How Philadelphia Revolutionized American City Planning

When Thomas Holme was hired to plan the city of Philadelphia, he had a couple ideas in mind. Many of his new ideas were rejected at first, and were foreign to his contemporaries, but they would prove to be innovative. They opened up streets that fit the functions, implemented open public squares, and provided ample room for future development.

Although the varying sizes of streets seems like a straightforward idea, it was the first to do so. As a result, areas that had more traffic had enough room to suffice, and areas with less traffic were able some of their land to areas that needed it.

Also, the idea of open public squares allowed for a more interconnected city. Placing markets and living quarters in a similar area allowed for the efficient flow of the economy as well as a more interactive community.

The most important of all ideas, however, was leaving more room for development. This mindful plan allowed for future developments, which proved to suit the future needs and demands of the city. Leaving extra room allowed for Philadelphia to develop more buildings that followed the future advancements of the city, and created a adaptive and effective environment.

The planning of a city is vital to its success or failure. When planning a city, engineers should create an environment that maximizes efficiency while anticipating future needs of the city’s economy.