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Pariss youngest neighborhood was built over the last two decades atop a former rail yard and a new station on the Paris Metro Line 14. Clichy-Batignolles, in the 17th arrondissement, is roughly split into thirds, with two developed areas hugging the massive, resplendent Martin Luther King Park. The quarters quiet, mostly car-free streets are fronted by stores, cafes, and schools. These businesses and institutions occupy the ground floors of apartment and office buildings designed in an astonishing array of shapes, materials and textures. Some structures are gently curved, others are sharply angular; some are covered in stucco, others in bamboo. Each unique building is narrow and daintily proportioned, its diverse neighbors near at hand. The neighborhoods invisible attributes are just as impressive. Clichy-Batignolles 3,400 homes are 50% mixed-income social housing, 20% rent controlled, and 30% market rate condos. The buildings tap into a geothermal energy source for their heating needs, and solar panels for their electricity. Garbage and recycling are carried out via a system of pneumatic tubes. In the United States, we might use the term transit-oriented development to describe this neighborhood. But anyone remotely familiar with the types of places to which this term is typically applied would recognize it as a poor fit for Clichy-Batignolles. This place is categorically different from any contemporary urban development project in the U.S. Its one of the finest examples of an emerging set of urban planning best practices percolating in Europe. You can call these neighborhoods ecodistricts. [Photo: courtesy of the author] In a new book, Building for People, architect Michael Eliason introduces Americans to the principles behind this new urban development paradigm. He acknowledges the inadequacy of the term, ecodistricts, just like transit-oriented development before it, and the difficulty of communicating what these neighborhoods are really like to an American audience. Much about modern urban development, and especially district-scale development, in other countries is a complete unknown to even practicing professionals on this side of the Atlantic, Eliason writes in the book. We have long lacked the syntax to even talk about many of these concepts. [Photo: courtesy of the author] What is an ecodistrict, really? Eliasons attempt to spread the word about this new vision for city-building is a logical next step from his advocacy of single-stair architecture, another hard-to-explain concept that has profound implications for the built environment. For years, Eliason has been telling anyone who will listen that single-stair buildings, rather than the dual-stairwell structures mandated by U.S. building codes, could make apartments cheaper, roomier, and homier. Now, the consciousness raising part of that mission has largely been accomplished. Eliason and a few other devoted advocates have convinced dozens of cities and states across the country to adopt new building codes that legalize this type of housing, most recently Los Angeles and Austin. Among a certain subset of policy nerds, single-stair architecture has become a household term. With his new book, Eliason is widening the aperture of his advocacy to encompass not only buildings, but neighborhoods. Ecodistricts like Clichy-Batignolles embody the urban design concepts that single-stair architecture makes possible, particularly when combined with car-free streets, generous green space, and economically diverse communities. [Photo: courtesy of the author] Ive always been fascinated by these larger scale developments that they’re building in China or Europe, and how theyre vastly different from the transit-oriented development we do in the U.S., Eliason tells Fast Company. Im trying to unlock some of the reasons why. One way to understand an ecodistrict is as a 15-minute city built from the ground up, according to Carlos Moreno, an urban planner in Paris who helped theorize both concepts. Whereas 15-minute cities can describe traditional or modern neighborhoods, when we evoke this notion of the ecodistrict, were talking about new urban developments, he says. At the same time, the ecodistrict, with these three elementsneighborhood, sustainability, and mixityis perfectly aligned with the 15-minute city. Still, these abstract terms can only convey so much information. For Americans, perhaps its easiest to begin with what these neighborhoods are not. Bulky dual-stair apartment buildings, the classic five-over-ones favored by American building codes and derided by Eliason, typically have a wide footprint on the land. Buildings that can take up an entire city block ensure theres little architectural variation in the cityscape. They tend to translate to minimal diversity in households or tenure, since the building design lends itself to one-bedroom rentals. With such wide structures, theres probably little rom on the property for green space; often, the only outdoor space is built atop the concrete parking podium. TODshort for ‘transit-oriented development’in the U.S. is still incredibly auto centric, Eliason says. Not only is there often far too much parking in these buildings, but theyre also situated on heavily trafficked arterial boulevards that make walking unpleasant and unsafe. We are pretty good at connecting development to transit, Eliason says, but I think in a lot of instances we’re not really thinking beyond that. [Photo: courtesy of the author] Beyond Transit-Oriented Development It wasnt until I had the chance to visit Clichy-Batignolles in person that the implications of this urban development paradigm really clicked for me. On a purely qualitative level, the neighborhood feels different from any place Ive been in the U.S., particularly any newly built neighborhood. The car-free and low-traffic streets make it easy and safe for anyone to walk to the park, the metro station, the shops, and office buildings, or the schools and daycares dotting the neighborhood. Though all of the buildings were constructed recently, their