Urban Design: The Basics

Urban Design: The Basics provides a brief but compelling overview and introduction to the theory and practice of the multi-disciplinary field of urban design.

It is an ‘easy-to-understand’ and ‘jargon-free’ introduction to the fundamental principles of urban design. By introducing the essentials of urban design, the book is an important starting point for future study of the discipline. Topics include placemaking, sustainable urbanism, the evolution of cities and townscapes, and urban design and governance. Across seven chapters, the book is centred on a holistic understanding of sustainability and the special role of urban design in achieving a high quality of urban life, economic diversification, and less energy consumption. It provides a clear overview of the evolution of urban design, drawing on fundamental principles and critical challenges, and negotiates the complexities and nuances of the discipline. Given the contemporary international importance of urban design, the book uses examples from around the globe to explain its role and impact in different contexts. It also features detailed further reading lists for those wishing to expand their knowledge and understanding further.

Urban Design: The Basics will be of keen interest to those fascinated with cities and urban design, students, and practitioners who are looking to supplement their knowledge of key urban design principles.

Tim Heath is the Chair of Architecture & Urban Design at the University of Nottingham. He is a qualified architect and urban planner with over 30 years of experience in academia. He is the director of postgraduate studies in architecture and built environment and course director of the MArch in Sustainable Urban Design. He has successfully completed many research projects and has published extensively across the world in academic and professional publications. He has co-authored a number of books, written chapters in many edited books, and published extensively in refereed journals and conferences.

Florian Wiedmann is a Senior Academic in Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Nottingham. His research focuses on housing trends, urban transformations, and spatial practices within rapidly changing global contexts. Drawing on an interdisciplinary and internationally comparative approach, his work is situated within the theoretical discourse on the production of space and contributes to advancing integrated perspectives on contemporary urbanism and sustainable urban futures. He has co-authored several books, contributed chapters to numerous edited volumes, and published widely in peer-reviewed journals. He is also a regular keynote speaker at international conferences.