New Civic Art: Elements of Town Planning FROM THE PUBLISHER
This book updates and thoroughly details the most important recent trends in civic architecture and planning, but does not limit itself to this; time-honored precedents, in some cases centuries old, are referenced. This massive, encyclopedic display, drawn from over 200 international sources, has been carefully selected for use not only by trained professionals but for everyone involved in the shaping of cities and the built environment. Numerous examples culled from the works of such notable architects as Arata Isozaki, Frank Gehry, Robert A. M. Stern, Rob Krier, and many others cover all aspects of the environment, from large regional concerns down to details of the private realm.
SYNOPSIS
Although "smart growth" and "new urbanism" are in planners' vocabulary, their implementation is problematic. Gathering examples of proven practice, that is, projects and concepts that have been successful and remain relevant to current conditions, this compendium presents design ideas that could improve American cities. In fact, the volume's three designer-planner-editors—Andrés Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zybek, and Robert Alminana—consider this reference to be a response to an emergency situation, essential for urban planners, architects, designers, and policymakers dealing with such issues as sprawl and car dominance. Its predecessor is the 1922 publication The American Vitruvius: Civic Art. Presented in an oversize volume (9.5x12.5"), material is arranged descending in scale from region, to neighborhood, to street, to building; and each project is fully illustrated and described. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
Cofounders of the Congress for the New Urbanism, Duany and coauthor Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk are among the leading figures in the movement to end suburban sprawl and revitalize decaying inner cities by adapting and applying traditional, premodernist city planning techniques. In 2000, they wrote Suburban Nation to promote their brand of "new urbanism" to the general public. With their new book, they and town planner Robert Alminana address a professional audience of planners, architects, and policymakers, who they believe need to look beyond current zoning codes and automobile-centered design and find inspirational guidance from past centuries and diverse cultures. The book is a voluminous, richly illustrated catalog of what the authors consider to be examples of sound planning. More than 1000 briefly annotated drawings, photos, plans, and models of everything from the Acropolis to Chinese villages to Los Angeles courtyard houses provide object lessons in mixed-use design, pedestrian-friendly environments, welcoming public spaces, and other tenets of new urbanism. With more than 500 new urbanist developments completed or underway in the United States, this book is recommended for special collections serving those directly involved in city and suburban planning.-David Soltesz, Cuyahoga Cty. P.L., Parma, OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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