architectural variety, and their relatively narrow footprints make for a visually stimulating cityscape. [Photo: courtesy of the author] There were other unusual design features, to my American eyes. I noticed that balconies on these single-stair apartment buildings are ubiquitous. Instead of being bracketed onto the facade, as they often appear to be on American apartment buildings, these private outdoor spaces are embedded in the building envelope as a conscious element of the overall design. Part of what makes Clichy-Batignolles so architecturally invigorating is that it sits among traditional Haussmannian neighborhoods in the center of Paris, and the historic faubourgian suburban neighborhoods that ring the city, Moreno explains. This is the signature of the ecodistrict, he adds, a modern architecture of sustainability. [Photo: courtesy of the author] The American challenge Call it an ecodistrict, a 15-minute city, or an urbanist fever dream. Whatever it is, Americans are missing out. Eliasons book describes similar such places in Germany, Austria, and Sweden, along with a few under construction ecodistricts in Canada. A couple of developments in the States are beginning to approach this ideal. Eliason highlights Culdesac, the car-free community in Tempe, Arizona, for showing that pedestrianized interior streets can work in the U.S. The recently completed Mission Rock development in San Francisco employs car-free streets at a larger scale, and does a better job integrating eye-catching architecture, park space, and a diverse mixture of land uses and residents. But these examples are precious few, and they pale in comparison to Clichy-Batignolles. We have this idea around urbanism in the U.S. that cars have to go everywhere, Eliason says. Freed from that notion, the amount of open and public space there is to work with increases dramatically. Another thing the U.S. struggles with in new development is the mixity that Moreno views as essential to both ecodistricts and 15-minute cities: the mixed-income housing, the schools, the eldercare, the public spaces. The danger with ecodistricts is that they only respect the first two points, the neighborhood and sustainability, without the social mixity, Moreno says. Otherwise, this is the ecodistrict in a gentrified way. Eliason laments how in the U.S., the notion of the 15-minute city is generally understood in terms of being walking distance to stores and coffee shops. As with TOD, weve managed to absorb this urban planning best practice in only the most superficial sense. We’re so entrenched in the consumer aspect of 15-minute cities that we can’t even talk about those other things, he says. Its high time to start that conversation. As cities and states launch social housing initiatives, and the federal government considers increasing development on public lands, its all the more important for Americans to be aware of what world-class urban development can look like. Our newest neighborhoods dont have to be super-sized versions of the ones built in the 1950s. The ecodistrict and the 15-minute city can offer a new framework for city-building, an antidote to mindless sprawl. Or, these urban design principles can remain a foreign delicacy, a way of living to appreciate on vacation, but never here at home.
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Music is everywhereplaying in coffee shops, on hold lines, in Ubers, behind YouTube ads, and of course, in your earbuds while you work. Its so constant, we often treat it like harmless background noise. But the brain doesnt. Whether we realize it or not, music is processed across multiple brain regions tied to attention, memory, and emotionmeaning even passive listening can impact how we focus, feel, and make decisions. Background music is never truly in the background. It either supports or competes with your mental state. And that means we have a choice. In todays fast-paced work culture, where multitasking is the norm and focus is scarce, how we use music can either support or sabotage our goals. The good news? With just a little intention, your playlist can become one of the most powerful productivity tools you already have. Think about how youre listening to music Music is one of the most overlooked productivity tools. The key isnt whether you listen to music, its how. Theres a difference between active listening and what we call purposeful passive listening. Both are powerful, but for different reasons. Active listening is fully engaging with the musictuning into the melody, rhythm, harmony, or lyrics. Its nearly impossible to multitask during this kind of listening, and thats the point. Use active listening when you need to regulate stress, reset emotionally, or refocus. Breathing with a steady beat, or allowing a favorite instrumental piece to quiet your inner noise, can activate the brains attention and emotional regulation systems. Over time, practicing this kind of deep listening can even strengthen interpersonal relationships, as it helps reinforce our capacity to tune in to others. Purposeful passive listening, on the other hand, involves choosing music to support a task or shift your mental state, without fully focusing on it. This is not about letting an algorithm autoplay. Its about intentionally selecting tracks: maybe lo-fi beats while cleaning out your inbox, or ambient strings while brainstorming. This kind of listening taps into the brains default mode network, the system that activates during daydreaming, introspection, and idea incubation. Engaging the default mode network can help you step back from focused work and allow space for insight, creativity, and big-picture thinking. Music, when used intentionally in the background, becomes a bridge between tasks and a subtle support system for imaginative work. Turn music into a mental habit Music also plays a surprising role in executive functionthe cognitive control system that helps us switch between tasks, regulate impulses, and manage working memory. Background music can enhance learning outcomes by improving arousal and mood, which are closely