Abstract

In the early 20th century, the automobile was promoted by the automotive industry as the preferred mode of transportation. The effects of this deliberate advocacy for the automobile led to the reconstruction of city streets and neighborhoods, and eventually, a move towards extremely car-dependent societies.

Today, many automobile-centric cities face problems such as congestion, pollution, neighborhood destruction, and significant losses of the urban landscape. This has put societies under pressure, leaving many of them fragile and on the brink of collapse.

This thesis addresses the problems that originated from car centrism and investigates ideas for the ideal 21st-century city. It seeks to re-imagine what a city might look like if living spaces were not catered for vehicles, and instead, are designed for the people. The ideas investigated include a return to the human scale in the way that people live, with an emphasis on greener landscapes instead of parking lots, reclaiming city streets and replacing them with interactive walkable spaces, and prioritizing walking, cycling, and efficient public transport system as the means of circulation. It also investigates ideas for the revitalization of communities that have been destroyed by car-centric zoning, with the goal for cities that are more social, safe, sustainable, that provide a strong sense of belonging for every individual.