Reviews (6)

a story of unintended consequences
Much of this book describes downtown in its early years of decline (1920-50): as cars and highways mushrooomed, shopping begin to move outside downtown.The solutions to this state of affairs were completely counterproductive: downtown business interests assumed that downtown's problem was too much congestion rather than too little, and so fought for a downtown overrun with parking lots and highways.For example, an official of one downtown business group in Los Angeles wrote in 1940 that freeways "will go a long way in solving the traffic problems and consequently make the trip to downtown Los Angeles pleasant for customers and productive for downtown merchants and office tenants alike, and thereby recentralize businesses and offices in a compact area." (p. 274).
Very good book to say the least
It is long but easy to follow and enjoyable. It missed out on mentioning that famous German-Jewish director Fritz Lang visited New York City in the 1920's and got the inspiration for the Metropolis film from the Manhatten Skyline.

Fascinating--definitely recommended
This is a wonderful book; it is comprehensively researched and offers a detailed history of why US downtowns developed and declined.Anybody who is interested in urban planning and downtown revitalization should read this to see why downtowns were successful for so many years and why they fell; for example, a current trend is to revitalize downtowns by attracting more residents, but 19th century downtowns developed by pushing out residents in favor of commercial growth.I couldn't put this book down; it's absolutely compelling and I would highly recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. General    3. History: World    4. Social History    5. Sociology    6. Sociology - Urban    7. Social Science / Sociology / Urban   

Subjects:  1. Community development    2. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. Sociology - Urban    6. United States    7. Urban policy    8. Central government policies    9. Multicultural studies    10. North America    11. Political economy    12. Public finance    13. Social issues    14. Urban communities   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Planning    4. Political Science    5. Politics/International Relations    6. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    7. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    8. Real Estate - General    9. Urban & Regional   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. General    3. Planning    4. Urban Architecture    5. Architecture / Planning    6. City & town planning - architectural aspects    7. Urbanism   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Economic aspects    3. Government - State & Provincial    4. Harbors    5. History    6. New Jersey    7. New York    8. New York (State)    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    12. United States - General    13. History / United States / General    14. History of specific subjects    15. Local government    16. Shipping industries   

Reviews (5)

Look closer: Are these model plans REALLY sprawl alternatives?
Check out some of the final subdivision design parameters on page 87. While other reviewers might benefit from the author's justified concern for conserving open space--especially in communities where cookie-cutter style developers 'rule the Board', the end result for some of the plans in this work APPEARS to be large-lot American sprawl, with ecological considerations that don't go far enough. Perhaps Arendt's GROWING GREENER, which I've not seen, will get us closer(?)

More people need to read this book!
What a concept!Rather than trying to get the most acreage per lot, make smaller lots with more shared open space. A must read for every developer, planning board, and zoning commition.Easy to follow examples show how to preserve historic and environmental features while adding to the value of the land that is developed.

Should be a guide for the future of subdivisions!
If we developed land in the manner the author teaches, America would look so much nicer!A very common sense approach to maintain rural character in an area and stop sprawl from destroying your area.Every developer,planner, new home buyer, builder, conservationist and private citizenshould read this and also buy the author's book, "Rural ByDesign". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Community Development    2. Environmental Planning And Management    3. Environmental Science    4. Environmental Studies    5. Environmental aspects    6. Land subdivision    7. Natural Resources    8. Planned communities    9. Planning    10. Political Science    11. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    12. Public Policy - Regional Planning    13. Real estate development    14. Sociology    15. Sociology - General    16. Architecture / Planning    17. Conservation of the environment   

Reviews (4)

Nice to have, but save your money.
One of the first architectural books I bought, because it was different.I didn't know who he was at first or if he was an architect.I thought comic would be a great branch into architecture.This books show many of this theoretical project that is base of a post-apocalypse society.This book displays his great hand work skills.He used mediums of color-pencil, ink sketches and some very powerful chip-board models.85% of the book is artworks.There are some texts on this philosophy for his reasoning if you would believe it or not.I went to his lecture at SciArt and his new stuff is just as similar in style to his older works in his book.I no longer regard Wood as much of an architect or nor a artist.This book was good in time of my interest in the subject, but now it has no resourceful information.

