Did you donate to charity in the past, but no longer do so? If the answer is yes, youre not alone. For the second year in a row, the philanthropy research foundation Giving USA reported that fewer Americans are donating to nonprofits than they used to, and the total amount of giving is declining once inflation is taken into account.Some in the philanthropy world are calling it a generosity crisis fewer than half of American households now give cash to charity. Twenty million fewer households donated in 2016 than in 2000. And the money that is being given is increasingly coming from a small number of super-wealthy people.The only surprising thing about these findings, to me, though, is that anyone would be surprised.Why arent people donating to nonprofits?One big, and rather intuitive, reason why fewer people are donating money to registered nonprofits these days is the general state of the economy. The number of donors started sharply declining right around the tail end of the Great Recession in 2010. Of households that stopped donating money to nonprofits between 2000 and 2016, most earned less than $50,000 per year.Young people are also less likely to donate to registered charities than older people. The relationship between age and willingness to give away money makes sense the younger you are, the fewer years youve had to earn money. The Vox guide to givingThe holiday season is giving season. This year, Vox is exploring every element of charitable giving from making the case for donating 10 percent of your income, to recommending specific charities for specific causes, to explaining what you can do to make a difference beyond donations. You can find all of our giving guide stories here.But the age gap has grown over the past few years. In part, this can be explained by high costs of living, student loan debt, and inflation. Younger donors simply dont have money right now, said Rasheeda Childress, a senior editor at The Chronicle of Philanthropy.But we cant blame the economy for everything. The decline in organized religion might be the biggest factor in the decline in charitable giving. Religious institutions are major hubs of philanthropy highly religious adults volunteer nearly twice as much as other adults in the US, and roughly half of them volunteer through a religious organization. A report by the Do Good Institute, which conducts philanthropy research at the University of Maryland, found that people who belong to community groups, religious or otherwise, are more likely than others to volunteer and donate money. Its not that religion necessarily makes people more charitable. Community does specifically, community where charitable giving is centered and expected. But as participation in organized religion declines, so does giving.Beyond religion, people seem to be losing faith in institutions the government, the media, and nongovernmental organizations like nonprofits. Nonprofits are one of the most trusted institutions in the US, but only about half of Americans have faith in them. Political polarization may be partially to blame organizations that are colored by partisan values, like religious organizations and civil rights groups, are less trusted than nonprofits focused on more bipartisan issues like wildlife conservation. For Nonprofit Quarterly, Ruth McCambridge speculated that, as the gap between rich and poor gets wider, people are more likely to view nonprofits as compliant handmaidens to an unjust system. Its not that people are less generous, its because they dont trust organizations that cater to the rich donors they depend on, McCambridge added.At the same time, a survey of over 2,100 adults in the US found that, of those who stopped giving to charity over the past five years, 47 percent said that they chose to stop donating because they believed wealthier households should be pulling more weight.Historically, reaching out to small-dollar donors has not been an effective use of time for nonprofits, even though many nonprofits particularly those in less affluent communities depend on recurring small donations to stay afloat. Why pour energy into persuading 10,000 people to donate $10 each, when you could get all $100,000 from one wealthy donor?Its almost becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy, Childress said. By catering to the wealthy, nonprofits are going after where the money is right now, but theyre not growing where the money is going to be.The charitable tax deduction system was literally designed to benefit the rich. If you dont earn a lot of money, claiming charitable donations doesnt make much sense, especially after former President Trumps tax cuts in 2017 reduced the need to itemize deductions.A totally reasonable reaction might be, Who cares? Rich people have money to spare. Let them pay for everything!But if we let rich people dominate philanthropy, we give them the power to shape how nonprofits operate. You dont want to be beholden to anyone, said Phil