The big WHY of 2009

This post is personal. It talks about WHY, in 2009, I spent so much energy and time on the subject of city planning. Why I had no choice but to step out of my comfort zone and (with the shaky voice) speak at the public hearing. And why I felt obligated to write a letter to the City Council.

I was born and grew up in Krakow, Poland. This historic city in central Europe shaped my understanding of what a city is and how it works. During my high school and collage years my daily routine consisted of 30 minute bus and light rail trip to the downtown. Waiting at the local bus stop was an opportunity to chat with the neighbors about the latest score of the town’s soccer team. There was always a group of friends on a light rail ready to discuss homework problems and share the gossip. Public transportation was so common and available I never learned how to drive, but instead I have always felt like a part of the community I lived in. After school, on a nice day, I would stroll through the city’s main square. There never was an instance that I did not run into an old friend or acquaintance. Like that grade school math teacher who insisted on calling me “Ania”. He was glad to see his favorite pupil about to graduate from an architecture school. After a full day I would go back to my family’s 500-square-foot apartment where we sat at the kitchen table at 7 pm every night for supper. I would listen to my parent’s conversations about Lech Walesa and Solidarity movement and learnt about the important changes happening in world’s politics during that time.

It is important to note that a city is more than just a collection of streets and buildings. Just like Jane Jacobs says cities are compilation of social experiences. As human beings there is nothing more interesting to us than watching other human beings. And when the times are rough we long for closeness and interaction with family members, friends and neighbors. For me, those were some fundamental, simple lessons I learnt while growing up in Poland. After studding urban design and architecture in collage, travelling to different cities in Europe, and finally settling in US (my first stop was Knoxville, TN) those lessons turned into a passion for quality of urban lifestyle. And while Denver is gearing up to adopt a new zoning code early next year I felt obligated to speak up on behalf of a simple human right to be around other humans.

The economy of the last few years has forced us to refocus our lifestyle. More and more people talk about going back to basics and recognize family and social values. The wave of foreclosures redefined housing market. Home buyers are asking for quality, efficiency and simplicity, not the square footage. Kitchen tables re-gained their popularity as people stay in and cook more. Neighborhood schools are important centers of community life. And everybody is tired of highway traffic.

City planning is a powerful tool in the hands of politicians. It can shape a city by shifting development opportunities from one end to the other like a kid playing in the sand with a shovel. It can also promote or discourage human interaction. It can allow us to walk to a corner store and mingle on a light rail or force us into our cars for hours at a time. During these times of “CHANGE” and shift in social priorities we came to a point when we should stop designing our cities for the cars and focus on the people instead.


Wishing you a meaningful 2010,

Gosia Kung

Picture of a house by Julia, 4 1/2

Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

If you need sustainable upgrades and additions to your North Pole facilities KUNGarchitecture is your team. Could your toy manufacturing workshop benefit from additional insulation in the walls? How about a few skylights to bring the northern lights into the space? Would the elves be more productive working in the space that is simple, functional and inspiring? Do you think they could use a new dorm? Let us propose a mixed use facility with toy retail and cafeteria on the main level and elf condos on upper levels. The new, efficient, sustainable and progressive design will be respectful of the existing context of your historical toy workshop. Reindeer sled parking will be discreetly screened behind the building. The development will be served by public transportation system courtesy of Polar Express, Inc. The construction will be “white” (not green) certified to fit local climate conditions.

Yours truly,

Gosia Kung (Polar Architect)

Architects for Responsible Growth

December 10, 2009


Council Members
City of Denver, Colorado


RE: Denver New Zoning Code


Dear Council Person,
We are a group of architects who practice in Denver. We have no formal organization, what brings us together is a shared vision for the future of our City. We believe that through responsible planning and zoning Denver can become a model sustainable community that many will follow. Vibrant neighborhoods, healthy urban lifestyle, walking, biking, public transportation, good schools and public safety all depend on the right mix of uses and appropriate density.

We are deeply concerned with the down zoning of 70% of urban neighborhoods currently zoned R2 to a Single Unit designation. In order to promote sustainable growth of Denver we should allow incremental increase of density in urban neighborhoods. In our opinion all areas currently zoned R2 should allow, at minimum, Two Unit developments. There are four basic types of Two Unit developments: the main house with accessory dwelling unit, top-and-bottom duplex, front-to-back and a side-by-side duplex. All four forms are historically present in our neighborhoods and hold tremendous potential in terms of affordable and environmentally responsible housing. We also support increased density zoning (allowing townhouses, multi-story condominiums and apartment buildings) in the areas adjacent to public transit.

