‘Listen to that train whistle in the distance. That’s such a lonely sound…but that’s us. That’s America. Maybe the loneliest people on the face of the earth. We had to have a log cabin or sod hut–our personal castle in the great wide open.
They said we had to be rugged and individual. And anyone who couldn’t make it on their own was someone to be pitied. We had to give up the old for the always new, inventive and industrious…but what a painful price we’ve had to pay to end up like this. What a painful price, in poverty, hardship and loneliness.’Â
      – paraphrased from Centennial by James Michener
In this quote, the profound structural loneliness of the American condition is laid bare. In our paraphrasing of Michener’s haunting eulogy to manifest destiny, we amplify his message about our fundamental challenge–that we have paid so much for such little shared wealth and so few enduring places.
B4place helps create places that leverage the effect that good old-fashioned proximity has on economic, social, and environmental success. And we’re fierce defenders of countryside conservation by focusing on engineering compact, enduring places.
Through our Property Experiments, we explore the opportunities and practicalities of developing unique and beautiful places.Â
Drop us a note at info@b4place.com if you have any comments, or know of inspiring uses of historic urbanism, rural conservation, or economic development from around the world.Â
We look forward to sharing everything we find with all of you.
–Tara Ross and John Giusto