Buchanan, president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy and author of Giving Done Right. If an organization that ought to be grounded in generosity and community is visibly propped up by a handful of billionaires and corporations, its not a great look. If donors are not immersed in the community an organization is trying to serve, theyre less likely to understand what that community really needs. And centering the wealthy certainly doesnt convince already-suspicious young middle-class adults to get involved.The Generosity Commission, a nonpartisan team led by The Giving Institute and Giving USA Foundation, has spent years trying to figure out where all the non-wealthy donors have gone. Theres certainly a monetary giving crisis, Childress said. But if you look at the data, people are being generous just not in ways that were familiar with.In other words, the apparent generosity crisis may not be a crisis of generosity at all. Measuring generosity is a bit like measuring happiness or loneliness weird. Trying to nail down a feeling with statistics requires quantifying something that cant really be quantified. Inevitably, the final score will be an imperfect reflection of the feeling, heavily skewed by whats possible to measure.Today, measuring cash donations to registered charities is relatively simple. These gifts are reported to the IRS, leaving behind a paper trail that can be tracked by organizations like Giving USA. A 2020 study conducted by the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society found that people in the US give in ways that extend far beyond tax-exempt donations to nonprofits.These forms of giving are harder to trace, though. When I gift a guitar to my neighbor who wants to teach his kid to play, for example, theres no official record of that transaction just a couple Facebook comments and a face-to-face conversation. The IRS cant trace it, so in the eyes of Giving USA, it never happened.Mutual aid or the reciprocal exchange of resources within a community has existed worldwide for thousands of years. But it entered the spotlight in the US during the pandemic through community fridges, child care collectives, and healthcare funds. For a population that increasingly distrusts political institutions and craves human connection, mutual aid can feel more impactful than donating to a nonprofit whether it really is or not. A survey conducted by GivingTuesday, the organization behind the post-Thanksgiving global day of giving, found that 76 percent of respondents between 18 and 34 prefer to give directly to individuals in need, and not nonprofits only 46 percent of those over 50 agreed.Donations raised through crowdfunding also grew 33.7 percent in 2022, with 6,455,080 crowdfunding campaigns launched across the world that year. The crowdfunding market is projected to grow to as much as $300 billion by 2030. But while a GoFundMe donation counts as generous in my book, Giving USA cant track it so, we have a generosity crisis.But we know that humans, for the most part, are generous. In 2022, the Charities Aid Foundation found that 4.2 billion people 72 percent of the worlds adult population gave money, time, or service to someone they didnt know that year.Over the past several years, the Generosity Commission has been working to tell the full story of generosity, so nonprofits can better understand how people want to make their communities better. In a report published in September, the Generosity Commission identified several possible explanations for declines in volunteering and donations, including the Great Recession, declining religiosity, and delays in traditional adult milestones like marriage, home ownership, and parenthood but they note that further research is necessary.Related:Are Americans generous?So, what should we do? To be clear: nonprofits do a lot of good, both in the US and abroad. Especially in smaller, less affluent communities, they absolutely depend on normal, not-super-rich donors like me and were not pulling our weight.One could argue that, because I am, temporarily, a member of the richest 1 percent of the worlds population, I am morally obligated to donate a portion of my income to charity. At least in theory, if I schedule recurring donations to highly effective charities, I could save a number of lives in nations where my money will stretch much farther than it can in the US. But such effective philanthropy has always been the exception in fact, giving to international causes actually declined by 1.6 percent after inflation in 2023. The vast majority of charitable giving in the US is domestic. Most donors arent paying for malaria-preventing bed nets overseas theyre mainly donating to Ivy League schools and religious organizations. Just this week, Michael Bloomberg donated $1 billion dollars to Johns Hopkins University to pay for med students tuition. If I were in med school, Id be thrilled student debt sucks. But med students, especially from prestigious schools like the No. 2 ranked Hopkins, generally go on to