Graduation Year

2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.Arch.

Degree Granting Department

Architecture and Community Design

Major Professor

Shannon Basset, MAUD

Committee Member

Trent Green, M.Arch.

Committee Member

Mark Weston, M.Arch.

Keywords

Sustainability, Agricultural Urbanism, Community, Pedestrian, Transit

Abstract

Why are modern American cities fundamentally dependant on outsourced resources and dirty power? Why can't modern cities support themselves and their inhabitants without relying on resources from half way across the world? Even within the city itself, community neighborhoods are disconnected and bisected by massive expanses of life endangering highways. Why can't we wake up and open our eyes to the urban reality we are creating for future generations. Future cities must look past immediate gain and focus on long term sustainability rather than compiling L.E.E.D. points or making a selfish profit.

Sustainable Infrastructure is the first step towards freeing the city from its dependant clutches on foreign resources. Transportation of people, power, water, and communications must be steadfast and sustainable if the community is to be the same. Infrastructure as stated here, however is not limited to roads and power plants but consists of ecological functions, communal functions, and individual building supply systems as well.

Self sustaining eco-villages are a feasible alternative to uncontrolled sprawl because they cap growth, nurture community, and deal with utilities and waste responsibly. Power, water, waste, and food must be generated responsibly and sustained as much as possible by the community itself and give back to the system what it can to further future growth responsibly.

The public right of way of the I-4 corridor will be utilized for housing a self sustaining transport system for people and utilities that can reconnect cities and help supply their individual systems while taking advantage of cities strengths and weaknesses through possible utility sharing. The I-4 corridor runs East-West across the state of Florida and connects both coastlines through Tampa, Orlando, and Daytona.

Orlampa lies in the near center of Tampa and Orlando and has solar, agricultural, and ground water harvesting potentials that make it the ideal site for new self sustaining communities and a central station providing responsible access for the proposed U.S.F. polytechnic campus. These self sustaining eco-villages will sprout off the high speed rail line without interrupting direct major city transport.

A variety of themed sub cities connected via sustainable transit that are capped at responsible horizontal sprawl and grown vertically will be possible while allowing for ecological corridors and public park spaces between and linking developments.

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