Eno city arrangement
This world is very much a work in progress, so please forgive any continuity mishaps
Cities are arranged in circles: the inner circle is the city center: the business hub, full of commerce and main attractions. The city center is always very well lit, mostly from other light sources other than plants though, as there's not that much room for plantings.
The next circle is the 'apola belt,' the mostly residential and small business area of the city. It's full of apola trees, giant trees not cut down during the clearing and building of the city. In older cities, the apola belt is all giant trees surrounded by houses, in newer cities effort has been made to keep more of the original undergrowth and young forest beneath the trees. Apola are used as houses or apartment buildings/highrises, as they are so big, it's easy to carve a bunch of homes into the trunk and build houses on the trunk (like balconies). Most apola are built on using balcony houses, (known as mezzanines?), where many levels of mezzanines are built above each other as high as necessary. Mezzanines wrap around the tree in a complete ring, with an elevator on opposing sides (two elevators per tree). Apolas are usually well lit, but residential areas can have varying levels of light depending on your preference. In this case, amount of light isn't directly related to income. true, the more well lit areas are more expensive, as the plants are supplemented with other means of light, but so are the darker areas, at least in the forest-based cities. Dark areas require a lot of maintenance to keep biolumin plants out and keep non-biolumin plants in. Poor areas are the average areas, where the plants grow wherever they want or can, depending on the soil and housing situation.
Most species (Eno in particular) live off the ground due to the mist that falls every night, hence the living in trees. Poorer families build flimsy structures against the sides of trees, or live between the spaces of the mezzanines if they can (each mezzanine floor is separated from the next by a gap of about a meter, to provide soundproofing between floors. Slumdogs live in these gaps if permitted, usually in the poorer residential areas. The outskirts is the last circle of a city, predominantly industrial and working class residential. Some upper class areas exist out here, mostly around rivers or other interesting landmarks; as well as govt housing. Govt housing and working class housing are generally around the industrial places of work, as the people living there work at whatever industry. Slums are generally around the outskirts of the working class areas, but slumdogs generally hang around the upperclass areas to beg or steal. The outskirts experience a 'natural' daylight, that is, the unaltered forest light. Industrial working areas obviously have more light, but living areas are natural, mostly to reduce maintenance more than anything else.
The next circle is the 'apola belt,' the mostly residential and small business area of the city. It's full of apola trees, giant trees not cut down during the clearing and building of the city. In older cities, the apola belt is all giant trees surrounded by houses, in newer cities effort has been made to keep more of the original undergrowth and young forest beneath the trees. Apola are used as houses or apartment buildings/highrises, as they are so big, it's easy to carve a bunch of homes into the trunk and build houses on the trunk (like balconies). Most apola are built on using balcony houses, (known as mezzanines?), where many levels of mezzanines are built above each other as high as necessary. Mezzanines wrap around the tree in a complete ring, with an elevator on opposing sides (two elevators per tree). Apolas are usually well lit, but residential areas can have varying levels of light depending on your preference. In this case, amount of light isn't directly related to income. true, the more well lit areas are more expensive, as the plants are supplemented with other means of light, but so are the darker areas, at least in the forest-based cities. Dark areas require a lot of maintenance to keep biolumin plants out and keep non-biolumin plants in. Poor areas are the average areas, where the plants grow wherever they want or can, depending on the soil and housing situation.
Most species (Eno in particular) live off the ground due to the mist that falls every night, hence the living in trees. Poorer families build flimsy structures against the sides of trees, or live between the spaces of the mezzanines if they can (each mezzanine floor is separated from the next by a gap of about a meter, to provide soundproofing between floors. Slumdogs live in these gaps if permitted, usually in the poorer residential areas. The outskirts is the last circle of a city, predominantly industrial and working class residential. Some upper class areas exist out here, mostly around rivers or other interesting landmarks; as well as govt housing. Govt housing and working class housing are generally around the industrial places of work, as the people living there work at whatever industry. Slums are generally around the outskirts of the working class areas, but slumdogs generally hang around the upperclass areas to beg or steal. The outskirts experience a 'natural' daylight, that is, the unaltered forest light. Industrial working areas obviously have more light, but living areas are natural, mostly to reduce maintenance more than anything else.
Demographics
The greatest concentration of population of cities is normally in the apola, generally the most desirable area to live (close to work, close to play, close enough to the seat of local governance that they remember it exists and keep it looking nice).
Wealthy to middle-class people live in the mezzanines, while the destitute live in the spaces between the mezzanines, if permitted. Outer areas of the apola tend to allow nesters, while inner areas definitely do not.
Closer to the city center are apola that have been transformed into malls, as well as apola with business floors on the lower mezzanines and apartments above them. Outskirts is where the working class and destitute live, close to areas of industry/industrial businesses. Govt housing mostly. Some upperclass people have getaway houses in outskirts, mostly white locations near rivers or other landmarks.
Closer to the city center are apola that have been transformed into malls, as well as apola with business floors on the lower mezzanines and apartments above them. Outskirts is where the working class and destitute live, close to areas of industry/industrial businesses. Govt housing mostly. Some upperclass people have getaway houses in outskirts, mostly white locations near rivers or other landmarks.
Government
Streamers and banners by led to many bylaws being introduced as to the length of the banners; it must hang no more than a handspan below the bottom edge of the mezzanine/balcony floor, so as not to obstruct the view of those living in the floor below.
Infrastructure
Apola are the most common in cities, consisting of giant trees ringed by mezzanines. Mezzanines are essentially balconies, roughly 5 meters wide and completely ringing the tree. The average dwelling in an apola is half a mezzanine, about 70 sq m; 5 m wide and 15-20 m long. In more wealthy areas, usually closer to the city center, a dwelling is a whole mezzanine floor, or multiple.
Mezzanines are typically separated from each other by a gap of about a meter, to provide space for bracing and for soundproofing between floors. Each apola has two lifts, one on each side, extending from the forest floor to the highest mezzanine. Boujee apola may have more, and often stagger elevators to prevent theives and other malcontents from rocketing straight to the top floor.
Mezzanines are typically separated from each other by a gap of about a meter, to provide space for bracing and for soundproofing between floors. Each apola has two lifts, one on each side, extending from the forest floor to the highest mezzanine. Boujee apola may have more, and often stagger elevators to prevent theives and other malcontents from rocketing straight to the top floor.
Districts
There are three common districts or areas in a city: the city center, business hub and home of local government and commerce; the apola belt, home to the residents of the city; and the outskirts, both lower class residential and industrial area.
Most wanderers would find themselves in a motel in the apola belt; those with no money would find themselves sleeping between the mezzanines of a motel, or slumming it with the destitute in the outskirts. While not official, most of the business areas/buildings in the city center are only open to rent/occupancy by the wealthy, and generally only serve the upper and middle class. Businesses in the apola are predominantly middle class, and open to everyone.
Most wanderers would find themselves in a motel in the apola belt; those with no money would find themselves sleeping between the mezzanines of a motel, or slumming it with the destitute in the outskirts. While not official, most of the business areas/buildings in the city center are only open to rent/occupancy by the wealthy, and generally only serve the upper and middle class. Businesses in the apola are predominantly middle class, and open to everyone.
Type
City
Location under
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