make loads of money. Helping them out is less effective than, say, sending $1 billion dollars to directly help flood survivors in Kenya. Personally, I dont currently donate a portion of my income to registered nonprofits, highly effective or otherwise. Im still earning back the savings I drained as a freelance journalist (after spending six years on a grad student stipend). Michael Bloomberg didnt pay for my Ivy League education, and with tens of thousands of dollars in undergraduate student loan debt hanging over my head, I laugh every time I receive, and promptly delete, a fundraising text from my alma mater.But I do give. I regularly support Kickstarter campaigns, gift household items to my neighbors, and donate to a mutual aid fund supporting sex workers in my community. That makes me like other zillennials in my cohort, who tend to direct their money toward more informal charities than traditional nonprofits. That may not necessarily count in the IRSs statistics, but I dont think its fair to call us ungenerous.Given the current state of democracy writ large, it makes perfect sense to me that so many of us value direct, tangible impact over indirect measurements of effectiveness. Informal community-centered giving can feel more impactful, even if it doesnt score as high on a utilitarian scale. And what giving within your community can do whether in the form of cash, time, or stuff is build connection at a moment when we need it more than ever.Middle-class people arent unwilling to give. They just seem to be giving differently, and philanthropic organizations are still figuring out how to measure charitable giving beyond tax-deductible donations to 501(c)(3) nonprofits.Whether channeled through money or not, people perform acts of kindness all the time. Hopefully, the philanthropy sector will start to see them.A version of this story originally appeared in the Future Perfect newsletter. Sign up here!Update, November 20: This story was originally published on July 10 and has been updated to include details about the Generosity Commissions September 2024 report. Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Calling all Valorant Agents as the latest updates coming to Riot Games' competitive tactical shooter, including all weapon, Agent updates and a brand new shield are coming in the new patch

These discounts will only be available until December 2 (Microsoft)Over 1,000 Xbox games are on sale ahead of Black Friday, for up to 85% off and including both new games and older classics.With Nintendo having already begun offering Black Friday discounts and Sony rumoured to be following suit, it only makes sense for Microsoft to make its own plans.Black Friday isnt until next week, on Friday, November 29, but Xbox related discounts are currently already live on Microsofts website, with hundreds of select games and DLC going for as much as 85% off.Although the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles are enjoying a price cut in the U.S, Microsoft isnt making any similar offers here in the UK. Hopefully thatll change as we get closer to Black Friday.In the meantime, weve scoured the Xbox store for the best games and discounts. As far as Xbox exclusives go, Microsofts main 2024 releases Senuas Saga: Hellblade 2 and Age Of Mythology: Retold are 35% and 20% off, respectively.Meanwhile, the already generously priced Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which comes with six games, is now less than a tenner.Other notably cheaper 2024 hits include EA Sports FC 25 and Tekken 8, which are an enticing 50% off. Surprisingly, the excellent Metaphor: ReFantazio, which only launched last month, is already 25% off as well. If youve yet to play it, rectify that immediately and see why its among the nominees for Game of the Year.Weve compiled these discounts into a list below, complete with prices and links to the individual games on the Xbox store.Best Xbox game discounts for Black Friday 2024Age Of Mythology: Retold Standard Edition 17.99 (20% off)Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration 17.59 (45% off)Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora Deluxe Edition 29.99 (60% off)Crash Bandicoot: Quadrilogy Bundle 33.99 (60% off)Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition 38.99 (40% off)Dead Space Digital Deluxe Edition 19.99 (75% off)Diablo 4: Vessel Of Hatred Standard Edition 26.24 (25% off)Doom Eternal Deluxe Edition 14.99 (75% off)Dragons Dogma 2 34.09 (45% off)EA Sports FC 25 Standard Edition 34.99 (50% off)Epic Mickey: Rebrushed 34.99 (30% off)Halo: The Master Chief Collection 7.49 (75% off)Hogwarts Legacy 19.49 (70% off)Metaphor: ReFantazio 44.99 (25% off)MLB The Show 24 Standard Edition 8.99 (85% off)Resident Evil 4 16.49 (50% off)Senuas Saga: Hellblade 2 32.49 (35% off)Star Wars Outlaws 52.49 (25% off)Tekken 8 34.99 (50% off)WWE 2K24 Cross-Gen Digital Edition 21.44 (67% off)But seriously, go play Metaphor (Sega)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.ArrowMORE: The best early Black Friday 2024 deals on PS5, Xbox, and Switch consolesArrowMORE: PS5 Pro has already had a price cut in the UK ahead of Black FridayArrowMORE: Tears Of The Kingdom gets huge price cut in Nintendo Black Friday sale

