<![CDATA[CITYBUILDER: Sketching]]>https://citybuildernc.org/s/sketchinghttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-pUJ!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faa161a74-92dc-4890-86ad-82c2b214e7e2_256x256.pngCITYBUILDER: Sketchinghttps://citybuildernc.org/s/sketchingSubstackTue, 26 May 2026 08:42:56 GMT<![CDATA[Cities Should Unite Public and Private Spaces]]>https://citybuildernc.org/p/cities-should-unite-public-and-privatehttps://citybuildernc.org/p/cities-should-unite-public-and-privateSun, 17 May 2026 21:53:49 GMT

This sketch by Léon Krier identifies the ideal urban space as a product of the marriage between public and private realms. Krier invites us to ponder how walkable streets lined with shops and housing support the public monuments that draw residents into shared spaces.

Lessons from Léon: Krier on North Carolina is our series honoring Léon Krier (1946–2025), applying his human-scale sketches to the future of the Triangle.

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]]><![CDATA[Greek Alleys Create Beautiful Spaces]]>https://citybuildernc.org/p/greek-alleys-create-beautiful-spaceshttps://citybuildernc.org/p/greek-alleys-create-beautiful-spacesSun, 19 Apr 2026 11:01:28 GMT

This sketch by Abigail Gillin, titled Alleys of Greece, shows an alley in Fiskardo, Greece that provides a space for pause and casual conversation.

Abigail’s sketches capture people’s favorite places, most of which are inherently urban and vibrant: lively street corners with chairs and people spilling onto the sidewalk, Parisian rooftops showcasing the city’s ability to tuck housing into every corner, and sports venues that unite people, even if just for a couple of hours at a time.

Discover more of Abigail’s work at her website, hereandtherepaintings.com, and on her Instagram @HereandTherePaintings.

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]]><![CDATA[Dense Neighborhoods Enrich the Suburbs]]>https://citybuildernc.org/p/dense-neighborhoods-enrich-the-suburbshttps://citybuildernc.org/p/dense-neighborhoods-enrich-the-suburbsSun, 22 Mar 2026 11:02:07 GMT

This design by Grenfell Architecture shows a mixed-use community of over 100 housing units proposed for the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

See more of Grenfell’s designs here.

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]]><![CDATA[Paris Builds Streets for People]]>https://citybuildernc.org/p/paris-builds-streets-for-peoplehttps://citybuildernc.org/p/paris-builds-streets-for-peopleSun, 08 Mar 2026 20:06:13 GMT

This sketch by Abigail Gillin, titled Corners of Paris, shows a mixed-use community that enables walkability and casual connection.

Abigail’s sketches capture people’s favorite places, most of which are inherently urban and vibrant: lively street corners with chairs and people spilling onto the sidewalk, Parisian rooftops showcasing the city’s ability to tuck housing into every corner, and sports venues that unite people, even if just for a couple of hours at a time.

Discover more of Abigail’s work at her website, hereandtherepaintings.com, and on her Instagram @HereandTherePaintings.

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]]><![CDATA[Intersections Should Become Public Squares]]>https://citybuildernc.org/p/intersections-should-become-publichttps://citybuildernc.org/p/intersections-should-become-publicSun, 01 Mar 2026 12:02:47 GMT

This cartoon by Léon Krier reimagines the standard American streetscape as an welcoming piazza. Krier invites us to ponder what walkable beauty our communities would gain if we let our cities and towns develop more organically.

Lessons from Léon: Krier on North Carolina is our series honoring Léon Krier (1946–2025), applying his human-scale sketches to the future of the Triangle.

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]]><![CDATA[A Ross Chapin Affordable Pocket Neighborhood in Durham?]]>https://citybuildernc.org/p/a-ross-chapin-affordable-pocket-neighborhoodhttps://citybuildernc.org/p/a-ross-chapin-affordable-pocket-neighborhoodSun, 05 Oct 2025 16:32:57 GMT

Adjacent to the Duke Smart home, “Swift and Faber” was a schematic for an affordable faculty / staff housing project proposed for Duke University.

It was designed by Ross Chapin in 2013, and modeled off of the restricted-buyer covenants system that was used to build Trinity Heights in 2001.

Swift and Faber featured a common court, a commons building and ADUs on every lot, all anchored by its highly-desired location nestled halfway between Duke’s East and West Campuses. In total, there were 30 new homes proposed.

Despite the beautiful renderings the project never proceeded.

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