Table Of ContentNewUrbJkt NEW:Layout 1 12/18/07 4:18 PM Page 1
TIGRAN HAASis an assistant professor of urban DN N E W U R B A N I S M N E W
planning and design at the School of Architecture E
aTnecdh tnhoel oBguyil tin E Sntvoicroknhmolemn,t ,S Rwoedyaenl .Institute of NEW URBANISM AND BEYONDis both SIGE URBANISM
a comprehensive primer on urban design N
and a provocation for practitioners, historians, INW A N D B E Y O N D A N D
Also from Rizzoli: and citizens everywhere. G
AQUA C B E YO N D
Miami Modern by the Sea ITU CONTEMPORARY IDEAS AND THOUGHTS
BIPnhettorhot odDguurcantpiloohnpy bbyy TSetervreennc Be rRoiolekye CAKahnrrdlie sOtrosl opAvhl mAerré Anrsltebxearngder SLKuaervzsian nL Lneeeru yCdpreonwhurst Lennard IES FR DESIGNING CITIES FOR THE FUTURE
I2S2B8N p:a 9g7e8s,- 01-08 4x7 180-"2972-9, $60 Ayssar Arida Lars Marcus ORB EDITED BY TIGRAN HAAS
George Baird Tom Martineau T
VANISHING AMERICA Michael Batty Ali Madanipour HA
The End of Main Street Timothy Beatley Malcolm McCullough E Best defined as the art of shaping the built environ-
Photography by Michael Eastman Robert Beauregard William McDonough F ment, urban planning and design seek to understand and
ISBN: 978-0-8478-3040-4, $39.95 Dushko Bogunovich Michael Mehaffy UN analyze the variety of forces—social, economic, cul-
192 pages, 9 x 9" David Brain Philip Michelbach T tural, legal, ecological, and aesthetic—that affect how we
Peter Calthorpe William Mitchell UI live. The complex challenges facing cities today—scarcity
BThEeT AWrcEhEitNec tEuAreR TofH Jo AhnN LDa uHtnEeArVEN GMöarnaune lC Caarsstells PDeotmer NNoezwzmi an RE S ospf rraewsol,u arcmeos,n ggr oowthienrgs —ecaorneo fmoricci dnigv ais iroencos,n asnidde rraatmiopna onft
In Association with the Hammer Museum Robert Cervero Louise Nyström M urban design. New Urbanism, a leading movement
ETedxittesd b byy N Nicihchoolalas sO Olslbsberegrg, Jean-Louis Cohen, Andrés Duany Ray Oldenburg wuribthainn fuorrbmasn: hduemsigann,- sacdavleo,c paetdese sat rriaetnu-rfrni etnod slym satlrle-teotsw, na
Ellen Dunham-Jones Krister Olsson
aISnBdN F:r 9an7k8 -E0s-8ch4e7r8-3014-5, $60 Lewis Feldstein Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk A rTehinisv nigeowr avtoiolunm oef ,c ditriaews, ianngd o na sat ocopn tfoe rseunbcuer abta tnh es pRraowyal.l
240 pages, 10 x 11" Robert Fishman Sergio Porta Institute of Technology at Stockholm, Sweden, compre-
Richard Florida Robert Putnam N hensively examines New Urbanism today and specutes
Published by Peter Hall Edward Robbins about its future.
RIZZOLI INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. Jan Gehl Nikos A. Salingaros
300 Park Avenue South Robert Gibbs Irene Sanders D
New York, New York 10010 Stephen Graham Saskia Sassen E New Urbanism and Beyondis the first complete primer
www.rizzoliusa.com Jill Grant David Grahame Shane D on urban design and gives readers a better understand-
Rick Hall Edward Soja ITB ing of how cities can thrive in the modern era.