linked to cognitive performance. Listening to familiar, patterned music while working can help create structure for the brain, making transitions smoother and sustained attention more accessible. Its why some people instinctively reach for a playlist before writing an email, prepping for a meeting, or transitioning into a different type of work block. And it goes deeper. Have a go-to song that gives you a burst of energy? Dont just save it for the gym. Drop it into the middle of your workday, right before a presentation, during an afternoon slump, or when motivation dips. When you use the same song consistently with a particular task, your brain starts building an association. Over time, the music becomes a cue, like a mental shortcut into a focused or energized state. Maybe its We Will Rock You before a big pitch, or River Flows in You for concentration. Music activates the brains reward system, releasing dopamine, the same neurotransmitter associated with motivation and pleasure. The more consistently we attach meaning to a song, the more powerful its effect becomes. Use music enough, and your brain doesnt just hear the notes, it knows what to do next. Sound can be a strategy Music isnt just something we hear; its something that actively shapes our brain states. When used with intention, sound becomes a strategy: for focus, for recovery, for creativity, or for connection. In a world full of noise, its not about turning the music off. Its about tuning in. How to use music more intentionally at work Create a 3-track playlist: one for focus, one for a reset, one to energize. Pair a consistent song with a task you want to build into habit, like writing, prepping, or unwinding. Avoid music with lyrics when doing language-based tasks like writing or reading. Use instrumental or ambient music to transition between meetings or block your day. Try bookending your work day with music. Use the same track to start and end, and signal your brain into a productive rhythm. With just a little intention, your daily soundtrack can become one of the most effective tools for doing better workand feeling better while doing it.
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Spring showers might bring flowers, but they can be a real hassle when you’re trying to look presentable at the office. Many of the best raincoats are made by outdoor brands, which tend to focus on utility rather than aesthetics. But a rugged jacket that is perfect for hiking through the rain can really ruin a professional look. When you’re headed to work, what you need is a jacket that is sleek and minimal, inspired by a traditional silhouette, like a trench coat or a car coat, but made from high-tech waterproof or water repellent materials. And ideally, you can find one that is so elegant that you want to reach for it throughout the spring and fall, even when the forecast is clear. Fortunately, there are many beautiful rain jackets that fit this description that match many styles and price points. Here are some of our favorites. Best Performance Canada Goose: Cardero Rain Jacket, $895 If you’re looking for complete rain protection, the Cardero jacket offers 100% waterproofing, thanks to its fabric and seam-sealed construction. It features three layers of material to keep you warm (It is perfect for spring days when the temperatures hover around 30 degrees Fahrenheit.) But it is not bulky. It has a sleek, contoured silhouette, thanks to a drawcord on the interior that cinches your waist. The large hood will keep your face dry (and makeup from running) through even the stormiest weather. Most Effortlessly Chic Sezane: Hugo Parka, $365 The French label Sezane has developed a parka designed to fit perfectly with its vintage-inspired, effortless Parisian aesthetic. What makes this jacket sing is all the little details: the large buttons, the wide sleeves that can be rolled up and attached, the oversize hood. It is made from a breathable organic cotton, with a water-resistant finish so it will keep you dry in most conditions. (You may want to wait out the torrential downpour, however.) That said, it is so fetching that you’ll want to wear it throughout the spring and fall. Best For Travel Stutterheim: Mosebacke Lightweight Raincoat, $270 Swedish label Stutterheim specializes in raincoats, so it knows what it’s doing. The Mosebacke epitomizes Scandinavian style, with its a-line shape and oversized hood. It is designed to make it easy to move: The eyelets under the arms create ventilation and the drawstring on the hood ensures it stays on when it’s very wet outside. It is thin, which makes it easy to pack for unpredictable weather as well as for traveling. Best Value Everlane: The Anorak, $178 If you want a rain jacket that will get the job done without breaking the bank, we suggest Everlane’s anorak. Made of a lightweight fabric blend of organic cotton and recycled nylon, it is treated with a water-resistant finish. It has a large hood that is both practical and a nice design element. In keeping with the brand’s pared-down aesthetic, it features clean lines without any unnecessary details. For those who need a slightly more casual jacket to wear to work, this is a good pick. Best in Class Mackage: Winn 2-in-1 Classic Trench Coat, $1,190 For a classic trench style that will keep you both warm and dry, Mackage has you covered. The Canadian brand has developed a flattering, tailored coat that is full of versatile features. It has a removable inner liner that adds warmth, so you can wear it through the colder months of the spring and fall, when the weather falls to below freezing. (This liner is also washable.) The exterior fabric is water-repellent and features a rain shedder feature that wicks water away from your body. But apart from its functionality, it is just a beautiful coat with plenty of chic details that make it stand out: buttoned shoulder tabs, a statement belt, adjustable cuffs and buttoned throat latch. While this jacket is on the pricier end of our list, it is good value because you can wear it year-round.
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