Too fast Too Jammed.

Throughout time, architecture and architectural ideas have evolved in a very slow pace, which were related directly to advances in technology and the context of the era, altho science and technological advances more often than rarely bring benefits to our culture , the cheetah-fast pace we've been experiencing since the automobile industry boomed has brought us some real crooked philosophies of cities and gave the back to the idea of human scale, and how to use it in urbanism. 

This is what De Gracia talks in his article "Superposiciones Modernas" in which he tell us how architectural ideas have collided in the modern movement and has brought a feeling of misprise towards what the traditional way we make cities. This is understandable in the way that of course in that point of history we never thought fossil fuels would deplete and having a car was a symbol of social status. I'm talking about back in the 50s.

e.g. Niemeyer's Brasilia, which could be one of the most iconic modern cities. Builded from scratch and in only 3 years this massive and ambitious plan became an example of a No-No in urbanism because of its non-benefitial consequences in cities and people´s lifes, bringing us the suburban city model in which its habitants are dependent of a car and long commuting hours to go to work, this concept of working in the city and living in the suburbs has consequences like bigger areas to cover in highways, streets, shelter and public transportation.

See this video that talks about brasilia and its grid. also read this articles titled Niemeyer's Brasilia: Does it work as a city?

                                                             

But now that we are beginning to see the aftermath of the modern movement in urbanism we are beginning to go back in time and look to the old ways for inspiration. We are now aware that the real value of cities is in its habitants and it's public spaces (not in its suburban lonely, full-exposed-to-danger zones and useless highway) that bring us spaces of joy and socialisation (not like the 2 hour commute you had to do alone in your car from Fort Lauderdale to Miami) not mentioning the cost of gas, infraestructural expenses that the city had to afford with the suburban city grid and more. 

In conclusion we have to stop being so arrogant and stop despising ideas of the past just because is the past, looking for inspiration is the key to new waves and shapes, a perfect balance between new and old, past and future.