The elephant in the room

I've never been there, but I like Seattle. More specifically, I like their urban design guidelines and how they control architectural design -- and they're progressive too! They've realized that people will build shit if given the opportunity and so a little guidance goes a long way.

So, I am very glad to hear that they've recently adopted a bylaw that bans garages that project beyond the front facade of buildings. It makes its really easy to avoid abortions like this:

Clearly, the automobile is the dominant feature in this house and the residents come second. I wonder, does the SUV pay the rent? Does it have a job to justify the size of its "house?" Even when horses were the primary mode of transportation they didn't require this amount of space and were always relegated to the rear yard -- through a narrow, non-descript alley in the carriage house! When did the garage ever move to the forefront of our architectural "imagination?" When did it become the elephant in the room?

These kinds of houses (dubbed "garage mahals") are the epitome of car-centric suburbia and do nothing to promote livable, sustainable communities and further distances the residents from their neighbours, connectivity and street life. Kudos to Seattle to realize the detriment the garage has on quality neighbouhoods and street life.

Cars need to take a back seat to good design and to the health of neighbourhoods and cities. More communities need to engage an urban design process to implement simple, positive changes such as the ban on protruding garages. As the saying goes, "the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time." Seattle has taken the first bite.