'Eco cities' easier said than done in today's China

Posted by David Roberts at 9:42 AM on 28 Aug 2007

Read more about: China | Bill McDonough | placemaking | urban planning

Remember architect Bill McDonough's much-ballyhooed "eco-cities" in China? Mara Hvistendahl points to troubling signs that the projects are falling apart.

For story: 'Eco cities' easier said than done in today's China
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bird in the hand

My observations about the fate of serious, detailed, practical plans for walkable/sustainable development:

The ratio of plans that are never built, to plans that get built, is something like 10:1.

The ratio of plans that are badly compromised, to plans that are executed well, is something like 3:1.

Those are off-the-cuff estimates, but for confirmation ask any planner about their experiences.

That's why I like to focus on projects that have already started construction, where the results are on display for everyone to evaluate.

Ped Shed Blog

by Laurence Aurbach at 12:43 PM on 28 Aug 2007

I wish someone would have taken bets

on the success of that.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

by biodiversivist at 2:56 PM on 28 Aug 2007

Communist Officials Profiteering from Projects

The easiest way to get rich in China under the fake communist regime is to become a Chinese Communist Party member. Then join some local governments that engage in some local "projects". Building bridges, power plants, infrastructure, ... etc.

"Green" is certainly a good slogan for anyone to start a project in China! Starting a project means that you will be able to receive public funding, capital financing from backward Chinese banks with no credit control, support from the incompetent and often corrupt central government, recognition from large corporation run by Communist Party members' families and relatives, ...

For quick and easy "green" in China, GO GREEN!

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by noolympics at 7:56 PM on 28 Aug 2007

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