Its long been believed that if you want to get the true measure of aDoctor Who starwho, deep down, their incarnation of the Time Lord really is compared to what came beforeyou find it in their first encounter with a Dalek. Whether its in the writing or performance, the Doctor is formed in their response to the most ancient and iconic of evils the show has, no matter how many stories come before or after that fabled matchup. So its kind of wild then, that Ncuti Gatwas first proverbial crack at the Kaled whip is going to be in an extremely limited engagement. This week the BBC announcedA Dalek Awakens, a new escape room experience for fans in the UK developed with Escape Hunt. Tasking players with boarding a ship occupied by a sole Dalek,A Dalek Awakens will see people solve puzzles together to escape the murderous wrath of the Doctors greatest foe without being able to rely on the Time Lords presencedirectly at least. As seen in the teaser video above, Gatwa will reprise his role as the Doctor forA Dalek Awakens, providing voice over to guide players along in their quest to escape certain doomand of course provide context for what a Dalek is really capable of. Which means that this is, in fact, the very first time anyone will actually get to hear what the 15th Doctor is like when faced with the threat of the Daleks rather than in the show itself. Its a peculiar choice, but not all that of a surprising one. Although theres been teases and hints that a new, redesigned Dalek-kind will appear in the latest iteration ofDoctor Whoat some point, returning showrunner Russell T. Davies has also just as much made clear that the latest era of the show wants to keep the Daleks at plungers length for a little while. I think theyve been done a lotpeople are expecting them every year now. So I think they need a good pause, Davies told British tabloid the Mirror ahead of last years 60th anniversary specials. Hopefully, theres some enemies that will become new classics, but its always good to move on.Of course, Davieswas also about to speed-run the 14th Doctors three-episode tenure by having David Tennants latest take on the Time Lord face off against an early Dalek prototype in a charity mini-episode, so that good pause wasnt really for all that long, but still. On the one hand, it makes sense, given that the Daleks had became a regular staple of the New Years specials during Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnalls era ofDoctor Who just beforehandmaking them an expected appearance blunts the Daleks of their special identity and relationship to the Doctor and Doctor Who at large. On the other: pretty insane that the first time some people will actually get to hear Ncuti Gatwa talk about fighting Daleks is going to be for an escape room experience!Fingers crossed it wont be all that long until we get something similar within the show itselfsomething Gatwa is just as eager to see himself. By the time that Im done with Doctor Who, I better have faced a Dalek. What on earth would be the point of me being Doctor Who without facing a Dalek, the actor asked of Entertainment Weekly in a cover story ahead of the premiere of his debut season earlier this year. Whatwould the point be, indeed. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

By Passant Rabie Published November 19, 2024 | Comments (9) | A fully stacked Starship at Starbase ahead of its sixth test flight. SpaceX SpaceX is preparing for its second attempt to catch a massive rocket booster using its giant chopstick arms, as the company gears up for Starships sixth test flight. Starship is set to launch on Tuesday, November 19, with a 30-minute launch window that opens at 5:00 p.m. ET. Just over a month since its groundbreaking booster catch, the rocket will lift off from SpaceXs Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, for another suborbital flight designed to test Starships reusability. SpaceX will broadcast Starships sixth test flight on its website and through the companys account on X, with a livestream scheduled to begin around 45 minutes before liftoff. Just ahead of the scheduled launch, President-Elect Donald Trump arrived at Starbase to attend Tuesdays launch. Recent events indicate that he and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk could collaborate closely on shaping future spaceflight policy, particularly regarding regulations.A few days before liftoff, SpaceX transported the Super Heavy booster to the launch mount at Starbase, preparing it for stacking with the Starship upper stage. The sixth test flight will mark the fastest turnaround for a Starship rocket, having launched just over a month ago. Happily for SpaceX, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted the company approval for integrated flight test 5 