- Proposal
- I propose that we review building footprints with the goal of trimming off unnecessary overreaches to allow for better city planning. The empty space in front of the buildings is fine as it prevents blocking off entrances, but the sides and back should not be limited, especially to the degree they often are. My primary concern is the medium Naboo house, but it is far from the only example.
Since there would likely be issues if these footprints were changed for pre-existing houses, my proposal is specifically for making a variant of the schematics so that houses that are already placed won't be affected, much like how the windowed houses were added alongside pre-existing houses.
If furniture layouts could be shared among the variants so as to allow a quick copy over, that would be very convenient. But if I have to redo everything, I'll do it with a smile for the end result.
- Justification
- The justification is that cities, as they are now, frequently fall short in looking like compact urban environments or even having a direction with obvious roadways. While those that want to avoid this appearance are free to do so, I feel that it would be well to allow for the alternative. Those affected would be the architects who would have additional deeds at their disposal and city planners and home owners who would be using them. Finally, all residents in locations that take these new opportunities would be affected, although they only need to embrace it if they so choose.
- Motivation
- Before beginning my city I had created plans for an urban utopia with closely-packed houses, clear-cut roads, and cozy neighborhoods. The vast majority were Medium Naboo houses, my favorite of the structures. However, it was not to be. The online resource I had used to plan it, much to my dismay, had misrepresented their footprint. I had to redo my plans, and I am nowhere near as pleased with them. This house is not the only one whose footprint is excessive.
By allowing more compact housing placement you can better create the image of a crowded city, with groups of houses blocking out unintended roads and streamlining traffic. Currently, the only medium house I know of that can be placed close enough is the generic medium, which doesn't match the aesthetic I enjoy.
tl;dr A desire for more recognizable roadways, groupings of houses, reducing wasted space, and making a city into a metropolis.
My plans for a clean city with clear roadways became little more than any other city, a sporadic dotting of houses with a lot of dead space. The initial idea dashed by the realization that the medium Naboo house's footprint was not 3x4 as the site I used to plan it on suggested, but rather 5x5.
On the left are the original plans, while on the right are what ultimately had to be done to maintain some semblance of the original ideal. From the comfort of medium housing for all to only some, the roads no longer clear and the neighborhoods similarly hard to recognize.
Without being able to compactly place houses, the image of my city had sunk before it swam, and my displeasure with the primary residential areas was impossible to ignore.
On the left are the original plans, while on the right are what ultimately had to be done to maintain some semblance of the original ideal. From the comfort of medium housing for all to only some, the roads no longer clear and the neighborhoods similarly hard to recognize.
Without being able to compactly place houses, the image of my city had sunk before it swam, and my displeasure with the primary residential areas was impossible to ignore.
