Cardinal
Cyburbian
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So, now having seen all three movies in the LOTR series, why not stop to consider the issue of planning and city form in Middle Earth. Were the cities of that time really much better than our own? Think about it....
Hobbiton
Vernacular architecture of the Hobbits - LEED certified? Score one for the hobbits.
Note the scattered housing - the beginnings of urban sprawl?
Industry encroaching on a pristine shoreline, and ecological damage caused by damming of stream.
Rivendell
This is a fairyland more than a city. Note the general lack of industry in sight, and the buildings poorly-adapted to a mountain environment. It is no wonder that Rivendell was abandoned once the elves left. At best, it was suitable for re-use as a resort or theme park.
Edoras
This is the hall of the king of Rohan. Can't he afford some decent landscaping?
What is the design life of a thatched-roof building?
Minas Tirith
Urban growth boundaries have contained development within the walls of the city, perserving the surrounding countryside.
The great city is built on seven levels, spiraling upward. As an architectural statement it may be impressive, but what effect does it have on residential and commercial patterns? If you live on level 2 and the grocery store is on level 5, there is no short way to get there. Wouldn't a system of interconnected streets make more sense?
Gondor does at lease have several small courtyards that could be the basis for an urban park system, or perhaps open-air markets.
The architecture is certainly grand, but is it human-scaled? Note the lack of windows and general inaccessibility of spaces from the street.
Again, here is the hall of a king, and what do we have for landscaping? A hot tub and one dead tree. Did anyone note that concrete had been poured right up to the roots of the tree? It's no wonder it died. Try some nice vines to add greenery, along with flower urns, benches to sit on, and maybe some street vendors to bring life to the place.
Hobbiton
Vernacular architecture of the Hobbits - LEED certified? Score one for the hobbits.

Note the scattered housing - the beginnings of urban sprawl?

Industry encroaching on a pristine shoreline, and ecological damage caused by damming of stream.

Rivendell
This is a fairyland more than a city. Note the general lack of industry in sight, and the buildings poorly-adapted to a mountain environment. It is no wonder that Rivendell was abandoned once the elves left. At best, it was suitable for re-use as a resort or theme park.

Edoras
This is the hall of the king of Rohan. Can't he afford some decent landscaping?

What is the design life of a thatched-roof building?

Minas Tirith
Urban growth boundaries have contained development within the walls of the city, perserving the surrounding countryside.

The great city is built on seven levels, spiraling upward. As an architectural statement it may be impressive, but what effect does it have on residential and commercial patterns? If you live on level 2 and the grocery store is on level 5, there is no short way to get there. Wouldn't a system of interconnected streets make more sense?

Gondor does at lease have several small courtyards that could be the basis for an urban park system, or perhaps open-air markets.
The architecture is certainly grand, but is it human-scaled? Note the lack of windows and general inaccessibility of spaces from the street.

Again, here is the hall of a king, and what do we have for landscaping? A hot tub and one dead tree. Did anyone note that concrete had been poured right up to the roots of the tree? It's no wonder it died. Try some nice vines to add greenery, along with flower urns, benches to sit on, and maybe some street vendors to bring life to the place.