Tigran Haas Daniel Solomon E
Jacket design by ABIGAIL STURGES Dolores Hayden Lucien Steil D
Printed in China Bill Hillier Knut Strömberg BE
Allan Jacobs Emily Talen Y
Arun Jain Laurie Volk TY
Douglas Kelbaugh Barry Wellman IG
Léon Krier Todd Zimmerman RO
James Howard Kunstler A
Vito Latora NN
Christopher Leinberger H
A
D
A
S
EDITED BY
TIGRAN HAAS
N E W U R B A N I S M
A N D
B E YO N D
CONTEMPORARY AND FUTURE TRENDS IN URBAN DESIGN
N E W U R B A N I S M
A N D
B E YO N D
CONTEMPORARY AND FUTURE TRENDS IN URBAN DESIGN
EEDDIITTEEDD BBYY TTIIGGRRAANN HHAAAASS
CCOONNTTEENNTTSS
NEW URBANISM & BEYOND / 9 2.2 THE URBAN NETWORK / 67
c/r
TIGRAN HAAS PETER CALTHORPE
2.3 NEW URBANISM:A Forum,Not a Formula / 70
PPAARRTT 11 ELLEN DUNHAM-JONES
TTHHEEOORRIIEESS OOFF UURRBBAANN FFOORRMM / 14
2.4 MAKING CLOTH FROM THREADS / 74
1.1 GENERATIVE CODES:The Path to Building Welcoming, DANIEL SOLOMON
Beautiful,Sustainable Neighborhoods / 14
CHRISTOPHER ALEXANDER 2.5 THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF NEW URBANISM / 77
EMILY TALEN
1.2 THE NEW SCIENCE OF SPACE AND THE ART OF PLACE:
Toward a Space-led Paradigm for Researching and 2.6 THE CHALLENGES OF ACHIEVING SOCIAL OBJECTIVES
Designing the City / 30 THROUGH MIXED USE / 80
BILL HILLIER JILL GRANT
1.3 THREE URBANISMS:New,Everyday,and Post / 40
DOUGLAS KELBAUGH PPAARRTT 33
SSUUBBUURRBBIIAA,, SSPPRRAAWWLL,,
1.4 URBAN RENAISSANCE,URBAN VILLAGES,SMART GROWTH: AANNDD UURRBBAANN DDEECCLLIINNEE / 86
Find the Differences / 48
PETER HALL 3.1 THE SUBURBAN CITY / 86
DOLORES HAYDEN
1.5 SETTLEMENTS OF THE FUTURE / 52
LÉON KRIER 3.2 SPEED,SIZE,AND THE DESTRUCTION OF CITIES / 89
DOM NOZZI
1.6 SOMETHING LIVED,SOMETHING DREAMED:
Principles and Poetics in Urban Design / 58 3.3 RESTRAINING SPRAWL:A Common Interest to Enhance
WILLIAM MCDONOUGH the Quality of Life for All / 93
LOUISE NYSTRÖM
PPAARRTT 22 3.4 THE EMERGENCE OF MIXED-USE TOWN CENTERS
EEXXPPLLOORRIINNGG NNEEWW UURRBBAANNIISSMM / 64 IN THE UNITED STATES / 98
TOM MARTINEAU
2.1 THE TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD
AND URBAN SPRAWL / 64 3.5 URBAN DESIGN AND THE METROPOLIS / 103
ANDRÉS DUANY AND ELIZABETH PLATER-ZYBERK ROBERT BEAUREGARD
PPAARRTT 44 6.3 THE NEED FOR PATIENT EQUITY IN CREATING 8.5 THE SANTA FE–ING OF THE URBAN AND URBANE / 225 PPAARRTT 1111
SSTTRREEEETTSS,,TTRRAANNSSPPOORRTT,, GREAT PLACES / 167 JOEL GARREAU BBEEYYOONNDD UURRBBAANNIISSMM AANNDD
AANNDD PPUUBBLLIICC RREEAALLMM / 106 CHRISTOPHER B. LEINBERGER TTHHEE FFUUTTUURREE OOFF CCIITTIIEESS / 292
4.1 LIVELY,ATTRACTIVE,AND SAFE CITIES—BUT HOW? / 106 6.4 A CHANGED FOCUS ON RETAIL AND ITS IMPLICATIONS PPAARRTT 99 11.1ANOTHER NEW URBANISM / 292
JAN GEHL ON PLANNING / 173 SSOOCCIIAALL CCAAPPIITTAALL AANNDD EDWARD SOJA
ANDERS ALMÉR MMUUTTUUAALL BBEENNEEFFIITT / 232
4.2 GREAT STREETS AND CITY PLANNING / 109 11.2 NEW URBANISM IN THE AGE OF RE-URBANISM / 296
ALLAN JACOBS 6.5 THE ROLE OF CULTURE IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT / 176 9.1 CREATING COMMON SPACES:Urban Planning,Local Media, ROBERT FISHMAN
GÖRAN CARS and Technology / 232
4.3 TRUE URBANISM AND THE EUROPEAN SQUARE: ROBERT PUTNAM AND LEWIS FELDSTEIN 11.3 THE NEW URBANISM IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY:
