We’re not lacking in talent. We’re just getting in our own way. The craftsman and designers are ready and willing, but our land-use and building codes largely obstruct beautiful places from getting built here
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Its not the land use and building codes. It's the industry norm for American developers to demand low quality buildings. They was to build it then drop it. They don't care if the building is going to look terrible in 10 years because they will be long gone.
Our building and zoning codes (set backs, min lot size, FAR, single stair limits,etc) prevent small scale builders and developers from competing. Small scale builders can compete on quality where large scale builders compete by limiting competition.
Yes, this is an excellent point to ponder. Personal experience makes me believe greed keeps people from building lovely buildings, short sighted Return on Investment thinking, but I will noodle on this. I have seen code be the only thing keeping safety and quality in a building design.
Curious what in codes is preventing anything like this... The IRC is prescriptive but almost any designer can look to the IBC's more open language and bring engineered designs for review.
The system should require more review for innovative designs. The Wild West in building is bad actually.
Single stair limits at 3 stories means most multi family developments have to be double loaded corridors and small lot multifamily is basically impossible
Zoning often prevents good design via setback, far, and height limits among others.
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The system should require more review for innovative designs. The Wild West in building is bad actually.
Zoning often prevents good design via setback, far, and height limits among others.