Description
Book SynopsisHuman settlements are the result of a mix of self-organisation and planning. Planners are fighting a losing battle to impose order on chaotic systems. Connections between the process of urban growth and the fields of complexity theory are of increasing importance to planners and urbanists alike; the idea that cities are emergent structures created not by design but from the interplay of relatively simple rules and forces over time. From the the small Tuscan hill town to the megacities of Asia: the struggle between the planned and the unplanned is universal. The question is: can we rediscover the art of city planning that works with, rather than against the natural process of urban growth? Based on years of international research, Climax City is a critical exploration of the growth of cities and masterplanning. Challenging the idea that the city can be entirely planned on paper, this book implores you to work with chaos when planning cities. Beautifully illustrated with striking hand-drawn plans of global cities, this is a vital and accessible contribution to urban theory and planning. It’s the perfect title for practitioners and academics across planning and urban design looking to make sense out of chaos.
Table of ContentsIntroduction
Part 1: The Spontaneous City
Chapter 1: Cities Without Plans
Chapter 2 - The Natural Town
Chapter 3 - The Spontaneous Slum
Part 2: The Designed City
Chapter 4 - The Subtle Art of Masterplanning
Chapter 5 - In Search of Nowhere
Chapter 6 - Cities from Scratch
Chapter 7 - Room to Expand
Chapter 8 - Boulevards and Dictators
Part 3: The Unruly City
Chapter 9 - The Astounding Sprawling City
Chapter 10 - The Incredible Shrinking City
Chapter 11 - The Terrifying Exploding City
Part 4: The City and the Planner
Chapter 12 - The Imposition of Order
Chapter 13 - Blue Sky Modernists
Chapter 15 - With the Best of Intentions
Chapter 16 - Shaping the Climax City
