Mumfordshire is unrealised plan for a megalopolis (a series of interconnected urban areas), which seeks to re-imagine a complex but positive future of mega-cities and society. Mumfordshire is partly based on revising Lewis Mumford’s idea that the Roman city, the sprawling Megalopolis, is the catalyst for urban decline, and ends in collapse.
Roughy speaking, the Medieval city which Mumford describes as ‘Ideal’ has limits, boundaries and contains overarching ideal and identity.
Mumfordshire is a planned megalopolis, potentially allowing a megalopolis to function like a super-large medieval city.
Mumfordshire is a plan for a functioning (but not utopian) Megalopolis.
Transport Railway coaches are not divided into classes. All Railway coaches have a section for bikes. All inter-city high Speed rail connections are underground, and include separate tunnels for heavy goods. Roads are based on concentric circles nearing each of the centres with a north-south, east-west underground motorways. Each of the centres are pedestrianised. Mumfordshire has three major airports. Mumfordshire has two major ports Mumfordshire has four high speed underground shuttle rings that loop the city - this is the fastest way to travel around the city
Roughly divided along the lines of ancient settlements, the megalopolis is divided into 200 Shiretons. Each Shireton is of similar size, large Shiretons are divided into East and West. In a few large cases a Shireton can be divided into East, West, North, South. Each Shireton has an elected representative in the Mumhouse. The elected representative has one vote per issue. Members are not aligned to specific political parties, but join in groups for specific policies, dictated by the interest of the Shiretons. Voting is compulsory, and voting forms include a spoil box
Currency The currency is Rupee. Smaller denominations counted in Rups. There are one hundred Rups to the Rupee. The official sign for the Mumford Rupee is ¥£$. The ¥£$ sign developed because market traders in Mumfordshire except any currency from around the world, and often price of goods in each currency, in the order of Yen, Sterling, Dollar, as a gesture of positivity. The ¥£$ currency was introduced to add a level of financial stability to the area, and to speed up transaction times. Mumfordshirians traditionally preferred the taxless barter system when dealing with other Mumfordshirians. Credit Cards in Mumfordshire have to be referred to as Debt Cards.
Flag The regional flag, that of a triangle within a square within a circle represents, overlaying of different cultures of the three largest cities in Mumfordshire. This image is often varied so that the triangle, square and circle intersect one another, as the separate icons appear to some mumfordshirians represent a hierarchical order of the cities.
Measurement Measurements in Mumfordshire are divisible by 10. Measurements of length are multiples of 1 thumb abbreviated to "TH". 1 Thumb = 1.27cm, 1/2 inch The TH system creates a more logical system than imperial scales (dividing by 10 rather than 12), and easier to work with than the metric system, as it provides larger numbers on rulers and tape measures, whilst maintaining measurements small enough to be accurate.
Date The date in time in Mumfordshire is described as + (year number), from the date in which the elders of the Shiretons built the house of representatives - Mumhouse. The work by the elders was completed 1st March 2010 and so 2010 is +0000, 2011 is +0001 2012 is +0002 and so on. any dates previous to this is represented by minus numbers - (year number).
Festivals The new year is celebrated on the 1st of March, with the bringing of the sun festival.
Waste The cisterns of toilets are filled by greywater from sinks positioned above them.
Food and Water Household Water is supplemented by solar powered de-humidifiers. The word 'Fresh' on food packaging can only be used for items less than a month old. Alcoholic drinks must state their ingredients and processes of production. Beer glasses include 2cm of glass above the 1 pint line (568ml), for foam. The region is famous for it's fish dishes Saccharin, aspartame are banned substances Organic foods are not labelled - food grown with pesticides are labelled
Nationality Only people who live in the megalopolis can describe themselves as Mumfordshirians. Mumfordshirians who emigrate, are given the title of passive Mumfordshirians.
Jobs Minimum Wage is ¥£$8 an hour All professions are considered equal There are no unemployed
Population The population of Mumfordshire is 10 Million.
Health All contraception is free Residents are encouraged to have full health checks once every 10 years.
The Home Every home has a display that calculates its electricity use and production.
Products Each product has a label, which estimates the carbon footprint of its combined production and transportation. Where possible products only have one layer of packaging
Internet There is one internet provider. A free wifi cloud covers the province, paid for by higher tariffs on business users.
Culture There is a large number of pirate analogue TV stations.
Television The sport sections on the 24hr news channel include a variety of sports. Claims by TV adverts must be independently verified. There is a limit of 100 channels
Sport The most popular sport is greenway, a form of electric bike-speedway.
Architecture and Town Planning The largest buildings are in the centre. buildings over 9 stories high must incorporate solar or wind turbines into their structure. This had lead to many building being built with large levels with mezzanine floors, to avoid having to install the expensive turbines. The pedestrian streets are cobbled; high speed roads are made from durable material made from plastic waste
Language The first language of the area is Jamooma a pidgin language mixing both English and Japanese.