Catalyst for Social Engagement and Democratic Dialogue / 112 6.6 HERITAGE MANAGEMENT IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT Progress or Problem? / 299
SUZANNE CROWHURST LENNARD PLANNING / 182 9.2 THE THIRD PLACE:A Belated Concept / 234 EDWARD ROBBINS
KRISTER OLSSON RAY OLDENBURG
4.4 URBANISM AND THE ARTICULATION OF THE BOUNDARY / 117 11.4 MAKING PUBLIC INTERVENTIONS
ALI MADANIPOUR 9.3 DEMOCRACY AND “NEIGHBORLY COMMUNITIES”: IN TODAY’S MASSIVE CITIES / 303
PPAARRTT 77 Some Theoretical Considerations on the Built SASKIA SASSEN
4.5 THE NEW URBANISM AND PUBLIC SPACE / 120 SSUUSSTTAAIINNAABBIILLIITTYY,,TTEECCHHNNOOLLOOGGYY,, Environment / 238
GEORGE BAIRD AANNDD TTHHEE EENNVVIIRROONNMMEENNTT / 186 KEVIN LEYDEN AND PHILIP MICHELBACH 11.5 THE WORLD IS SPIKY:Globalization Has Changed
the Economic Playing Field,but Hasn’t Leveled It / 309
4.6 TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT IN AMERICA: 7.1 DOES NEW URBANISM REALLY OVERCOME 9.4 SPRAWLING CITIES / 244 RICHARD FLORIDA
Strategies,Issues,Policy Directions / 124 AUTOMOBILE DEPENDENCE? / 186 KARL OLOV ARNSTBERG
ROBERT CERVERO PETER NEWMAN 11.6 SPACE OF FLOWS,SPACE OF PLACES:Materials for
9.5 BEYOND THE NEIGHBORHOOD: a Theory of Urbanism in the Information Age / 314
7.2 GREEN URBANISM:A Manifesto for Re-Earthing Cities / 189 New Urbanism as Civic Renewal / 249 MANUEL CASTELLS
PPAARRTT 55 TIMOTHY BEATLEY DAVID BRAIN
TTHHEE EELLEEMMEENNTTSS OOFF UURRBBAANN DDEESSIIGGNN / 130
7.3 ECO-TECH URBANISM:Towards the Green and 9.6 URBAN DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
5.1 RECOMBINANT URBANISM / 130 Smart City / 197 IN THE SWEDISH TRADITION / 255 NOTES / 322
DAVID GRAHAME SHANE DUSHKO BOGUNOVICH KNUT STRÖMBERG
CONTRIBUTORS / 338
5.2 SPATIAL CAPITAL AND HOW TO MEASURE IT:An Outline of 7.4 ON COMMUNITY (from Zoon Politikon to Multitude) / 201
an Analytical Theory of Urban Form / 135 LARS LERUP PPAARRTT 1100 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS / 340
LARS MARCUS CCOOMMPPLLEEXXIITTYY SSCCIIEENNCCEE
7.5 PETROCOLLAPSE AND THE LONG EMERGENCY / 204 AANNDD NNEEWW UURRBBAANN FFOORRMMSS / 258 INDEX / 341
5.3 CENTRALITY AND CITIES:Multiple Centrality Assessment JAMES HOWARD KUNSTLER
as a Tool for Urban Analysis and Design / 140 10.1 HIERARCHY,SCALE,AND COMPLEXITY IN URBAN CREDITS / 366
SERGIO PORTA AND VITO LATORA DESIGN / 258
PPAARRTT 88 MICHAEL BATTY
5.4 INTEGRATED APPROACHES AND DYNAMIC PROCESSES / 146 UURRBBAANN DDIIGGIITTAALL SSPPAACCEESS
ARUN JAIN AANNDD CCYYBBEERR CCIITTIIEESS / 208 10.2 GROWING SUSTAINABLE SUBURBS:An Incremental Strategy
for Reconstructing Modern Sprawl / 262
5.5 PLANNING FOR WALKABLE STREETS / 153 8.1 CONNECTIVITY AND URBAN SPACE / 208 LUCIEN STEIL, NIKOS A. SALINGAROS,
RICK HALL WILLIAM MITCHELL AND MICHAEL MEHAFFY
8.2 URBAN NETWORK ARCHITECTURES 10.3 COMPLEX SYSTEMS THINKING AND NEW URBANISM / 275
PPAARRTT 66 AND THE STRUCTURING OF FUTURE CITIES / 212 T. IRENE SANDERS
RREEAALL EESSTTAATTEE,, CCIITTYY MMAARRKKEETTIINNGG,, STEPHEN GRAHAM
AANNDD CCUULLTTUURREE / 158 10.4 NEW SCIENCE,NEW ARCHITECTURE ...NEW URBANISM? / 280
8.3 LOCATIVE MEDIA URBANISM / 218 MICHAEL MEHAFFY