Not his best, but still good
Lebbeus Woods is perhaps unequalled, and definitely the most imitated renderer in the architectural world.With that said, this book is just a shadow of his masterpiece, "Anarchitecture: Architecture as a Political Act" woods bites
lebbeus woods bites. Get real. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Criticism    3. Individual Architects Of The 20th Century    4. Landscape    5. City & town planning - architectural aspects    6. Civil war    7. Cuba    8. Individual architects    9. Non-Classifiable    10. Serbia    11. Social impact of disasters    12. Theory of architecture    13. USA    14. c 1990 to c 2000   

Reviews (1)

Not just a house, design a whole neighborhood
Most of us like architectural books because we think, or possibly just dream of building our own ULTIMATE house. Here, however, is a book not on building a house, but on building an entire neighborhood.
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Subjects:  1. Architectural Design    2. Architecture    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. City planning    5. Design & Drafting    6. Designs and plans    7. Handbooks, manuals, etc    8. Pattern books    9. Planning    10. United States    11. Urban Architecture    12. City & town planning - architectural aspects   

Reviews (1)

Paris as archetype
Implicitly taking his start from Benjamin's sketches of Paris as the "capitol" of the 19th century, Harvey analyses the elements that transformed Paris from medieval labrynth to modern bourgeois metropolis and the corresponding effect that this had on all levels of the class structure, men and women, and the spatial geography of the city itself.He starts with Balzac and Baudelaire, as all such studies must; but quickly moves out of literature and into history, looking at the changes in the city geography begun by Hausmann.Harvey uses his familiar metaphor of changes in geography as a symbol of the changes wrought by modernity.Excellent, pointed read for those interested in Paris and French history, urban development, and the effects of capital on capitols.Great bibliography too! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civilization    2. Europe - France    3. Historical Geography    4. History - General History    5. Planning    6. Political Science    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    9. Sociology - Urban    10. History    11. Political Science / City Planning & Urban Development   

Reviews (1)

groundbreaking and intriguing
This book shows how injustice has affected the black community.Eachessay underscores the contradictions and the sad impact of racism on theurban conditions of blacks.Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Architecture    3. City planning    4. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    5. Planning    6. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    7. Social conditions    8. United States    9. Urban renewal    10. Architecture / Planning    11. Central government policies    12. Human geography    13. Political Science-Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    14. Race relations    15. Science / Environmental Science    16. Social Science-Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    17. Urban communities   

Reviews (4)

Engineering as an experience in beauty
During the first half of this century, American bridges became the largestand most beautiful structures ever built;Othmar Ammann, a Swiss engineerwho came to New York in 1904, was the quiet genius who built six of thevery best. Not just for Engineers: A Love-song to New York City Bridges
This book is as special to New Yorkers as it is to EngineeringEnthusiasts.As New Yorker in Exile, I now live a life where if I traverseone major bridge a year, it's an event.When I lived in New York City(Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Stane Island at various times), thecrossing of these major Bridges was a daily event.Not a day went by whenI didn't listen to the Traffic reports and have to quickly calculate myCommute strategy in order to choose the most efficient Span to cross.Whengoing Upstate to visit the parents, I often crossed The Whitestone,Throgsneck or Tri-borough if traffic was too congested in Manhattan. Sometimes, I'd cross the Verrazano, The Brooklyn and the George Washington. This book honours the creation of the modern bridges, their design,construction, completion and functionality as well as describing thepolitical and economic climate in which they were conceived and completed.It answers many of the passing questions that came to my Driving Mind as Istalled in traffic at the Tolls of these Bridges and it brings backmemories of my life in the City of Islands.As I mentioned in the title ofthis review, while kinda technical and history-laden, this is a love songto the Bridges of New York City. Buy it, read it and you'll learn to begrateful for living in a time when these bridges ease travel and not cursethem as I used to do occaisonally during Jams.Before reading this book, Inever bothered to imagine New York before them and now I appreciate themall the much more.

A Great 20th Century Bridge Engineer's Work
"Six Bridges - The Legacy of Othmar H. Ammann by Darl Rastorfer is a very well written book about a great 20th Century engineer and his engineering feats in long span suspension bridges. This is a must readfor everyone for it reveals the trials and tribulations of a man who madehistory by using scientific principles to design world record breakingbridges.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1879-1965    2. Ammann, Othmar Hermann,    3. Architecture    4. Architecture Of Specific Structures    5. Bridges    6. Bridges, Long-span    7. Design and construction    8. Engineering - Civil    9. General    10. New York Metropolitan Area    11. Pictorial works    12. Technology & Industrial Arts    13. City & town planning - architectural aspects    14. New York    15. Public buildings: civic, commercial, industrial, etc    16. Technology / Engineering / Civil   

