Why Modiin Is Ugly Despite Its Form-Based Code

Modiin is one of the few Israeli cities built from a master plan, complete with a form-based code — the exact tool New Urbanists say produces coherent, beautiful cities. It still reads as extremely ugly. This episode uses Modiin as a test case against Paris as a success case, asking what a code actually has to regulate if beauty, not just order, is the goal. The answer sits in the gap between regulating massing and siting and regulating proportions, materials, facade composition, and architectural language. Key sources: • Safdie Architects — https://www.safdiearchitects.com/projects/new-city-of-modiin • Paris PLU — https://cdn.paris.fr/paris/2020/02/26/16107d9c38a049046444a7b6301df1aa.ai • Paris PLU — https://cdn.paris.fr/paris/2020/02/26/231c8fcc289ecfb8462074c893c2eb71.pdf Episode 5934 — myweirdprompts.com/n/5934 (permanent short link: myweirdprompts.com/895700)