The inspiration for Sci-Fi Cities

biochem wrote:Or perhaps underground cities?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_City,_Montreal

Given the description of Klaus Hauptman's underground estate as "a conspicuous statement of wealth" because building up is easier (and cheaper) in a counter-grav civilization than digging down, I'd be surprised to find underground cities in the Honorverse except for very special circumstances.

In Calgary because of winter we have a downtown core that is connected building to building, most of the city is link by plus 15 plus 30 and plus45 walkways. There was even a movie based upon the linkages, called "Way downtown". All be it not a big budget movie.

I have walked through as many as were open on one weekend, some close with building on weekends, it took all day. During the week one can stay indoors and move about the city in one of the two linked walkway systems. Unfortunately they are not both linked yet and depending on the councils some like the idea and others do not.

However while not popular in summer, it sure is in winter. With the Devonian gardens now open again, a large indoor park and fish pond it is getting better again. We also have big malls, not quite west Edmonton big, but they are pretty good.

A similar type system is how I view a future settlement on Mars.

Tokyo has a subway system with underground trains and malls and apartments all linked such that people never need to above ground. But it isn't quite the same.

http://calgaryplus15.com/

West Edmonton mall is our biggest mall. It has bigger open spaces and is kind of like an indoor Disneyland with lots of stores. Hotel, water park, roller coasters, submarines, sharks, a pirate ship show, skating rink, etc...

http://www.google.ca/search?q=west+edmo ... 80&bih=800