Iași - The City That Just Can't Tie It Together!

Mike Looks At The Map - Episode 10

Iași is the former capital of the Principality of Moldavia, and an industrial hub that's already attracting major companies like Amazon. But does it have the layout to take advantage of this new urban investment? As it turns out, the city you'll probably never pronounce correctly also trips up pedestrians trying to access all the different major parts of the central city.

Animations by David Beach.

[sara_daria]

Too bad these Google images are so old.The palace of culture looks so much better now!

[lacsativ]

I study in Iasi. Just want to address some popular comments here: yes, the maps are a bit old, it looks nicer nowadays but his criticism is still 100% valid. They make it prettier each year but don't address the core issues he outlines in the video. The layout/framework of the city is still the same.

[bp]

Keep in mind that this is city is just 450.000 people strong. There's no need to have commercial areas everywhere if the centre's always within walking distance.

[stefanblinda]

those images are from like more than 5 years hehe now this city is pretty changed

[azzogathor]

For someone that used to live there (20+ years), the conclusion is spot on. Iasi does feel like a couple of distinct smaller cities that can't manage to develop in a more coordinated way.

[skefsongames]

American: "i cant stand roundabouts"
Rest of the world: "roundabouts are pretty goid but nobody knows how to use them

[noctuarisrobyn]

its so funny listening to you pronounce the names xD

[jammi__]

I prefer roundabouts any day over the alternative: multi-way crossroad intersections with traffic lights, and especially the horror: ones without lights and no priority rule. Just because you're not accustomed to roundabouts doesn't mean they're not a superior solution to the intersection issue.

[sarabarghi]

The map hasn't been updated since 2012 or so, the city is now a lot more good looking and practical to be honest. I live here and the way you spoke about our buildings/city and the quantity of Google images you used left me speechless. Every day tourist visits Iaşi and never regret it. Also, don't forget about the international airport. I would love to see the next time a video filmed by you in Iaşi.

[OkThisllbeMyName]

If the alternative to roundabouts are giant highways and crossovers that break up the city, then I'd prefer roundabouts. Barcelona has tons of these too. I agree on the analysis but I think the crux of the problem is how the urban designers (if they exist) integrate the roundabout into the city to not obstruct its natural development.

[tKingInYellow]

roundabouts are the best! Also Iasi! I went to college there :D. PS: The roundabout you have shown at 3:30 is not a true roundabout, it's just shaped like one. It's like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris or Bucharest, where the governing rule of driving is priorité à droite. In a "true" roundabout, the car driving inside always has priority over other that are merging into it. It sounds complicated, but it's actually easy and very safe (if everyone obeys the rules).

[admgrn]

I just want to point out that those are actually traffic circles, not roundabouts. A true roundabout is generally considered superior to a typical intersection. A traffic circle is not.

[meowritz]

Just because you don't understand how a roundabout works like a real american doesn't mean they aren't worse than an intersection. Theres a reason for why alot of countries replace intersections with roundabouts.

[robertalexandru]

Honestly you missed every point one could have missed. I won't even talk about the roundabout thing.

All those "small single family houses" you're talking about are basically the historical part of Iași...or well, what's left of it. You see, all of the "nice, tall" buildings you see near the centre of the city shouldn't have been there. The historical part of the city used to be there until the communists decided to demolish a big part of it and turn it into an "underdeveloped developed area". All, or at least most of the houses you see around there have a certain historical value and can't just be demolished. By your logic, the entire city should be made out of mid and high rise buildings because otherwise "it just gets cut off". No administrative force should replace, say, neoclassical buildings with steel, glass and concrete. Sadly that's what happened during communist times, and all of those brutalist apartment buildings you keep calling good opportunities are in fact what destroyed Iași as a city. You really cannot compare Iași with, say, American cities. Americans destroyed whole neighborhoods to build highways, doing something similar in Europe, especially in the older parts of town, would be a huge catastrophe.

[johnwalton]

Ive just come home from lasi and found it really charming.I visited from Manchester England and noticed myself very easily that much had changed from some of the views in this video.And I struggle to understand your problems with roundabouts.We loved our trip here to meet new friends and despite what views your video gives will be returning again in the future especially as we have friends here.

[DerDop]

it looks better now.
the area at 15 27 has some really nice and expensive( for central and eastern europe) flats now.

[claudiuspace]

At minutes 13:41 you mentioned that are no pedestrians crossing...that's because is a huge crossing under the road through some old tunnels that was refurbished and is a commercial area too. Google maps don't reveal all of this huh...

[hippiemuslim]

The reason why Hala Centrală has lost popularity is because of the competition with Moldova Mall and Palas Mall. The glass dome was built recently. Subsequently Moldova Mall has failed as well. Iași is pretty much a mess mostly because no one's willing to sell, there's no renovation of the historical buildings which are occupied by the poor. And of course we love our trees and weeds, God forbid you cut them out.

[Cris-hdwb]

These photos were made like 10 years ago 😅

[maria-anastasiapanou]

I study in iasi, but have always lived in athens
You're in the balkans, don't expect the best road structure
Iasi is good, if you come to athens, it's like a labyrinth