Subjects:  1. Appropriate Technology    2. Case studies    3. City Planning    4. Community development, Urban    5. General    6. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Sociology    9. United States    10. Urban Design    11. Urban renewal    12. Non-Classifiable   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Case studies    3. City planning    4. Human Geography    5. Planning    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    8. Regional planning    9. Research    10. Sociology - Urban    11. Architecture / Planning    12. City & town planning - architectural aspects   

Subjects:  1. Democratization    2. Development - Economic Development    3. Multiculturalism    4. Nepal    5. Political Process - General    6. Political Science    7. Politics - Current Events    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics and government    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    12. Representative government and    13. Representative government and representation    14. Business & Economics / Economic Development    15. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (4)

Outstanding Book for the Modern Loft Dweller
My dream is to own a loft one day and I have been to open house tours and read many books about this subject. I have a very defined taste, concerning how I want a loft to look and how I want to decorate my loft. I have a very contemporary taste in furnishings and I like an open and airy loft. When I first received this book in the mail, I almost quit breathing. It was if the authors had looked into my dreams and thoughts to create this book. This book truly represents the contemporary feel and look that I like so well. I can guarantee you that if you are interested in a contemporary look to your loft, this is your book. I know that I will probably wear this book out, because it is truly an inspirational vision of a modern loft. The photos are beautifully done, the writing is sharp and concise, and the overall quality is outstanding!!

Home, or something like it
Young people today aren't keeping to the small-town or suburban lifestyles of their parents. They're going to the cities to rent studio apartments. Once there, they're likely to end up moving into family-size spaces. One of the best in this class
I've browsed about twenty different contemporary interior books, and I've found this to be most interesting and slightly more inspiring.Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. Decorating - General    5. Design & Construction    6. Do-It-Yourself    7. Domestic    8. House & Home    9. House Plans    10. Interior Design - General    11. Interior architecture    12. Planning    13. United States    14. Building skills    15. City & town planning - architectural aspects    16. House & Home / General    17. House maintenance    18. Interior design    19. Residential buildings, domestic buildings    20. HOUSE & HOME / Design & Construction   

Reviews (3)

The Color of Cities
As a colorist for the last twenty years, specializing in exterior building color I was sorely disappointed to read this book.Basically everything she had to say of import could have be said in an essay. The author has a wonderful vocabulary but after wading through all the prose one finds there is liitle said that isn't entirely obvious. I was left with the impression that this book was concieved as a great excuse to travel to the world's really wonderful places.You will note that she not traveled to Lubbock or Erzerum.

The Color of Cities
As a colorist for the last twenty years, specializing in exterior building color I was sorely disappointed to read this book.Basically every she had to say of import could have be said in an essay. The author has a wonderful vocabulary but after wading through all the prose one finds there is liitle said that isn't entirely obvious. I was left with the impression that this book was concieved as a great excuse to travel to the worlds really wonderful places.One is aware that she not traveled to Lubbock or Erzerum.

A visual, historical and sociological treat!
The is a somewhat remarkable book, worth the high price tag. Swirnoff tackles an unique issue: the role of color/light in forming a particularcity's identity. She cites (and sites) examples from New York to Santa Feto Venice to Mexico to Paris to the Caribbean to Stockholm to Japan andmany others, too. The book has many photo examples, both black-and-whiteand color, as well as quite thought provoking written discussion.This is amuch-needed book, focusing on an important issue of local identity at atime when globalization challenges the specifics of space and place.Thebook would appeal to travellers, visual artists, architects, sociologists,urban planners and many others. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural Detail    2. Architecture    3. Color In Art Media    4. Color Theory    5. Decoration & Ornament    6. International Architecture - General    7. Architectural structure & design    8. City & town planning - architectural aspects   

Reviews (8)

ANOTHER WAY
After reading this book, I suddenly realized the root problem of Western Civilization: We have no culture. Where there was once culture, we now have an expanding economic order threatening all life on the planet. Through its mechanism of growth and expansion, the global economy is conquering and converting life's diversity into an ecological and social monoculture of cash crops, Levis, soda pop and movie theatres. Perhaps moonscape would be a better word. Of course, it doesn't have to be this way. Our fast-paced, increasingly technological, capital-intensive, fossil fuel-centered, centralized, highly specialized, travel and commercial-oriented, often stressful society is by no means the end-all-be-all of human history. Murder, child abuse, drug abuse, theft, poverty, hunger, and every other problem that plagues the West are not products of human nature. The pathology of civilization is not natural or inevitable, and the Ladakhi are proof of this. Read this book and rediscover ancient, profound, life-affirmating alternatives to the modern humdrum. Discover another way of living, thinking and feeling. Important, necessary, engaging and masterfully written - this book was a treasure to read. Indeed, it was an awaking.
Inspiring
This book has changed the way I looked at the issues of development, modernisation & morals. An amazing read, beautifully written and with great insights. Wonderful and Depressing
Rarely have I felt more dispair about the direction of what we know as civilization as I felt halfway through this book. The Ladakh people are described as happy, healthy, and self-reliant. Suddenly, the "real world" happens to them, and they come to see themselves as poor, when before they had no need of money.Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Appropriate technology    3. Environmental Science    4. Environmental Studies    5. India    6. Ladakh    7. Ladakh (India)    8. Låadakh    9. Låadakh (India)    10. Nature/Ecology    11. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    12. Rural conditions    13. Rural development projects    14. Asian / Middle Eastern history    15. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    16. Nature / General   