Stability can only be achieved through responsible and sustainable growth. In order to preserve urban fabric of our historic neighborhoods it has to be continuously repaired and updated; without the maintenance colors will fade and the fabric will deteriorate. It is also important to preserve the economic value and land entitlements that the property owners have reasonably expected to see. Maintaining and encouraging development potential is crucial component of supporting growing economy.

Increased urban density and transit oriented communities are the future of city planning. We cannot afford to continue and actually increase the un-sustainable low-density single family pattern of the past. Responsible city planning is critical in terms of reducing our carbon footprint. Increased density in urban neighborhoods has a potential to:

• Allow more residents to move closer to downtown and thus reduce commute, pollution and traffic.
• Promote health by encouraging walking and biking.
• Increased public transit ridership.
• Utilizing existing infrastructure, utilities, roads and public services for new housing and less need for development of virgin land.
• Reduce municipal infrastructure cost.
• Allow options in terms of affordable housing and transportation.
• Improve performance of local schools.
• Reduce sprawl and increase quality of life.

We are grateful and honored to be a part of the process that will shape our City for many decades to come. Denver Zoning Code overhaul brings with it a great potential but also a responsibility. We are asking you not to see the new code as an opportunity to implement shortsighted agendas of the few, but as an obligation to the future generations. Let’s make sure that we are promoting a Sustainable City that our grandchildren will be proud of long after we are gone.


All persons endorsing this letter are architects who completed projects in Denver within last five years.


Gosia Kung, AIA, LEED AP
KUNGarchitecture


Niccolo Casewit, AIA
Environmental Productions


Joseph E. Simmons
BlueSky Studio


Michael Knorr
Michael Knorr & Associates, Inc


Michael Kephart, AIA, NCARB, Certified Green Professional, NAHB, ULI and CAASH.
Kephart Living


Michel Tavel, AIA
Michael Tavel Architects


Richard R Heinemeyer, AIA, LEED AP
CDFM Architectural


Rebecca (Becky) Alexis, AIA
Architect, Residential Contractor, Real Estate Broker with RE/MAX Southeast
HIVE Architecture, LLC


Sean M. O'Hara, AIA, LEED AP
EVstudio


Guy R. Nichols, AIA
Nichols Design Group, PC


Jim Schneck
MasterBuild Architects, Inc.


Gary Taipalus
Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Center for Sustainable Urbanism


Tobias Strohe
JG Johnson Architects


Paul Adams, AIA LEED AP
Earth and Sky Architecture


Dean Foreman, AIA, LEED AP
CARVELL PAGESOUTHERLANDPAGE


Jamie Miller, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP
Odell Architects, PC


Mark Kung, NCARB
KUNGarchitecture


Paul Brady, AIA
Godden|Sudik Architects

Just a bit of zoning humor...

Variance for a Goat

I would like to request a variance from Section 8-81. (Livestock above or below ground floor) of Denver Municipal Code and request a permit for an Urban Goat.

It is my intent to turn my rooftop deck on my duplex into a green roof. This environmentally friendly feature will not only provide additional insulation to the roof, prevent the heat island effect, but will also serve as an ideal habitat and food supply for my Urban Goat. The half story structure on the roof (as a part of the two-and-a-half story building form) will serve as a holding stall. Due to its size and scale the half story structure cannot be utilized for human habitation therefore it is assumed that it’s placement in the code was intended for a livestock such as goat. The goat’s waste will be collected by a system of gutters and downspouts and deposited in my garden for the purpose of fertilizing and watering.

My garden is my pride and joy. It does not only serve as a water quality facility to treat goat waste, it is also a source of the wholesome produce for my family and neighbors. I want to invite you to tour my ten-foot-square back yard to see what I’m talking about. The short tour takes 45 minutes, while the long tour is 1.5 hour, so please plan accordingly. This urban oasis is a home to 10 hens that provide fresh eggs to the entire city block. Crops such as corn, potatoes, broccoli, pumpkins and cabbage are all abundant in case transportation stops and Denver has to grow its own food. With this application I would also like to request that the City Council does everything humanly possible to prevent my neighbor to the South from popping his top and shading my garden.

I believe that a goat would be an ideal complement to my back yard farming facility. And the flat roof on my duplex will be a very adequate habitat for the goat. In addition to my personal request for a goat I would like to propose that the Urban Goat be a use by right in all residential zones to allow all Denver citizens benefit form the livestock. All SU zones should allow Single Urban Goat (SU-g) while TU zones should allow Two Urban Goats (TU-g).

