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James Kunstler: How bad architecture wrecked cities

TED · talk · Watch on YouTube

Transit, cities & urban planningVisual arts, photography & architecture

What it is

James Howard Kunstler's TED talk argues that American public spaces and architecture have become unworthy of care, damaging civic life. He presents suburban sprawl and car-first design as failures of the common good.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN recommends it as an engaging introduction to the critique of car-centric design and bad architecture.

  • 4 people recommended it
  • 3 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2011, last 2024

What HN commenters said

  1. “there is a great introduction that Kunstler did for his TED Talk.”

    Great introduction to Kunstler's argument about bad architecture and cities.

    sc68cal, 2011-08 · Recommendation · in “The U.S. Postal Service Nears Collapse”

  2. “Here's a far more engaging critique of car-first design by James Kunstler”

    Engaging critique of car-first design and its effect on human quality of life.

    chetanahuja, 2014-10 · Recommendation · in “Why 12-Foot Traffic Lanes Are Disastrous for Safety”

  3. “his TED talk on Architecture seems to be in the right direction.”

    Kunstler's TED talk on architecture is seen as directionally right.

    nowandlater, 2020-06 · Recommendation · in “Why people hate contemporary architecture (2017)”

  4. “old TED talk about horrible architecture that I still find relevant as ever.”

    Old TED talk about horrible architecture that remains relevant.

    Yoofie, 2020-06 · Recommendation · in “Why people hate contemporary architecture (2017)”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: suburbia, architecture, car-centric design, civic space, ted

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