Skip to content

109 Quote by Rebecca Solnit

“One [project of Teddy Cruz's] is titled Living Rooms at the Border. it takes a piece of land with an unused church zoned for three units and carefully arrays on it twelve affordable housing units, a community center (the converted church), offices for Casa in the church's attic, and a garden that…” quote by Rebecca Solnit
Download Open image
““One [project of Teddy Cruz's] is titled Living Rooms at the Border. it takes a piece of land with an unused church zoned for three units and carefully arrays on it twelve affordable housing units, a community center (the converted church), offices for Casa in the church's attic, and a garden that can accommodate street markets and kiosks. 'In a place where current regulation allows only one use,' [Cruz} crows, ' we propose five different uses that support each other. This suggests a model of social sustainability for San Diego, one that conveys density not as bulk but as social choreography.' For both architect and patron, it's an exciting opportunity to prove that breaking the zoning codes can be for the best. Another one of Cruz's core beliefs is that if architects are going to achieve anything of social distinction, they will have to become developers' collaborators or developers themselves, rather than hirelings brought in after a project's parameters are laid out. ””

Rebecca Solnit

About This Quote

Integrating multiple community uses on a single site creates social interaction, economic vitality, and a model of sustainable urban density.

In simple terms: Mixed‑use design builds vibrant neighborhoods.

Key Takeaway

Combining housing, services, and public space fosters social choreography.

Themes

urban design social sustainability mixed‑use community density

Mood

optimistic visionary

Type

analytical policy‑oriented

When to use this quote

  • revitalizing underused sites
  • creating affordable housing clusters

Key Concepts

social choreography collaborative development

Practical Applications

  • Partner architects with developers to co‑design multi‑use projects

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can zoning reforms support such models?
  • What are the risks of over‑densifying a single block?
A Different Perspective

Complex mixed‑use projects can face regulatory delays and financing hurdles.

4.9 out of 5 (9 ratings)

More by Rebecca Solnit

Explore all 469 Rebecca Solnit quotes

More 109 quotes

Browse all 2 109 quotes