that would also allow its Starship rocket to fly a sixth time under the same license. Previously, SpaceX would have to wait for the FAA to grant it a new license. Starship lifted off for its fifth time on October 13, but for the first time, Starships Super Heavy 232-foot-tall (71 meters) booster gently came down towards a special tower, named Mechazilla, which caught the rocket with its extended mechanical arms like a giant pair of chopsticks.For its sixth launch, SpaceX will attempt another Starship booster catch, while the upper stage will reignite one of its Raptor engines in space for the first time and carry out maneuvering tests for reentry and descent.With each test flight, Starship moves closer to packing useful payloads and reaching orbital heights. SpaceX launched its Starship rocket for the first time in April 2023, but its debut was less than ideal as the vehicle entered into a fatal tumble that forced ground controllers to issue a self-destruct command right before the four-minute mark of the mission. Things slowly improved for the rocket each time it took off. Starships fourth liftoff in June broke new grounds compared to its previous test flights, with the rocket largely surviving peak heating and max aerodynamic pressure during its controlled reentry. That paved the way for its reentry and booster catch earlier in October, an impressive feat that SpaceX is hoping to repeat for a second time.Ultimately, SpaceX plans on retrieving and reusing both Starships booster and its upper stage. The companys founder and CEO Elon Musk recently expressed SpaceXs goal of catching the upper stage using Mechazilla by early next year. SpaceX is also moving towards more frequent launches of Starship, with Musk aiming for 25 launches in 2025. Whether or not the rocket can keep up with the space billionaires ambition timelines remains to be seen. Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that SpaceX moved the Super Heavy booster for stacking atop the upper stage. Its the other way aroundthe upper stage is placed atop the booster.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Passant Rabie Published November 19, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published November 14, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published November 11, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published November 8, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published November 8, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published November 4, 2024

Miniature Architecture: 17 Projects that Explore Interior Design for ChildrenSave this picture!NUBO Kindergarten / PAL Design. Image Michelle Young, Amy PiddingtonThe world certainly looks different through the eyes of a young child; enormous, intriguing, and somewhat overwhelming, and it has long been believed that what we encounter as children shapes our perspective of the world. When asked about his childhood memories in Switzerland, Peter Zumthor shared that the memories of his youth contain the deepest architectural experience, which has become reservoirs of the architectural atmospheres and images that he explores in his work as an architect today.Having a complete understanding of how children change and grow physically and psychologically throughout their childhood requires an in-depth observation of different factors, such as their hereditary traits and genetics, the interactions they have with other children and adults, as well as the environment they are living, playing, and learning in. In celebration of World Children's Day on November 20th, we look at how architects and designers stimulated children's autonomy and promoted their mental and physical well-being through architecture and interior design. This initiative aligns with the theme of World Architecture Day 2024: "Mobilizing the Next Generation for Urban Transformation," emphasizing the crucial role that thoughtful design plays in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future for our cities and the communities within them.Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, began to develop her educational method at the beginning of the 20th century. The famed Montessori pedagogy provides techniques and methods that contribute to the healthy development of children by setting up an environment that caters to their physical and mental well-being and stimulates their autonomy, self-esteem, and socialization skills. Related Article Learning Through Play: Architecture for Kids in Educational Spaces and Playgrounds Save this picture!The method tackles three pillars: the child, the conscious adult, and the prepared environment, all joined together and codependent on one another. This implies that a conscious adult who is well knowledgeable of child development is required to design the environment, one that is calm, peaceful, patient, welcoming, harmonious, and respectful for both the children and adults equally. With that being said, most architects started with the bedroom