Reviews (1)

Think Globally, Act Regionally
A book that exposes users to the more advanced raster GIS as well as provides practical know how of inporting and exporting GIS to some most popularly used non-GIS softwares. The practical approach to GIS through hands-on exercises is very informative and users should benefit even in the absence of physical experts in any learning environment. Suitable for persons with the relevant expertise in public policy and social research but desire to apply GIS to the choosen field of endeavor. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Geography    2. Ecology    3. Human Geography    4. Information Systems (Geography)    5. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Sociology    9. Sociology - Urban    10. Urban Geography    11. Geographical information systems (GIS)    12. Social Science / Sociology / Urban   

Subjects:  1. Citizen participation    2. Participatory rural appraisal    3. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    4. Rural development projects    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Sociology - Rural    8. Third World Development    9. Development studies    10. Rural communities    11. Rural planning    12. Social Science / Sociology / Rural   

Features

• Illustrated

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. General    3. Political Science    4. Politics/International Relations    5. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    6. Sociology    7. CITIES AND TOWNS_GROWTH    8. Communication Studies    9. INFORMATION SOCIETY    10. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY    11. Impact of computing & IT on society    12. Political Science / City Planning & Urban Development    13. Political economy    14. STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT (ECONOMIC POLICY)    15. TECHNOLOGY_SOCIAL ASPECTS    16. Urban communities   

Reviews (2)

fighting the big lie
The biggest obstacle Americans suffer to any sort of progress on urban problems is the Big Lie that after being forced to lie in their own excrement for decades, America's poorest cities can right themselves through a little more efficiency (in the conservative version) or Great Society spending on "community development" (in the liberal version).Rusk shows why community development doesn't work, and also shows why most cities (other than a few immigration hubs like NYC and Sun Belt cities with unlimited annexation powers) simply can't compete with their suburbs without outside help (or at least without a termination of outside hostility, such as highway spending that drags development ever further into the suburbs): if a city has no tax base and poor people who make public services more expensive, it can't compete with the suburbs, efficiency or no efficiency.Like Cities without Suburbs (also by Rusk), this is a masterpiece.

A "Must Read" for Those Concerned about Urban Poverty
Rusk's book roots out the causes of concentrated urban poverty, proposes solutions, and provides examples of success stories.Ruskconvincingly argues that poor racial minorities should be welcome to live in functionalneighborhoods, such as the suburbs.I attended a conference at which Ruskdiscussed "Inside Game, Outside Game," and I was delighted tohear one politician declare that that book should be required reading forevery politician in my state. I agree. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Political Science    3. Politics / Current Events    4. Politics/International Relations    5. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    6. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    7. Sociology - Urban    8. Central government policies    9. Poverty    10. USA    11. Urban communities   

Subjects:  1. City planning    2. City promotion    3. Cross-cultural studies    4. Economic aspects    5. Europe    6. Human Geography    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Sports   

Reviews (2)

can the core of cities revitalise?
The authors describe the trends in the 20th century that at first favoured the city, and then, after World War 2, favoured the surrounding suburbs. In the US, this led in some regions to a decayed inner city, abut against a prosperous business district, while the suburbs boomed.
PLANNING
Haven't read it yet, part of a required planning course.Looks uptodate and very interesting. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Planning    3. Architecture / Planning    4. Urban & municipal planning    5. Urban communities   

Reviews (3)

Well done.
It is a rare moment when text and image collaborate to tell a story that could be told by neither alone. X-Urbanism is one of these moments. The dialog between the writing and drawings in this book is brilliant.Theultimate result of the conversation between the two is a nuancedunderstanding of the relationship that cities have with the subconscious oftheir inhabitants.