Reviews (1)

an eye-opener, one of the best books I've read about sprawl
In addition to giving specific examples of how zoning has prevented infill development and compact development, Levine actually shows how these policies matter - that is, how zoning alters the market instead of mimicking it. For example:
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Subjects:  1. Land use    2. Natural Resources    3. Planning    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Public Policy - General    8. Real estate development    9. United States    10. Zoning    11. History / United States / General   

Subjects:  1. Cities and towns    2. Political Science / City Planning & Urban Development    3. Social Science    4. Social problems    5. Sociology    6. Sociology - Urban    7. Sociology, Urban    8. United States    9. City Planning & Urban Development   

Reviews (1)

The American Urban Design Classic
The most notable aspect of the 1909 Plan of Chicago was that the author's (Daniel Burnham) profession was not exclusively city planning.He was a business man.He viewed his plan for the City of Chicago as the best wayto create an exceptional business and civic environment. It worked!Manyelements of modern downtown Chicago that make it a truly great, world classcity, are a direct result of Burnham's vision. For it is the grand visionthat stirs the soul of mankind and allows a "planning document"-- normally a thick document, full of data, which sits on a shelf andcollects dust --to be embraced by an entire community.This is a mustread for contemporary city planners, business men and government officialsthat want to "make it happen" in their communities. MAKE NO SMALLPLANS ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Chicago    4. City planning    5. History    6. Illinois    7. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    8. Site Planning    9. Architecture / Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    10. City & town planning - architectural aspects    11. USA   

Subjects:  1. City planning    2. Community development, Urban    3. Development - Sustainable Development    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    6. Sociology    7. Sustainable development    8. Social Science / Sociology / Urban    9. Sustainability    10. Urban & municipal planning   

Reviews (1)

The American experience in the cities
The book documents the history of the suburb in America. For a century, it was the growth of suburbs relative to the core of the cities that defined much of the urban American experience. Interwoven in the narrative is an examination of the role of race and class. Your personal urban experience would have been strongly influenced by these factors, throughout much of the preceding century.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. Housing    3. Human Geography    4. Social Science    5. Sociology    6. Sociology - Urban    7. Suburbs    8. United States    9. Social Science / Sociology / Urban    10. USA    11. Urban & municipal planning    12. Urban communities   

Reviews (1)

A Great Source on Urban Infill Housing Development
This book discusses market considerations, land acquisition and design of housing developed within older urban and brownfield settings.Read more

Subjects:  1. Government - State & Provincial    2. Political Science    3. Politics / Current Events    4. Politics/International Relations    5. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    6. Public Policy - Social Policy   

Subjects:  1. Architecture / Landscape    2. Business/Economics    3. Political Science / City Planning & Urban Development    4. Architecture    5. City & town planning - architectural aspects    6. City Planning & Urban Development    7. Landscape    8. Parks    9. Political Science    10. Regional & Area Planning    11. Urban Planning    12. Urban parks   

Reviews (3)

Racism + Capitalism = Public Housing in Chicago
Excellent review of how the Chicago Housing Authority, despite good intentions, ended up not only itself segregated, but reinforced existing housing segregation in the private market. the deception of public housing
After reading The Hidden War,(which made extensive reference to Hirsch's book)I wanted a more detailed history about the creation of public housing as we know it to be in Chicago. This book gives detail of how the political,educational, civic organizations wanted to contain the burgeoning African American community which was growing during post world war II and the great migrationyears. The powerful in Chicago used government policies to maintain housing segregation...the powerless resorted to violence to keep African Americans out ofneighborhoods...the results were the massive and bleak housing structures which are called public housing.This book not only talks about the historical wheelings and dealings of the white power structure, but it also gives insight into how the same tactics are being used today, to maintain certain class and racial segregation. This is a good companion must read along with The Hidden WARS.

Well-written historical account
I had to read this book for a college history class I took 2 years ago and I felt that it was extremely detailed and informative. I was quite surprised by my reaction because I felt it was a great read whether or not you enjoy historical books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Chicago    3. Discrimination & Racism    4. Discrimination in housing    5. History    6. Housing    7. Housing (Sociological Aspects)    8. Housing policy    9. Illinois    10. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    11. Race And Ethnic Relations    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. Sociology - Urban    15. United States - State & Local - General    16. American history: from c 1900 -    17. Multicultural studies    18. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    19. Second World War, 1939-1945    20. Social Science / Sociology / Urban    21. Social issues    22. USA    23. Urban communities   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. City planning    3. Environmental aspects    4. General    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Urban ecology    10. Geography    11. Social Science / General