England Echo Towns (Housing Development) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

England Echo Towns (Housing Development) - Essay Example As the preliminary step, Department for Communities and Local Government announced a project to build up 10 eco-towns. This project proposal was duly supported by organisations such as Town and Country Planning Association. However, some institutions are sceptical about the success of the proposed project. Although the government got many suggestions on the proposed eco-towns, none of the plans was worth enough to ensure the effectiveness of the project framework. Subsequent to the long term discussions and consultation, the government published a new planning policy statement in 2009 that contained the basic ideas for the eco-towns. This paper will explore the sustainability of England’s eco-towns from a planning perspective. Features of England’s eco-town project England’s eco-town project is an innovative idea as it is highly relevant to the modern concept of infrastructural development. One of the objectives of eco-town project agreement is to build up 5,000 to 15,000 low carbon homes. The most significant feature of this project is that it would sharply comply with the framed set of environmental criteria; and hence the whole town under this plan would be carbon neutral (Eco-Town Report). This fascinating feature of the new project would assist the nation to mitigate its energy consumption rates. Similarly, the infrastructural facilities designed for this project ensure the public access to adjacent towns and cities in order to satisfy their requirements including jobs, transport, and services. Hopefully, a fixed percentage of new homes under this project would be affordable to all people. However, other varieties such as larger houses would also be available under this plan so as to meet the requirements of families with children and poor economic status. In short, the concept of eco-towns addresses the needs of different classes of the society by offering them diverse ranges of lifestyle facilities. In addition, the eco-towns will be leveraged with schools, shops, business space, and other modern facilities within the vicinity. The concept of eco-towns is a modified version of â€Å"green towns in Hammarby in Stockholm, Sweden and Vauban in Freiburg, Germany† (Q & A: Ecotowns, 2008). At the initial stage of the project, the government declared 15 locations across the England as the potential area for the project. In order to focus on each project effectively, the government has whittled down the 15 locations to10 after a three months’ local consultation phase. Among the 10 shortlisted locations, the government has decided to build 5 eco-towns by the end of 2016. The construction of remaining half portion of eco-towns has put off to 2020. In order for formulating an effective plan for these towns, some most celebrated architects are still working on this project. As some other notable features, the homes will be south-facing as it enables the ease capture of heat energy from the sun with the applic ation of photovoltaic panels. â€Å"There will also be plenty of green spaces, ample cycle lanes, and fewer roads for cars† (Q & A: Ecotowns, 2008). This expansional concept can be attributed to the developmental notions of Gordon Brown, the former prime minister of UK. Housing and environment were the two basic requirements according to Brown’s agenda. By designing this project, he thought to achieve both these

Critical Perspective on Contemporary Music Essay

Critical Perspective on Contemporary Music - Essay Example The purpose of this assignment is to critically assess the narrative of contemporary music. The critical assessment will be undertaken by using Bohemian Rhapsody by the rock band Queen as a basis of critique the narrative of contemporary music. Furthermore, different generalities of the course will also be included in the paper to create a background to assessment. Overview of the Course: The overall objective of the course is to understand the sociological, aesthetical and musical context to different genre of music such as jazz, hip hop, alternative rock etc. The outcome that have been predicted and to be achieved by the course is to develop effective critical perspective regarding history of music being produced in the contemporary era. The course allows critical evaluation of the factors that have had a great impact on the contemporary music. These factors include gender, race, class, aesthetics, technology etc (DeVeaux, 1991). Course Design: The course MUS 209 is a systematic le arning protocol regarding contemporary music and its origin. The progress of theoretical framework that backs up the trends in contemporary music is rooted in the history in a profound manner. It is due to this fact that the course involves assignments which allow brainstorming and critical approach towards learning about factors affecting musical trends (DeVeaux, 1991). Context: Likewise any other genre of music such as jazz and hip hop, rock genre has a splendid journey in terms of sound composition, stylistics, aesthetics etc. Rock history dates back to 1950s when the refinement of rock and roll was underway. Rock music was merely taken as a way to show aggression and solitude with high notes and intense lyrics. This majorly affected the way people followed musical trends. Rock stars were fan-followed in terms of fashion. A number of rock bands and artists have evolved over the time and ruled the music charts. Among different rock bands and music, Queen Band has gained significan ce in history of rock music with their single Bohemian Rhapsody. The song became widely famous because of its unusual manner of no chorus whereas songs of that era had chorused compositions. The song included three segments which have been composed as the guitar solo, ballad and operative hard rock section. The single was considered as the most expensive single as special consideration was given to the production of song. The rock Band became a success in different musical chart ratings as they introduced variation in the trend of rock music (DeVeaux, 1991). The sociological context of the song is that it reflects experiences of people who have been through times of need that they had to commit crime. The song was one of the influential songs of its time that a great deal of literature regarding crime and mental health made use of the lyrical message of the song. It was because the lyrics of song projecting a young man who murdered man out of circumstances and not for rivalry. The m urderer or the narrator of the song has been illustrated as a person who is apologizing to all for his act and assures that he did not want kill humanity. He has affirmed that he has killed and now his soul will is ready to be surrendered. The song Bohemian Rhapsody was written by Freddie Mercury which ultimately conventional manner of songwriting. The performance of the song was never observed live because there were number vocal parts of the songs that were composed