An inspired analysis of the city's marriage to fantasy.
Both eloquently and clearly, X-Urbanism explores the historical and continuing development of the American City through the lens of an eye opening thesis: fantasy and desire have been pivotal factors in the shapingof Urban Space.As the author illustrates, the implications of this pointof departure reach far beyond the conventional boundaries of urban studiesto include a wealth of other disciplines such as psychology, philosophy,and popular culture.Through the course of this book, the affects offantasy on the Renaissance City, the Baroque City, the Modern City, and thePost-modern City are charted.Without being dogmatic or judgmental, Mr.Gandelsonas frames the City as a simultaneous object and subject that isinfluenced by the desires of architects while also influencing itsinhabitants with its own wishes. Missed Opportunity
When I picked up this book I was truly impressed. It is extremely high quality, ambitious and far reaching which makes it all the more sinister that the numerous emerging architects whose drawings comprise the most interesting aspect of this book, remain (perhaps strategically?) anonymous.Amazon's own description of the book is a perfect example of how easily theuncredited drawings can be misinterpreted as the work of Mr. Gandelsonas.If this were a purposeful issue of anonymity, I could possibly understand.However, Mies, Corbu and the likes are happily credited throughout thebook. So what gives?Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. City planning    3. Criticism    4. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    5. Space (Architecture)    6. United States    7. Urban Architecture    8. City & town planning - architectural aspects    9. Non-Classifiable    10. USA   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. City planning    3. England    4. Europe - Great Britain - General    5. General    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History Of Individual Cities    9. London    10. London (England)    11. Architecture / General    12. City & town planning - architectural aspects   

Subjects:  1. City planning    2. Globalization    3. Metropolitan areas    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Sociology - General    9. Urban policy    10. Europe    11. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    12. Urban & municipal planning   

Subjects:  1. Agricultural development proje    2. Agricultural development projects    3. Developing countries    4. General    5. Human services    6. Natural resources    7. Political Science    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    10. Public Policy - Social Policy    11. Rural development    12. Sociology    13. Economics   

Subjects:  1. Architectural Lighting    2. Architecture    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. General    5. Interior Design - Lighting    6. Architecture / General    7. City & town planning - architectural aspects    8. Exterior Lighting    9. Lighting Design   

Reviews (4)

...But I like my life in the suburbs
"Cities for a Small Planet give me the reassurance that there are influential people trying to reduce the destructive impact of human activities on the world. The case study of Curitiba, Brazil is particularly inspirational.
small in size, large in wisdom
It is a good book, small but with lots of information. It introduces in a simple form the urban problems of the world and tries to focus in it's solutions. After I read it I showed it to teachers at my school and theynow quote it in class.

well designed and with great insight
Unusual and very well thought-out propositions for the architectural/urbanization problems that arise today as society everywhere struggles with increasing overpopulation. EWspecially noteworthy is theinclusion of small town issues, a topic normally overlooked by otherarchitects/scholars who write on urban planning. Some interesting research,and of course the intriguing sketches and drawings I associate with Rogers,Foster, Piano, and all thoes other postindustrial architects. It's a smalllittle book that is great for reading on the plane. Usually something nottoo common with architecture books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design & Drafting    3. Individual Architect    4. Sociology    5. City & town planning - architectural aspects    6. The Environment    7. Theory of architecture   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. City planning    4. History    5. Planning    6. Space (Architecture)    7. Urban Architecture    8. Urban Planning    9. Architecture / Planning    10. town spaces    11. urbanism   

Editorial Review

If the great cities of the world (and a few of the smaller ones) were tocome together to conceive a vast international PR campaign that promoted the21st-century renaissance of the urban center, they could have no more dazzling aview book than this broadly and intelligently conceived compendium of majorrecent or in-progress projects in 25 different metropolises, from New York,Dallas, and Seattle to London, Paris, Rotterdam, and Bilbao to Kobe, Ho Chi MinhCity, and Kuala Lumpur. Rest assured that, somewhere, Jane Jacobs is smiling onRead more

Reviews (2)

Bilbao Effect
I couldn't disagree more with the review posted. As far as urban design and or architectural aestethics, contextualization, etc. is concerned, the Guggenheim Bilbao has had an amazingly positive effect on the city, it's economy, international profile, and cultural tourists, beyond all predictions, because of the stark contrast to the urban and rural panorama.
Apparently, you can never have too much concrete
This book documents 25 urban megaprojects, of which 18 are in Europe, 3 in the US, and 4 in Asia. Most page space is given to beautiful color photos and color diagrams, accompanied by text that is unabashedly fawning. Only a few of these projects are designed to be compatible with the surrounding architectural context (Dublin and Lisbon). Others among these projects will probably become important assets to their cities. (I would put Canary Wharf, Battery Park City, and the transportation facilities in this category.) However, what is shocking is how downright ugly most of these projects are, and one wonders if, fifty years hence, they will be regarded as monstrous tumors on the urban fabric. I cringe at such projects as Albeda College (Rotterdam), the Station Quarter (Frankfurt), and some of the buildings of Potsdamer Platz (Berlin). Is there an uglier building on the planet than Gehry's Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain? Apparently, we have learned nothing from such urban planning fiascos as London's Barbican or Detroit's Renaissance Center. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. History - Specific Styles    3. Planning    4. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    5. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    6. Urban Architecture