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To play devils advocate, Paris & London aren’t gridded and I’d argue more people find them more physically attractive than their American counter parts granted architecture plays a part.
Yeah, I love the jumbled mess that are the European cities, or even Boston. Cities with perfect grids are not as fun to walk cause I can see what's ahead for 2 miles in front of me and that leaves nothing to the imagination. I wanna feel like Pocahontas with no idea what will be waiting right around the river bend. Trees and sidewalk cafes make it more interesting cause it breaks up the view
Those NYC examples look like mostly straight streets with a bend of a few degrees every few blocks and not much like the truly winding commercial streets of, say, London.
Those NYC examples look like mostly straight streets with a bend of a few degrees every few blocks and not much like the truly winding commercial streets of, say, London.
I agree. I feel that a lot of the examples being posted in this thread shouldn't count. It seems like a lot are just straight roads that have a slight change in direction and then continue on straight again (streets that are Y shaped). But when I think of "meandering" or "curvy" streets (European style) I think of streets that have a true bend, where no portion of it is a straight line (so C or S shaped).
To play devils advocate, Paris & London aren’t gridded and I’d argue more people find them more physically attractive than their American counter parts granted architecture plays a part.
Architecture definitely plays a big role in Paris and it does to a lesser degree in London too. But I don't think architecture is the defining factor (I know you're not saying it is - just piggybacking off of your post). I think scale is the most important element with use being the second most important. Grid or not, good architecture or mediocre, if it's human scale and there's a good variety of uses, it'll probably be a good urban area. Tokyo is considered one of the greatest cities on the planet. For the most part, the architecture is "meh" (for example, this or this), but it's built for pedestrians and filled with cool things to explore. Closer to home, you have places in the Boston area like Davis Square which are thoroughly unremarkable architecturally, but still manage to be great urban spaces.
Ugh I hate them. Something about a meandering urban road that I find unappealing. I think it's the asymmetric effect it has.
Much more attractive for cities to be on as solid a grid as possible IMO.
Are you like American or somethin?
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