The Grid Brings All the Boys to the Yard

The Grid Brings All the Boys to the Yard

Personally, I am disastrous at directions. I would be lost somewhere in the great state of North Carolina right now if it weren’t for Google maps. That being said, the only cities that I am somewhat able to navigate are cities laid out like a grid, such as Dallas or D.C.

Following are several reasons why a grid is the way to go when it comes to city lay out. The motivation for the grid comes from the state trying to control things so that there are no surprises and everything can be easily controlled and observed. Cities designed by military personnel or engineers are well-ordered, streamline and fit into an overarching plan. One of the most interesting questions asked, in my opinion, was the question of whether or not one would need a guide when upon entering a new city for the first time. For cities laid out like a grid, the answer is no, but for a city that looks like a bowl of spaghetti from “God’s-eye view” the answer is most definitely. An efficient grid needs to have evident order, no correlation to the order of life of its residents and be a standardized commodity for the market/community. Key factors include simplification, legibility, straight lines and central management. All of these factors create a more fiscal space which leads to a more prosperous city.

So if you want people to feel more comfortable in a city, in terms of health, success and safety, design it like a grid and all the boys will come to the yard.

Link to the following to see the layout of major cities around the world. https://www.fastcoexist.com/3037891/visualized/10-cities-visualized-by-how-cleanly-their-streets-are-laid-out/8