The Form of Cities: Political Economy and Urban Design - Softcover

Cuthbert, Alexander R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1405116404 ISBN 13: 9781405116404

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell, 2006

Synopsis

The Form of Cities offers readers a considered theoretical introduction to the art of designing cities.

• Demonstrates that cities are replete with symbolic values, collective memory, association and conflict.
• Proposes a new theoretical understanding of urban design, based in political economy.
• Demonstrates different ways of conceptualising the city, whether through aesthetics or the prism of gender, for example.
• Written in an engaging and jargon-free style, but retains a sophisticated interpretative edge.
• Complements Designing Cities by the same author (Blackwell, 2003).

About this title

About the Author

Alexander R. Cuthbert is Professor of Planning and Urban Development at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. He has studied architecture, urban design, urban planning, and political science and has a doctorate from the London School of Economics and Political Science. His previous publications include Designing Cities (Blackwell, 2003), which serves as a prequel to this book.

From the Back Cover

The Form of Cities offers readers a considered theoretical introduction to the art of designing cities. It encourages them to go beyond abstract social science into the realm of human experience, aesthetics, and the creative process in order to understand why cities are how they are; and it demonstrates that cities are replete with symbolic values, collective memory, association, and conflict.

The book reviews existing theoretical interpretations underpinning the subject and suggests a new understanding based in political economy. It then refines this approach, elaborating particular ways of conceptualising the city, whether through aesthetics or the prism of gender. The result is an engagingly written text, eschewing jargon but retaining a sophisticated interpretative edge.

The book reviews existing theoretical interpretations underpinning the subject and suggests a new understanding based in political economy. It then refines this approach, elaborating particular ways of conceptualising the city, whether through aesthetics or the prism of gender. The result is an engagingly written text, eschewing jargon but retaining a sophisticated interpretative edge.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1405116404
• ISBN 13: 9781405116404
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320