Brandon Donnelly — Daily insights for city builders. Published since 2013 by Toronto-based real estate developer Brandon Donnelly. — Page 1031

Back in 2013, when this blog was in its infancy, I argued that Toronto needs a consistent taxi brand . Since nobody was reading the blog at the time, I am sure that most of you have never read this post. I even forgot about it, until last night when I posted this photo of Hong Kong to Instagram:

It reminded me of the role that taxis play in city branding. This photo is clearly of Hong Kong. But take away the taxis in the foreground and I would really have to think in order to identity it. I would then be searching for street signs and looking to see what side of the road the cars are driving on.

Now, a few things have changed since 2013. Back then I didn’t have the same appreciation for decentralized ride hailing (Uber and Lyft), though I did have the same distaste for the taxi cartel. And I recognize that there is a tension between centralized taxi branding and a decentralized approach to ride fulfillment. 

I’m not exactly sure how to solve this problem, but maybe it gets easier with autonomous vehicles and probable changes to the way consumers own, or don’t own cars. I believe it’s important for places and cities to have specificity. If you have any thoughts, please leave a comment below. 

(I am trying to respond to all comments on this blog, because I’m finding it impossible to respond to all blog related emails. Sorry.)

The New York Times recently asked its readers – specifically the ones who live near or above the article circle – what it is like to live in darkness for part of the year. 

Almost 700 people responded with photos and stories, both of which can be found here . The photos are absolutely spectacular. Make sure you watch the video.

I love snow and I love being in the mountains, but I can only imagine what it must be like to live for months with no (or minimal) light. It must do a number on your mental state.

At the same time, there is something so sublime and beautiful about these places. I can’t say I’m ready to move, but I would like to experience it one day.

I just ordered a copy of  Multi-Unit Housing in Urban Cities: From 1800 to Present Day by Katy Chey . I figured this was a book that we should have hanging around our office. I also like to support the Daniels Faculty .

The book covers the following multi-unit housing typologies:

• Back-to-backs in Birmingham
  

• Tenements in London
  

• Haussmann apartments in Paris
  

• Tenements in New York
  

• Tong lau in Hong Kong
  

• Perimeter block, linear block and block-edge in Berlin
  

• Perimeter block and solitaire in Amsterdam
  

• Space-enclosing structures in Beijing
  

• Kyosho jutaku in Tokyo
  

• High-rises in Toronto
  

In addition to each typology, the book analyzes the connection between the housing type and the city. Why did certain typologies flourish where they did and how have they helped to define their city?

It reminds me of what I was trying to do with some of my recent posts about Hong Kong’s typical tower plan , albeit with far less rigor than what I am sure has been applied to this book.

I am also curious to read what has been written about high-rises in Toronto. It goes to show you just how defining the current real estate cycle has been for this city. That’s our multi-unit housing typology.

Image: Daniels Faculty . My multi-unit home made the book.