The Efficiency and Design of Hexagonal Blocks

TLDRHexagonal blocks offer advantages such as continuous tiling, three-way intersections, and increased visibility. They require less road per land area and offer the potential for more parks and open spaces. Despite their benefits, hexagonal blocks never became popular due to a preference for cul-de-sacs in suburban planning. However, hexagons can still be found in cities like Canberra and New Delhi.

Key insights

🔺Hexagons can be continuously tiled, offering benefits in terms of road infrastructure and land use.

🚦Hexagons create three-way intersections, eliminating dangerous four-way intersections found in orthogonal grids.

🌳Hexagons offer the potential for more parks and open spaces, with a park hexagon surrounded by development repeating in a pattern.

🏢Hexagons require less road per land area, making development more affordable and maximizing land use.

🔺🚗Despite their advantages, hexagonal blocks never became popular due to the preference for cul-de-sacs in suburban planning.

Q&A

Why didn't hexagonal blocks become popular?

Hexagonal blocks never became popular due to the preference for cul-de-sacs in suburban planning, which created lots with larger front yards and smaller backyards.

Which cities have implemented hexagonal block designs?

Cities like Canberra in Australia and New Delhi in India have implemented hexagonal block designs in their urban planning.

What are the advantages of hexagonal blocks?

Hexagonal blocks offer advantages such as continuous tiling, three-way intersections, increased visibility, more efficient land use, and the potential for more parks and open spaces.

Do hexagonal blocks improve traffic flow?

Hexagonal blocks create three-way intersections, which have been shown to be safer than four-way intersections and improve traffic flow.

Are hexagonal blocks more cost-effective for development?

Hexagonal blocks require less road per land area, making development more affordable and maximizing land use, which can be more cost-effective.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Hexagonal blocks offer advantages in terms of road infrastructure, land use, and safety.

01:45Hexagonal blocks create three-way intersections, eliminating dangerous four-way intersections.

03:23Hexagonal blocks offer the potential for more parks and open spaces.

05:40Hexagonal blocks require less road per land area, making development more affordable and maximizing land use.

06:25Hexagonal blocks never became popular due to the preference for cul-de-sacs in suburban planning.