since it is where the child spends most of their time, and created spaces that follow through with the Montessori methodology, combined with other kid-friendly architectural features.Save this picture!Curved FormsSafety is perhaps one of the topmost priorities when designing children's spaces, and one of the most dangerous features is sharp edges and angles, especially when they're aligned with kids' eye levels or near their heads, hands, and legs. To avoid having to add protective extensions or stickers on the corners of furniture pieces, designers have resorted to designing curved forms with rounded and/or smoothed edges. In terms of aesthetics, curved silhouettes give spaces a young, fun, and modern look that "takes us back to our childhood" as explained in ArchDaily's 2020 Interior Design Trends. WeGrow / Bjarke Ingels GroupSave this picture!Sarreguemines Nursery / Michel Grasso + Paul Le QuernecSave this picture!Safe Materials and Fit-outsIt is very critical to keep kids zones bacteria-free, which is why parents often prefer to have surfaces that are easy to clean, harsh-chemicals free, and not prone to housing small insects, such as antibacterial glossy or semi-glossy surfaces, microfiber, or vinyl. In terms of fit-outs, interior designers have replaced handles and knobs on drawers and cabinets in kitchens and bedrooms with invisible hardware, ranging from magnetic push latches to integrated handles with concealed beveled edges. Initially, the objective was to have a minimal space with a seamless and sleek look, but designers found them to be appropriate and safe for kids' furniture as well.Save this picture!Lolly-Laputan Educational Restaurant / Wutopia LabSave this picture!Blue and Glue / HAO DesignSave this picture!ScaleIn his seminal text Towards a New Architecture, Le Corbusier stated that "a man looks at the creation of architecture with his eyes, which are 5 feet 6 inches from the ground" and not from the standpoint of a young child's eyes, which are on average, about 3 feet 6 inches from the ground. Interior spaces built for children should be scaled down to match their height and spatial needs so that they can move around and interact with the space without the intervention or help of an adult. In addition, being in smaller-scaled spaces removes the feeling of being overpowered by regular-sized rooms and furniture pieces, allowing kids to feel more safe and unrestrained. Michelberger Hotel, Room 304 / Sigurd LarsenSave this picture!Ouchi / HIBINOSEKKEI, Youji no Shiro, Kids Design LaboSave this picture!Interactive Spaces that Promote Physical ActivityTo further promote healthy physical and mental growth, architects have designed spaces that enable natural creativity and freedom of playing and exploring, whether it's through stacked geometric structures or built-in games and entertainment since kids learn best through physical engagement in the form of games or physical exercises. While some parents prefer to refrain from using digital screens and technology at such a young age, others like to engage their children early on through interactive screens built into their playrooms.Save this picture!Na School / Sulkin AskenaziSave this picture!Surfaces that Enable the Use of SensesIn addition to the digital screens mentioned above, the use of textured surfaces has proved to further enhance children's sensory receptors. Surfaces that create sound with friction or change colors help stimulate kids' senses. The same can be said for chalk or whiteboards, which help children improve their motor skills through drawing and painting. Mirrors, for instance, stimulate children's recognition of their own body and face and help them learn how to identify facial expressions and emotions.Save this picture!Charles House / Austin Maynard ArchitectsSave this picture!Accessibility and AdaptabilityOne of the most important characteristics of child-oriented architecture is child-only features, allowing them to rely solely on themselves. Similar to scale, accessible architecture gives room for children to explore and navigate the space themselves, however, no child is the same, and each age group has a different set of spatial needs. This is why it is recommended that spaces be flexible,evolving in parallel to children's growth.Geometrical Space for a Two Kid Family / Atelier D+YSave this picture!My Secret Garden / YestudioSave this picture!Openness to the OutdoorsChildren are not meant to be confined to one particular space; It is at this age that they get to use all their senses to explore the world around them. Taking into account the importance of the outdoors, architects incorporated access to nature through direct sunlight, extended landscapes from the outdoors, or water features. Projects built on the ground floor benefit from direct access to adjacent landscapes, giving children room to be out in the open.Act for Kids / m3architectureSave this picture!AKN Nursery / HIBINOSEKKEI + Youji no ShiroSave this picture!Color PaletteAccording to the