What Cities Say: A Social Interpretation of Urban Patterns and Forms
What Cities Say: A Social Interpretation of Urban Patterns and Forms
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Abstract
This is a book about how to “read” cities. Cities are a reflection of social values and priorities, and we can learn how to interpret them. Cities are the result of a wide range of intentional acts, from the minute to the grandiose, from the desires of the individual homebuilder to those of the reigning despot. They might reflect the highest aspirations, or a simple financial calculus, or mundane, utilitarian needs. Form and pattern might be the product of blueprints and plans, or it might be the product of gradual, incremental accretion spanning centuries. In any of these cases, it is possible to develop a language of interpretation. Using samples of cities from all time periods and places, this book presents thirty-five city patterns and forms, summarizing how they might be interpreted. The topics progress from larger to smaller scale, from complete cities and towns to plazas and squares. The aim of the book is to help craft better arguments in the public discourse about why one type of pattern or form might be better than another in a given place. Knowing what kinds of city patterns and forms we want requires first knowing what city patterns and forms mean to us. By exposing these meanings, we will be in a stronger position to articulate, and argue for, the kinds of cities we want.
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Front Matter
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Introduction
- 1 Greek Polis
- 2 Medieval Towns
- 3 Small Cities
- 4 Big Cities
- 5 Linear Cities
- 6 New Towns and Colonial Outposts
- 7 Industrial Villages and Company Towns
- 8 Garden Cities
- 9 Urban Suburbs
- 10 Planned Suburbs
- 11 Garden Suburbs
- 12 Modernist Urbanism
- 13 New Urbanism
- 14 Neighborhoods
- 15 Districts
- 16 The Baroque
- 17 Monumentalism
- 18 Urban Renewal
- 19 Uniformity
- 20 Variation
- 21 Sprawl
- 22 Grids
- 23 Wide Streets
- 24 Street Hierarchy
- 25 Curved and Irregular Streets
- 26 Boulevards and Avenues
- 27 Radials, Rings, and Diagonals
- 28 Superblocks
- 29 Plazas and Squares
- 30 Centers
- 31 Government
- 32 Towers in a Park
- 33 Buildings and Settings
- 34 Enclosure
- 35 Boundaries
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Conclusion
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End Matter
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