Drugs There is wide spread use of cocaine and a hallucinogenic root which turns the users skin yellow
http://www.bruceasbestos.info/mumfordshire.html www.bruceasbestos.info bruceasbestos@googlemail.com
Mumfordshire is unrealised plan for a megalopolis (a series of interconnected urban areas), which seeks to re-imagine a complex but positive future of mega-cities and society. Mumfordshire is partly based on revising Lewis Mumford’s idea that the Roman city, the sprawling Megalopolis, is the catalyst for urban decline, and ends in collapse.
Roughy speaking, the Medieval city which Mumford describes as ‘Ideal’ has limits, boundaries and contains overarching ideal and identity.
Mumfordshire is a planned megalopolis, potentially allowing a megalopolis to function like a super-large medieval city.
Mumfordshire is a plan for a functioning (but not utopian) Megalopolis.
Transport Railway coaches are not divided into classes. All Railway coaches have a section for bikes. All inter-city high Speed rail connections are underground, and include separate tunnels for heavy goods. Roads are based on concentric circles nearing each of the centres with a north-south, east-west underground motorways. Each of the centres are pedestrianised. Mumfordshire has three major airports. Mumfordshire has two major ports Mumfordshire has four high speed underground shuttle rings that loop the city - this is the fastest way to travel around the city
Roughly divided along the lines of ancient settlements, the megalopolis is divided into 200 Shiretons. Each Shireton is of similar size, large Shiretons are divided into East and West. In a few large cases a Shireton can be divided into East, West, North, South. Each Shireton has an elected representative in the Mumhouse. The elected representative has one vote per issue. Members are not aligned to specific political parties, but join in groups for specific policies, dictated by the interest of the Shiretons. Voting is compulsory, and voting forms include a spoil box
Currency The currency is Rupee. Smaller denominations counted in Rups. There are one hundred Rups to the Rupee. The official sign for the Mumford Rupee is ¥£$. The ¥£$ sign developed because market traders in Mumfordshire except any currency from around the world, and often price of goods in each currency, in the order of Yen, Sterling, Dollar, as a gesture of positivity. The ¥£$ currency was introduced to add a level of financial stability to the area, and to speed up transaction times. Mumfordshirians traditionally preferred the taxless barter system when dealing with other Mumfordshirians. Credit Cards in Mumfordshire have to be referred to as Debt Cards.
Flag The regional flag, that of a triangle within a square within a circle represents, overlaying of different cultures of the three largest cities in Mumfordshire. This image is often varied so that the triangle, square and circle intersect one another, as the separate icons appear to some mumfordshirians represent a hierarchical order of the cities.
Measurement Measurements in Mumfordshire are divisible by 10. Measurements of length are multiples of 1 thumb abbreviated to "TH". 1 Thumb = 1.27cm, 1/2 inch The TH system creates a more logical system than imperial scales (dividing by 10 rather than 12), and easier to work with than the metric system, as it provides larger numbers on rulers and tape measures, whilst maintaining measurements small enough to be accurate.
Date The date in time in Mumfordshire is described as + (year number), from the date in which the elders of the Shiretons built the house of representatives - Mumhouse. The work by the elders was completed 1st March 2010 and so 2010 is +0000, 2011 is +0001 2012 is +0002 and so on. any dates previous to this is represented by minus numbers - (year number).
Festivals The new year is celebrated on the 1st of March, with the bringing of the sun festival.
Waste The cisterns of toilets are filled by greywater from sinks positioned above them.
Food and Water Household Water is supplemented by solar powered de-humidifiers. The word 'Fresh' on food packaging can only be used for items less than a month old. Alcoholic drinks must state their ingredients and processes of production. Beer glasses include 2cm of glass above the 1 pint line (568ml), for foam. The region is famous for it's fish dishes Saccharin, aspartame are banned substances Organic foods are not labelled - food grown with pesticides are labelled
Nationality Only people who live in the megalopolis can describe themselves as Mumfordshirians. Mumfordshirians who emigrate, are given the title of passive Mumfordshirians.
Jobs Minimum Wage is ¥£$8 an hour All professions are considered equal There are no unemployed
Population The population of Mumfordshire is 10 Million.
Health All contraception is free Residents are encouraged to have full health checks once every 10 years.
The Home Every home has a display that calculates its electricity use and production.
Products Each product has a label, which estimates the carbon footprint of its combined production and transportation. Where possible products only have one layer of packaging
Internet There is one internet provider. A free wifi cloud covers the province, paid for by higher tariffs on business users.
Culture There is a large number of pirate analogue TV stations.
Television The sport sections on the 24hr news channel include a variety of sports. Claims by TV adverts must be independently verified. There is a limit of 100 channels
Sport The most popular sport is greenway, a form of electric bike-speedway.
Architecture and Town Planning The largest buildings are in the centre. buildings over 9 stories high must incorporate solar or wind turbines into their structure. This had lead to many building being built with large levels with mezzanine floors, to avoid having to install the expensive turbines. The pedestrian streets are cobbled; high speed roads are made from durable material made from plastic waste
Language The first language of the area is Jamooma a pidgin language mixing both English and Japanese.
Drugs There is wide spread use of cocaine and a hallucinogenic root which turns the users skin yellow
http://www.bruceasbestos.info/mumfordshire.html www.bruceasbestos.info bruceasbestos@googlemail.com