Montessori method, having a lot of colors and textures in the same environment can cause confusion and irritation for children, especially those in the younger age spectrum. Therefore, the method recommends selecting very few options to facilitate the development of decision-making capacities. Save this picture!Hangzhou Neobio Family Park / X+LivingSave this picture!This article is part of an ArchDaily series that explores features of interior architecture, from our own database of projects. Every month, we will highlight how architects and designers are utilizing new elements, new characteristics, and new signatures in interior spaces around the world. As always, at ArchDaily, we highly appreciate the input of our readers. If you think we should mention specific ideas, please submit your suggestions.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on November 17, 2021, and updated on November 20, 2023. Related Article Learning Through Play: Architecture for Kids in Educational Spaces and Playgrounds Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorDima StouhiAuthorCite: Dima Stouhi. "Miniature Architecture: 17 Projects that Explore Interior Design for Children " 20 Nov 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/971939/miniature-architecture-15-projects-that-explore-interior-design-for-children&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save? 17 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Transforming Portland: How a Demolished Highway Became a Pioneering Waterfront ParkSave this picture!Aerial View of Portland Steel Bridge Over Calm River. Image Nicholas J Klein via ShutterstockUrban landscapes are shaped by the infrastructure we prioritize, reflecting the needs and values of society at a given moment in time. One striking example of this evolution is Portland's Harbor Drivea highway that was once an artery of heavy automobile traffic but was later demolished to make way for a waterfront park. This transformation not only reshaped downtown Portland, Oregon, United States but also marked a significant milestone in urban planning: the removal of a major highway in favor of public space. Harbor Drive's story set the stage for a growing trend of reducing urban traffic infrastructure and reimagining cities for people rather than cars.The United States started the construction of a new interstate highway system which was mainly completed between 1956 and 1973. The construction boom expanded from the approval of the 1956 highway legislation. It was supported by lobbyists from businesses like automobile manufacturers, oil companies, makers of cement and steel, construction firms, and other businesses, who all recognized the significance of modern, high-speed highways. These roads were going to connect all the nation's major cities and would speed long-distance travel by truck and automobile. Along with the interstate lines, there was also a system of urban expressways that linked the central cities with the surrounding suburbs and facilitated commuting.Save this picture!Portland, like all the other big American urban centers, was part of this trend and embraced highway construction. That is why in 1942, Harbor Drive was built as a solution to its growing traffic congestion and a means to support the city's economy. Positioned along the west bank of the Willamette River, the highway was a vital link between the industrial heart of the city and the expanding suburbs. It represented the prevailing urban planning philosophy of the mid-20th century, which prioritized cars as symbols of modernity and progress. Related Article The Rose Kennedy Greenway: How Boston Unpaved its Way to a Greener City Center This was further reinforced by the decision in 1943 to hire New York City's most famous city planner, Robert Moses, to develop a blueprint for Portland's future. Even though Moses's plans were well received by the local government, they were dropped by 1945 due to high costs. However, some pieces of his proposal survived, notably the Interstate 405/I-5 loop around downtown composed of Stadium Freeway which would be joined to the East Bank Freeway through the Fremont Bridge.Save this picture!This raised the question of whether Harbor Drive would remain essential to Portland's connectivity once the new loop was constructed around it. By the 1960s, Harbor Drive began to show its limitations. Portland's population and the city's dependency on cars had grown. As traffic volumes increased, the highway became clogged, causing delays and frustration for commuters. At this point, Harbor Drive was a continuous scene of elevated passes and upgrades which never completely solved the traffic problem. Meanwhile, the central city's waterfront had become an unappealing backdrop of asphalt and concrete.Save this picture!This problem was not exclusive to Portland. Throughout the United States, many cities had been implementing highway projects passing through the central parts of downtown, leading to the increasing dissatisfaction from