Town on Wheels

Introduction : 

This entire post is based on the concept of "ROADTOWN" by Edgar Chambless. Study the image above for better understanding. Starting off very easy, Roadtown is an attempt to mix transportation with housing, simply put, apartment housing on top of underground train system that stretches linearly across the countryside. Chambless had proposed this in the 1900s and wow because it is very futuristic with respect to that period of time.

Need:

Our system includes three aspects - factories and farms that is the place of production, houses and cities that is the place of consumption, and lastly transportation that connects both these places. These are planned by different men and made with different mindsets and thus doesn't work so efficiently together. It is not an homogenous system made to fit with each other but different heterogenous systems made to work together. The author tries to make a picture of a society if the whole system was made by one mindset with one plan, with unity and harmony. He thinks of a society that is made as a unified civilization and all the systems work efficiently together. 

Logical Transportation :

The author compares how the legs are a body's wheels and they help us transport. Life would be very wasteful without them and it would be utter bullshit without coordination between our legs and the rest of the body similarly, creating coordination between transportation system in a society is necessary. Civilizations used to be built around river banks likewise currently they are built considering nearest transport facility available. The houses are built closer and closer together shutting out all the natural air and light. 

Tall skyscrapers fighting gravity to survive and still producing congested spaces is not really worth it. Their heights are limited by stress and strains on steel. They block the views and make vertical living not that fun with neighboring skyscraper towering much much higher.  The author thinks of horizontal structure instead of vertical ones with horizontal services. This way the building can go up to thousand storey without any limitations that is thousand miles across the face of earth. This type of construction will make it  convenient to travel or exist. 

Back to Nature : 

Horizontal construction will open up the skyline for more natural views and make the town look less congested without the tall skyscrapers stuck to each other. The site for this construction is countryside with open farms, meadows and open grounds so you will wake up to pleasant views of lakes, farms, cattle, birds in open skies, basically paradise everyday. City folks will come here to escape the traffic noises and mesmerize in bird songs. 

If you are wondering about social and outdoor recreational activities, the author imagines the roof of the structure into a plaza like structure with shaded seating for sunny days and cycling/skating lanes. It will be a place for kids to play and elders to meet up for a walk or just to sit and adore the views. 

Structural Systems:

The material used will be cement because it is strong, durable, fireproof, sound proof, earthquake resistant and so much more. The use of Boyes monorail for noiseless transportation and faster speed. The author has written about almost every detail in the book like water services, sewage, heating, gas, electricity, telephones and so much more. He has even mentioned subjects like laundry, dusting and other household works. The book gives detailed overview to every aspect of Roadtown and how even the smallest part of it would work. 

In Simple Words:

Starting in the basement, Roadtown is built on a train system that would carry its occupants to other stations in the linear housing system as well as transport supplies that dwellers would need to survive. The basement also houses all utilities needed to keep the complex going, such as electrical, sewer, heat, air, and other important conveniences.

The floors above will be housing units similar to apartments in which everything is typical, bedrooms, kitchens, and other rooms; however, there is a system of dumbwaiters that deliver mail, packages, goods, prepared food, and other supplies to apartments. Chambless also thought that this area would be able to house community areas such as kitchens, laundries, and other forms of services that would benefit the public who wish to have more luxury and service in the home rather than serving themselves.

Finally, the rooftop space provides children with a place to play without the dangers of cars. The roof is used as an open-air walkway where the occupants can ride bikes to the neighboring units or use to exercise. This area could house a community garden, or even hold community entertainment places for sports and recreation.

Personal Note :

The concept of Roadtown sounds very interesting. To have a house in countryside surrounded with meadows, green pastures and lakes with train station just a staircase below. Even to witness such a line structure would be quite fun. To study how it works and sustains would be a new architecture subject overall. Though Chambless have aspired many architects and many structures are inspired by this but his Roadtown never really got approved due to major limitations like the high cost, the mechanics of train to stop at so many stations was never really figured out. The continuous noise of train below the houses and the limitation of technology during the early 1900s but to be honest the concept wasn't bad it just had few obstructions. Considering current subway systems and the capable technology, it is possible to bring Chambless dreams to reality. This would also solve our modern day problems like pollution, shortage of space, sustainability, lost touch with nature and so many more. Would really love to witness such a unique town planning. Saudi is working on something close to a line structure, so eagerly waiting to witness that someday. To have horizontal skyscrapers instead of tall towers would be a complete different sight. To have trains picking you up from your doorstep and to wake up to birds every morning. Let's just wait and keep hoping for great architecture. 

By Isha Mutha

thearchdiaries.blogspot.com