Geo-Space Urban Design

About this book

Geo-Space Urban Design offers a revolutionary proposal that will lead future urban growth quite literally in a different direction - down. Gideon Golany and Toshio Ojima clearly demonstrate that subsurface urban expansion is not only practical and feasible, but also that it can reverse many of the negative effects normally associated with urban expansion. They present a comprehensive and systematic plan for developing underground spaces for transportation, delivery systems, infrastructure, residences, shopping and commercial spaces, and social and cultural activities. The authors focus on integrating geo-space with existing above-ground structures and offer well-illustrated examples of specific design theories and methods. They also anticipate a variety of contingent issues, such as land ownership, legal rights, and psychological adjustment to underground living and working. Three case studies of Japanese projects that use underground space for shopping, transportation, and infrastructure explore the entire spectrum of issues surrounding the design, construction, and ongoing operation of the facility, including form, function, and efficiency; health, safety, and comfort; legal issues; and special management and security considerations. Geo-space projects in Montreal and Paris are also examined.