local communities. Entire neighborhoods, as well as parks and historic districts, were being demolished to make way for these central arteries. This caused a general discontent nationwide which is known today as the Freeway Revolt. It saw its first expression in San Francisco, specifically revolving around the construction of the massive double-decked Embarcadero Freeway that ran along the city's historic waterfront. In Portland, it rose under the name of "Riverfront for People". While most of the efforts focused on avoiding planned freeway construction, Portland's revolt was the first to actually achieve the destruction of an existing highway.Save this picture!The turning point for Harbor Drive came in 1974 when Governor Tom McCall boldly decided to close it. Later, Harbor Drive was demolished, and in its place, the city developed the waterfront park as a green space that reconnected downtown with the River, and commissioned the architecture firm Wolff Zimmer Gunsul Frasca (ZGF) to draft a $20 million Master Plan in 1975. This decision was radical for its time, as Harbor Drive became the first major highway in the United States to be permanently removed. Nonetheless, the project faced significant opposition from some business leaders and suburban commuters who feared that removing the highway would lead to increased congestion and economic decline.Save this picture!The removal of Harbor Drive and the creation of Tom McCall Waterfront Park symbolized a broader shift in urban priorities. Officially opened in 1978, the park spans approximately 30 acres and features walking paths, open lawns, and access to the river. By prioritizing green space over highway infrastructure, the city pioneered in creating a more livable urban core that attracted residents, businesses, and tourists. The removal of Harbor Drive did not lead to the catastrophic traffic problems some had predicted; instead, traffic was absorbed by other routes such as Moses' Freeway loop, and people adapted to new transportation patterns. It was a transformative moment that showed Portland's willingness to prioritize public space over automobile infrastructure. Save this picture!In the decades that followed, other cities in the United States and around the world began to take examples from the Tom McCall Waterfront Park project. San Francisco's Embarcadero Freeway was demolished after it was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, leading to the creation of a waterfront boulevard. Another example is Boston's Rose Kennedy Greenway, which in the 1990s started the Big Dig. It replaced the Central Artery highway with a network of tunnels and a green belt of parks, reconnecting the city with its waterfront. Similarly, in 2004 Seoul, South Korea, removed a major elevated highway to restore the Cheonggye Stream, creating a linear park right in the heart of the city's downtown. Finally, in 2016, Taipei City in Taiwan, demolished the Zhongxiao overpass which crossed a historic area that included the last surviving Qing dynasty-style North Gate, restoring the monument to its former dignity and creating a plaza around it.Save this picture!This trend toward highway removal reflects a growing shift from car-centric urban planning inherited from the 20th century, into urban trends that take a more thoughtful approach toward their impact on the fabric of their cities. Throughout the decades, highways have been recognized for dividing neighborhoods, contributing to air and noise pollution, and occupying valuable land that could otherwise support housing, parks, or other community assets. In most cases, removing them has allowed cities to reclaim urban space and promote sustainable modes of transportation like walking, cycling, and public transit.Save this picture!Save this picture!The story of Harbor Drive's removal is one of pioneering transformation and innovation. By demolishing a highway and replacing it with a park, Portland not only reconnected its downtown with the river but also paved the way for a new approach to urban planning. Harbor Drive's legacy extends far beyond Portland, influencing cities worldwide to rethink the role of traffic infrastructure and embrace a more human-centered vision for urban life.This feature is part of an ArchDaily series titled AD Narratives, where we share the story behind a selected project, diving into its particularities. Every month, we explore new constructions from around the world, highlighting their story and how they came to be. We also talk to the architects, builders, and community, seeking to underline their personal experiences. As always, at ArchDaily, we highly appreciate the input of our readers. If you think we should feature a certain project, please submit your suggestions.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorMoises CarrascoAuthorCite: Moises Carrasco. "Transforming Portland: How a Demolished Highway Became a Pioneering Waterfront Park" 20 Nov 2024. ArchDaily. 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