6.1 URBAN RETAIL PLANNING PRINCIPLES MALCOLM MCCULLOUGH
FOR TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS / 158 10.5 QUANTUM URBANISM:
ROBERT GIBBS 8.4 WHAT IS THE INTERNET DOING TO COMMUNITY— Urban Design in the Post-Cartesian Paradigm / 288
AND VISA VERSA / 221 AYSSAR ARIDA
6.2 CONFRONTING THE QUESTION OF MARKET DEMAND BARRY WELLMAN
FOR URBAN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT / 163
LAURIE VOLK AND TODD ZIMMERMAN
66 Contents Contents 77
NNEEWW UURRBBAANNIISSMM && BBEEYYOONNDD
TTIIGGRRAANN HHAAAASS
A hundred years after we are gone and forgotten,
those who never heard of us will be living
with the results of our actions.
— Oliver Wendell Holmes
T
he contributions of the New Urbanism within the the New Urbanism (CNU) was brought to life. What New
architectural, urban planning, and urban design dis- Urbanism did was build a popular movement with global
course and practice have been multiple and invaluable. spillover effects, one that would comprehensively advance a
The New Urbanism has skillfully come to grips with very coherent theory of urbanism, a solid conceptual framework,
complex issues of urbanism, and presented them in a prag- and a new, revised set of tools and techniques. As Stephen
matic way not just to professionals, but also to the layperson. (Steve) Bantu Biko said, “the power of a movement lies in
The last ten years have seen a resurgence in the urban design the fact that it can indeed change the habits of people. This
debate and its rise from a marginalized, still fairly undefined change is not the result of force but of dedication, of
discipline to a mainstream, tour-de-force, “talk of the town” moral persuasion.” The coalition assembled under the
issue. That notwithstanding, there is still an ongoing (and umbrella of New Urbanism sees the movement not as a
what at times seems and feels like an ad infinitum and ad panacea, but more as an arena—one that fosters a plethora
nauseam) debate and discourse surrounding the discipline of of contemporary and future ideas of good urbanism for our
urban design—since at least 1956, at the Harvard Graduate cities and regions.
School of Design conference on urban design, a gathering There are certainly commonalities and differences in the
intended to shape, define, and find a niche for the field. way the universal principles of good urbanism are under-
Some fifty years later, there is still discussion and confusion stood and implemented in the United States and Europe.
over the discipline, not to mention criticism and praise over Nonetheless, they both share the same values of traditional
a single movement that has taken the limelight and the field urbanism and civic life; from the Aristotelian ideas of livable
of theory and practice by storm; that of New Urbanism. It is communities for all citizens, to the works and thoughts on
crucial to understand that this movement is a continuation urban design formulated in the writings and practices of
and (contemporary) amalgamation of those ideas in urban- Camillo Sitte, Gordon Cullen, Kevin Lynch, Léon Krier,
ism that have always championed the notion of looking at Colin Rowe, Jane Jacobs, Christopher Alexander, and others.
