Edinburgh 2.0

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 07 Mar 2009, 23:16

Here is your opportunity to design a new city, starting from scratch. The old Edinburgh has been flattened by a meteor strike and the site has been cleared. All natural features are preserved. Anything goes. It could be, for example, an independent state. Your task is to create a city for half a million inhabitants. We need a political system, housing, utilities, schools, hospitals, employment opportunities, communications, transport, civic amenities etc. Let's not worry about the cost at this stage. Where do you start?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 07 Mar 2009, 23:22

I'm already thinking car-free.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 07 Mar 2009, 23:26

Bob Jefferson wrote:The old Edinburgh has been flattened by a meteor strike and the site has been cleared.

How the heck did I miss that?

Post by **wangi** » 08 Mar 2009, 16:46

An existing city hasn't hampered people in the past... Next time you're in the library have a look at the 1949 "A civic survey and plan for Edinburgh". It's an approx A3 size book down at the bottom of the local history section.

Lots of interesting maps and proposals... But ouch if they had seen it through. Of course small bits of it did see the light of day.

Its plans for Portobello were pretty ambitious too -- something for the gallery on POL?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 08 Mar 2009, 16:49

wangi wrote: Its plans for Portobello were pretty ambitious too -- something for the gallery on POL?

Was that the survey that wanted to knock down all the buildings between the High Street and the beach?

Post by **wangi** » 08 Mar 2009, 16:57

Not from the 1949 plan, but a reasonable illustration of some of the ideas in that plan (for example it has the same A1 "Milton Road Bypass" or "East Approach Road" by then). Actually much less ambitious than the 1949 plan...

http://talkporty.org/hosted/eirr/edinbu ... g-road.jpg

(Credit to Paul Smith for the map)

Seeing that plan and the 1949 plans really does help understand why some gaps sites have been like that for years and only recently have been built on...

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Mar 2009, 17:16

Yes, a gallery of ideas for Portobello that (in many cases, thankfully) never got off the ground would be interesting.

What I had in mind for this experiment however was a blank canvas. No need to make allowances or compromises.

I've already suggested a car-free city, but how realistic is that? What about visitors to the city? What about goods deliveries, essential services, police, ambulance, fire brigade?

What form of public transport would you put in place?

I think I'm starting from the centre and building out. The castle has been reduced to an attractive ruin and it will form the centrepiece of Europe's largest and most beautiful public gardens.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 08 Mar 2009, 17:18

Bob Jefferson wrote:I've already suggested a car-free city, but how realistic is that? What about visitors to the city? What about goods deliveries, essential services, police, ambulance, fire brigade?

I see the Polis out on mountain bikes alot in the area I work but I think the fire brigade might struggle with pedal power only....ROFL

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 08 Mar 2009, 19:47

No. 1 priority; an elevated monorail.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Mar 2009, 20:08

Are you inspired by any particular example? Is this your public transport system or are there additional elements?

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 08 Mar 2009, 20:13

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3xGtjhZ ... re=related

Hmm New Towns
Livingston, Cumbernauld ,Glenrothes...

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Mar 2009, 20:18

SoupDragon wrote:Hmm New Towns
Livingston, Cumbernauld ,Glenrothes...

It's good to have examples of what to avoid.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 08 Mar 2009, 20:21

seanie wrote:No. 1 priority; an elevated monorail.

With you on that. I loved Vancouver's Sky Train .

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 08 Mar 2009, 20:37

Bob Jefferson wrote:Are you inspired by any particular example?

Yes

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 08 Mar 2009, 20:48

seanie wrote:No. 1 priority; an elevated monorail.

Make sure you dont get Lyle Lanley in to design & build it. It was disasterous in North Haverbrook.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Mar 2009, 20:54

Underground trains, trams, trolley-buses?

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 08 Mar 2009, 21:04

Not possible in practice.... but... Instead of wheelie bins & recycling bins Id have a system of sucking tubes. A tube for each type of refuse. It then gets sucked under the streets to some kind of processing plant. Some sort of inlet system at the end of every street.

Think of the fuel saved as you would no longer need an army of bin lorrys.

You get smaller systems in some blocks of flats now. Gone are the days of the plain old refuse chute.

Oh yeah, and id ensure only the least amount of street clutter is used.

Only the minimum requirment for street lighting columns, sign posts etc; Shared posts wherever posted.

And

Jolly nice pavements in residential areas. The ones like they have trees & grass. Like the ones they have in Wafefield Avenue.

Wait, one final suggestion from me building wise.

No real comment on the style of buildings but they would be built to the highest of green standards (although not practical in practice).

Post by **wangi** » 08 Mar 2009, 21:34

Marya wrote:Was that the survey that wanted to knock down all the buildings between the High Street and the beach?

I guess pretty much... Kings Rd sweeps round and continues east... Lots of parking and hotels betwene the High St and Prom... Land reclaimed from the Forth at the Joppa end of the beach...

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 08 Mar 2009, 22:26

I think that the absolute first thing you would have to do is form some sort of protest group......

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Mar 2009, 22:32

Marya wrote:Was that the survey that wanted to knock down all the buildings between the High Street and the beach?

They got as far as demolishing Marlborough Mansions.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Mar 2009, 22:49

Do we have to bury services underground? Could we at least have a dedicated channel for gas, electricity, water, communications that can be accessed without disruption to other road users?

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 08 Mar 2009, 23:26

A nice big High School.

Perhaps not too far from the sea....

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 09 Mar 2009, 00:38

Epykat wrote:I think that the absolute first thing you would have to do is form some sort of protest group......

TAST -Tubes Against Sucking Tubes

GASSET- Go And Suck Someone Else's Tube

FAST- Force Against Sucking Tubes

Franck · Post by **Franck** » 09 Mar 2009, 11:34

All this chat about integrated transportation systems/car free areas are missing the point.
There is only one sensible environmentally aware solution to our needs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAhAjQVWlew

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 09 Mar 2009, 13:09

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 09 Mar 2009, 13:48

Brill idea Franc but you have forgotten about the Portobello Rallies Against Tall Structures action group.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 09 Mar 2009, 23:52

The pro group?

Tubes
Ifiltrate
Edinburgh

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

Edinburgh 2.0

Edinburgh 2.0

Re: Edinburgh 2.0