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Gosia Kung (the Urban Farmer)

Speaking about urban density (11.19.09 Listening Session)

My name is Gosia Kung and I’m a resident of the historic district of Witter Cofield in NW Denver. I am also an architect and LEED accredited professional. I came here today to talk to you about density of urban neighborhoods. I am deeply concerned with the downzoning of 70% of areas currently zoned R2 to Single Unit only designation. It is my opinion that all the areas currently zoned R2 should allow Two Unit developments.

There are three basic types of Two Unit developments: the main house with accessory dwelling unit, top-and-bottom duplex and side-by-side duplex. All three forms are historically present in our neighborhoods and hold tremendous potential in terms of affordable and environmentally responsible housing. Even the side by side duplex covered with stigma of recent year’s developments is far more sustainable option than an oversized single family house, by allowing two families to live in a structure that would otherwise be occupied by only one.

The Two Unit zones will encourage density that is crucial to stimulating a healthy growth of urban neighborhoods. The benefits we will see are:

• More residents moving closer to downtown and thus reducing commute, pollution and traffic.
• Utilizing existing infrastructure, utilities, roads and public services for new housing and less need for development of virgin land.
• Improved performance of local schools.
• Less sprawl and increased quality of life.

In case you were wondering about my accent I was born and grew up in Krakow, Poland. Because of density of historic town and public transportation I never had to learn how to drive. When I was 25 I came to America, got my drivers license and gained 20 pounds. Higher density supports healthy lifestyle by creating walk-able communities. By allowing higher density in urban neighborhoods we may, at least partially, solve our health carecrisis…

I hear so many arguments for solar access and ability to install photovoltaic panels on roofs. There is more to sustainability than tax incentives and reduced utility bills. The responsible growth of urban fabric is essential in creating sustainable lifestyle. Walking, biking, public transportation, public safety, good schools and vibrant communities all depend on the right mixture of uses and appropriate density. Single family suburban lifestyle has proven to fail.

I am a mother of two. My kids are 4 and 1. I’m here today speaking on their behalf, and asking you, to please not base your decisions about zoning and mapping on shortsighted agendas of the few. Please consider the welfare of future generations. Let’s make sure that we are shaping the city that they will be proud of long after we are gone. Thank you.

Work in progress…

“Architecture is an Art of shaping the Environment”

This is the first thing I learnt in the architecture school. The definition of Architecture. I can’t remember the class or the name of the professor. It was nearly twenty years ago in a different country and in a different language. Since then I have heard and read many definitions and descriptions of architecture but none seems to speak to me the same way. Whenever I think about design I keep coming back to my first collage lecture and those words that I just can’t get out of my head. But yet I often find myself troubled when I try to explain this statement to my friends or clients. What does it mean? Let me draw a picture instead.

Imagine a landscape like this:

 Empty non-defined space. Imagine 50 people placed in this location. They will wander around uncomfortably.

Imagine element in this landscape:

The element has defined the space. Now, the same 50 people will gather around the obelisk. They will start talking and maybe come up with idea to start something new and important.

Now imagine the same element repeated a number of times:

 The sequence of elements creates a sense of direction. People will travel along the rhythm of power poles curious about the destination.

So let’s keep adding:

 We are almost there. The power poles and the trees framed the space creating the “walls”. The sky and the tree canopies formed a “ceiling”. All we are missing is the floor:

The few simple elements defined the space. Now people will feel comfortable strolling along the path or resting in the shade under a tree.

As we add elements to our environment we customize it for our needs. We create indoor and outdoor spaces by defining the landscape. Every day we travel through spaces without even taking notice. Long narrow hallways of office buildings, open outdoor plazas, hiking trails and highways, our driveway and our kitchen. Our perception of space is shaped by the elements that define it (floor, walls, ceiling, free standing elements) as well as scale, function and placement in the sequence (or a floor plan). The quality of space will affect how we feel. We can be comfortable, relaxed, inspired, energized or confused, frustrated, bored or saddened. What a responsibility an architect has every time she picks up a pencil.

As I’m writing this post I feel that anything I say seems inadequate, too complicated or unclear. How do I describe the job of shaping human experience? Using words. Simple words. And short sentences. How do I make it clear and concise? I’m humbled and hunted about this statement I learnt as a first year architecture student and that I’m yet to figure out how to communicate. It’s work in progress.

How to live in the city

This is such a timeless classic. Enjoy!