people first, and that the power of physical design is a for- The New Urbanism movement has only forwarded the idea
midable force that can enable positive change to the built of good urbanism principles onto the contemporary planning
environment, as well as contribute to the social life of a agenda. It is really nothing more than traditional urbanism
community. The proponents of this movement have reiterated advocated and pursued in the economic, legal, social, polit-
on many occasions that their set of ideas and practices has a ical, and cultural context of post-World War II planning
history that long predates this planning and design move- and sprawl. Rampant development of the periphery of cities,
ment. The New Urbanism rests on shoulders of great individ- linked with disinvestment in older urban centers, resulted in
uals and the theories, practices, and tools they have a destructive and unsustainable combination. This has been
developed throughout the history of urbanism. most evident in the United States, where since the 1950s,
The main ideas of the New Urbanism—about the relation- Americans have been moving away from the cores of their
ship of urban land to the hinterland, the relation of the city cities to suburbia. The middle class thought it was simply opt-
to its transportation infrastructure, neighborhoods that are ing for larger houses, bigger yards, less crime, a better envi-
diverse and support appropriate planning and architecture, ronment, less pollution, and better schools. The darker side
the link of the city to its own history and cultural heritage, of this flight brought a malignancy, especially in the complete
the important role of public space in the urban socioculture dominance of the automobile. New Urbanism provided an
of the city, and the emphasis on the human being as the mea- alternative to the suburban development that has dominated
sure of all things—came together long before the Congress of American life and physical landscape over the past fifty
99
years, with its anonymous houses and alienated households; which should also offer diversity in housing types and a ritory with an aggressiveness that urbanists do not have, across superficial, high-sounding words for small matters—
congested intersections of tangled, spaghetti-like lanes; rising choice of tenures, both residential and commercial. Even aggressiveness that captures new territory and dominates pomposity shrouding trivialities—in attempts to discredit
edge cities; and cavernous, soulless shopping malls. The dif- though places should be compact, in the aim of creating a rec- the discourses.” The heaviest criticism of New Urbanism falls the principles and ideas of New Urbanism. We are also
fuse pattern of urban growth in the United States is partly a ognizable neighborhood, such density of development should into the categories of its supposed “style,” “conservatism,” offered muddled and wishful thinking, voluntarism com-
consequence of particular geographic conditions, cultural be designed to encourage all of the above nonhousing activ- “utopianism,” “communitarianism,” and “refusal to con- bined with awkward analogies, and even more logical falla-
characteristics, and raw market forces, but it is also an acci- ities. Walkability, discouraging excessive car use, and a strong front the political economy of power.” It is often looked at cies. It should be noted that at times the arguments of its
dental outcome of certain government policies. sense of place are relevant. At the core of this idea lies the as “more ideology than theory,” criticized for its unrealistic critics are embedded or hidden in rhetorical patterns that
Even though there are fundamentally different aspects commitment to the concepts of strong citizen participation and idealistic philosophy. It is also picked apart for the pur- obscure the logical connections between their statements;
assigned to the shaping of European cities, there are obvi- (in the planning process), affordable housing, and socioeco- ported lack of authenticity in its products and its pragmatic, however, it is not difficult to spot the fallacies in these argu-
ously a lot of similarities, which are favorable to the inclu- nomic diversity. In a nutshell, the movement offers a com- normative design stance. Finally, there is a common percep- ments. What is most disturbing, however, is the lack of
sion of New Urbanism’s line of thought. Western Europe and pletely new reconsideration of contemporary architecture, tion that the movement’s mythos is concentrated in the idea understanding of the complexity of urbanism as a discipline,
the United States are highly developed postindustrial civiliza- design, planning, and policy making, as well as ways to revi- that changing people’s physical environment (the shaping of as well as what appears to be a conscious ignorance of all the
tions—universal in a truly global sense—on the brink of talize and repair our cities. All of this evolves in a sustainable spatial order) will take care of the social inequalities that positive achievements within the New Urbanist movement.
