about Shaping Suburbia

At Shaping Suburbia we reveal the characteristics and effects of suburbia and provide data, information and ideas about other ways of living that are market-friendly and better for us.  Specifically, we make the connection between our built-environment and our:
  • community
  • ecological footprint including carbon footprint
  • affordability
  • health

Shaping Suburbia founder David Bennett has connected data, examples and information to help shape suburbia for 2013 and beyond.  A portion of the information addresses issues relating to Sydney and New South Wales, however the issues and solutions presented here are of course applicable to many situations in cities the world over.

Shaping Suburbia is motivated to make better places for us to live.  We are available to present key findings and opportunities to your organisation.
 


Shaping Suburbia, is driven by three main questions.
  1. what type of places (i.e. what built-environment) best enable us to live well?
  2. How close is suburbia to that answer?
  3. How do we need to Shape Suburbia to live as well as we possibly can?

Q1  
WHAT TYPES OF PLACES (I.E. WHAT BUILT-FORM / FORM OF HABITATION**) BEST ENABLES US TO LIVE WELL*? <read more>

What built-environment provides a vibrant, active and engaged community? 
  • What type of suburbs/houses/design provide small ecological footprint and low-carbon living?
  • What suburbs / built-environment leads to us living healthier and longer?
This question is becoming increasingly important for many people, and at Shaping Suburbia, we believe all Planners, Architects and Urban Designers should be able to answer question one, or at least give it a red-hot go.


Q2  
HOW CLOSE IS SUBURBIA TO THAT ANSWER? <read more>


There are many opinions about suburbia, it has its good points and its bad points, but there are also many things based on hard data that we know for certain.

At Shaping Suburbia we have assembled resources and information that help us understand characteristics, trends and patterns of our cities and our ways of living.

If we know that suburbs are falling short of the goal of being the 'most sustainable form of habitation' then...



Q3  
HOW DO WE NEED TO SHAPE SUBURBIA TO LIVE AS WELL AS WE POSSIBLY CAN? <read more>

Our suburbs have served us well for many years, but this century has thrown up new and different challenges for humanity and for how we choose to live. 

In what ways do our suburbs need to now evolve?  What barriers are there to creating the best places to live in the world and how can we move beyond these barriers?

If we know the answer to question one, then shouldn't we be creating those houses and those suburbs now, and changing our current suburbs to create those types of places?



* Live well = a way that is the most enjoyable to live in, the healthiest, and the least environmentally unsustainable, both for us now and for future generations.  

** Habitation = a way of living, that people would be prepared to live in right now, given our needs and rights to interact with society and lead a full and rewarding life.   For example: to work, to have fun, to socialise, to have easy access to services, to contribute to society, to raise a family and so on.