The Vertical City

Earlier this week I posted a blog about the component parts of a thriving Metropolis environment. This got me to thinking about what a modern city should look like and there were some cities that came to mind. Tokyo, for one was top on the list. But, also, even American cities like New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Philidelphia and D.C. all came to mind in varying degrees as examples of what to do and what not to do in designing a new modern metropolis.

As you know, I live in Jacksonville, so I feel that my efforts and theoretical works should lend themselves to making this place into the modern marvel that I wish all cities of the future to be. And, so, I've now begun thinking, "What is a Skyscraper?"

And this is the heart of what I think will make the new modern Metropolis for our generation. But not just in a single skyscraper, mind you. What I am proposing is a complete redesign of an existing city structure in such a way as to connect everything with those component parts mentioned previously; commercial interests, transportation, housing. These are the building blocks of the Vertical City. Over the next few weeks I'll be posting a series of blogs investigating how an existing city structure can be transformed into a new vertical city completely connected within itself and it's surroundings.

The area that I've chosen for this little experiment is an area of downtown Jacksonville known as La Villa. It is an area of the city West of the downtown center just off of an existing elevated train line.

As you can see in the aerial above, La Villa is a neighborhood comprised of several city blocks bordered by a main highway to the West, the elevated train to the South, and two other main automotive arteries to the North and East. At an almost central location is the La Villa School of the Arts, a magnate elementary school. This will be the center of the New La Villa as you'll see in posts to come.

I welcome any and all comments or suggestions. Please, critique at will.