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Bounded Metropolis?

japhyrider

I'm looking for examples of cities that have a clearly defined boundary (phyiscal or legal or combination of both) between the urbanized area and the surrounding agricultural and natural environment.

Portland, Oregon comes to mind. Anybody have other suggestions?

 
Oct 15, 04 12:17 am
knites

yes, this comes to mind, although may not be what you expected.
Shibam, Yemen.

Oct 15, 04 1:41 am  · 
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Ms Beary

Manhattan is somewhat an example. Long Island used to be agricultural. Manhattan's boundaries are still what part of what makes it awesome. You could study Manhattan as bounded by the rivers.

Oct 15, 04 8:37 am  · 
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rutger

Hong Kong

Oct 15, 04 8:55 am  · 
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mm

Do you want historic or contemporary examples?

Contemporary examples are much harder to find, obviously. But many Chinese cities have a a sharp distinction between urban and rural areas, largely through government policy. (Within the past few years, American-style sprawl has overtaken the countryside.)

Oct 15, 04 10:12 am  · 
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chico

boulder, co

Oct 15, 04 11:42 am  · 
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silverlake

san francisco, like manhattan, is bound by water. in both cases they end up being more urban (taller, denser...) because they are land-locked.

Oct 15, 04 1:12 pm  · 
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Appleseed

Eugene, OR as well has a legal UGB that separates the sprawl from farm land.

Oct 15, 04 5:35 pm  · 
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rutger

Venice, Italy
is a nice example...okay it's not a metropolis, but it does have a clearly defined boundary...and its definately not a punishment to study Venice.

Oct 17, 04 11:34 am  · 
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Dazed and Confused

Medellin, Juneau, Cairo, S. Lake Tahoe

Oct 17, 04 5:38 pm  · 
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abracadabra

related subject:
we've proposed this condition for california central valley towns and cities where it would put a brake on the loss of agricultural land. it was called central valley compitition, which, was supposed to bring in some ideas for forty years from now. depletion of farm land is a huge problem in central valley and residential development is out of control.we did not win the competition. but a project with a downtown shopping district renewal with banners, won (too bad, always watch who is behind the competition).
i am interested to hear if there is somebody who could comment on the issue regarding this specific local.

Oct 17, 04 6:38 pm  · 
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Ms Beary

farmland is the new American Frontier. you can't go west anymore for your "cabin in the woods". You must develop the farmland. Developers and consumer demand for this type of housing are in control. Architects are no longer needed to evaluate this issues and this is sad. Even city planners are not on our sides. Politicians call it growth. People (the public) don't get it that it is wrong, they are too happy. As architects, how can we practice soil conservation as our moral obligation if no one wants it? This is not only a problem in central california. My solution, don't solve it thru being architect, be on the planning & committe and represent the unpopular but correct view. Oh, wait, you can't do that either because you'd trash your name as an architect. Ok - so be a developer and at least be the one making the cash off ruining the farmland.
A good opposite example, since I am far from the SW and can't believe this - Phoenix, Las Vegas. Cities that spread infrastructure far and thin, and have no apparent limits to thier future boundaries.

Oct 18, 04 8:57 am  · 
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