we wanted to gather.

But there’s something to be said for the solitude. One, we need a time and place for meditation. If we’re constantly in the thick of it, quiet study becomes difficult. And, much like the “problem of evil”, without solitude, we wouldn’t miss community as much.

I fear I may be rambling now and that I’m not reacting to you as much to my many years of architecture schooling.

Should Christians seek community? yes. Does architecture and urban planning prevent that? no, but it does not encourage christian/non-christian interaction. And maybe that was your point all along.

We have people eating with us 2-3 times a week. Hospitality is a Biblical value regardless of the culture we live in. Christians make culture, not respond or submit to culture.

Tim

The yards: you are right that the opportunity is there, but practically not much interaction goes on in neighborhoods. People are usually gone from the neighborhood shopping or playing organized sports. The city is often better for this–smaller, closer.

Some areas are trying to build around a “central district.” I hope it works.

Les
http://reformationfaithtoday.com/

A lot of American pop culture seems to reflect a yearning for community, though–small-town America is still an ideal.