Inspiration
Photo: Swann Ridge, Serenbe, Georgia
New Towns Designed with
Traditional Planning Principles
Las Catalinas
Las Catalinas is a picturesque, walkable, and car-free coastal town in Costa Rica designed to foster community, sustainability, and a connection to nature. With its Mediterranean-inspired architecture and lush green surroundings, it is a modern town designed with car-free streets. Construction began in 2010 and the community now includes hundreds of homes, a hotel and over a dozen restaurants.
Serenbe
Serenbe is a wellness-focused community nestled in the rolling countryside outside Atlanta, Georgia. Designed as a model for healthy, integrated living, it seamlessly blends traditional urban planning with natural beauty, fostering a deep connection to the land and a sense of community. Serenbe features thoughtfully designed, walkable neighborhoods with charming architecture, organic farms, art galleries, shops, and farm-to-table restaurants, all connected by scenic walking trails. The community boasts over 1,000 residents and dozens of shops and businesses.
Carlton Landing
Carlton Landing is a charming and thoughtfully designed new urbanism community located on the shores of Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma. Known for its emphasis on walkability and community living, Carlton Landing features picturesque streets lined with traditional Southern-style cottages and lush greenery. The town prioritizes connection with nature and neighbors, with numerous parks, walking trails, and gathering spaces. Construction began in 2011 and the community currently includes over 250 homes and numerous businesses.
Books
Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream
A critique of the patterns of suburban sprawl that have dominated American development, leading to car-dependent, disconnected communities. Coauthored by Andres Duany — pioneer of the New Urbanism movement— it offers a compelling argument for walkable, mixed-use, human-scaled neighborhoods as an alternative to sprawling suburbs. Through clear writing and vivid examples, Suburban Nation highlights the social, environmental, and economic benefits of traditional urban design.
A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction
A pattern language is an urban design and town planning design methodology that organizes people's daily lives and needs into a set of interconnected patterns. The patterns range from the region, to the city, to the town, and into the home. The methodology encourages designs that prioritize human well-being, harmony with the environment, and timeless principles of beauty. The approach has been widely acclaimed for its profound impact on architecture, urban design, and beyond.
Great Streets
Great Streets explores the design and qualities that make streets vibrant, welcoming, and essential to urban life. Allan B. Jacobs examines famous streets from around the world—such as Paris’s Champs-Élysées and Barcelona’s Las Ramblas—to uncover the elements that contribute to their success. Through detailed analysis, illustrations, and practical insights, Jacobs provides a guide for planners, designers, and community leaders seeking to create streets that foster connection, support local economies, and enhance the livability of cities and towns.