becoming network-mobile, highly urbanized societies, with metropolitan vision where cities would be ecologically, pressure their livelihoods and can also be the foundation of Charles E. Schumer was correct when he said that “A culture
the high prosperity of their mass-consumerist citizens plac- socially, and spatially acceptableagain. Good urbanism is not a new moral and aesthetic order. of inertia has set in. Criticism predominates over construc-
ing enormous pressures on cities. The creation of places about superficial style, but about pragmatic function. In Even though New Urbanism, as a major design and social tion; critics are given more weight than those trying to build.
relieved of city core pressures, with higher security and prox- most criticism of the New Urbanism, superficial appear- movement, was initiated and is led primarily by architects, It doesn’t matter how small a constituency or flawed an
imity to cleaner environments, coupled with the expansion of ances are often confused with fundamental precepts. Good the hardest and most abrasive criticism comes precisely from argument the critic possesses. He or she always seems to pre-
multinational companies (and the creation of edge cities, neighborhoods and towns are based on fundamental princi- architects with diametrically opposed, entrenched hard-core dominate in political circles, in the news media, and in the
clusters, huge retail centers, etc.), have supported the use of ples—on how they provide for living, not how they look. The views and ideas of what our cities and communities are and public debate.” The sad fact is that in the epoch of semantic
automobiles and the creation of vast arterials and highway alignment of professionals assembled under the banner of should be. The spearhead of these attacks (often hidden innovations (as well as semantic tricks), mere linguistic
networks. The major challenges that face us today are asso- New Urbanism has turned to examples of urban design that under the guise of general criticism of urbanism or urban phrases have taken priority over real, substantive problems,
ciated with social and urban inequality, where planning have survived the test of time—thriving over the centuries— design) is led by a number of elite architectural schools, ideas, and new methodological possibilities. Some critics
problems are often connected with uneven development, and adapted them for the contemporary era. their “wise old men and women,” and an array of disciples demand such things as “imagining a new newness,” “devel-
decay, and a deterioration in the quality of urban life— Peter Calthorpe (a cofounder of New Urbanism) remarked and allies in both academia and practice alike. At first oping a sophisticated awareness of the global condition,”
including social, ethnic, and economic stratification; waste- recently that “aside from its principles, New Urbanism is a glance their criticism seems to have strong intellectual vigor, “exploring the ethics and expression of consent and diver-
ful consumption of resources; transportation congestion; unique coalition, a coalition of many different individuals, solid thematic and didactic critiques, and some unusual dem- sity,” “embracing human diversity of all kinds,” an ability to
and environmental degradation. The rampant development professions, and vantage points.” The reputation of the New ocratic (at times revolutionary) critical stances. In their “apply a wide-angle lens to the many issues . . . ,” etc. The
of city peripheries, together with disinvestment in older Urbanism movement today is undisputable—it is not an essence, however, they lack coherence, both rational and trouble is that these critics have no effective solutions for the
urban cores, presents a destructive and unsustainable com- American phenomenon anymore; it is a global one, and as theoretical argumentation, and pragmatic value. To examine real and pressing problems facing urbanism today. Ironi-
bination. Movements like New Urbanism conceive commu- such is a cutting-edge trend in urban planning and design due them more closely is not our concern here, but a few hints cally and paradoxically (and rather unfairly) they brand
nities that are balanced in function (housing and services), to its systemic, all-encompassing approach to problems in the shall suffice. The fact that criticism predominates over con- New Urbanism with accusations of utopianism, idealism, and
create inclusive housing that supports home-based businesses natural and built environment. The greatest misconception struction in the debates surrounding New Urbanism would unrealistic ideas while it is their unrealistic, idealistic, and
(in vogue with information technology and the demands of today has to do with the incorrect interpretations, interven- not be as much of a problem if it were constructive: indeed, somewhat grotesque outcries that certainly pass for the essen-
the mobile society we live in), spatially define the public tions, and applications within urban design and its continu- it should be welcomed. Unfortunately, the present criticism tial ingredients of pure utopianism—a “definitive global tri-
realm as a key element, facilitate pedestrian accessibility and ous replacement by architectural design— in most cases, is often featured in flawed arguments (with various strains of umph of lunacy.” Certain critics of New Urbanism have
“walkability,” minimize and put into perspective automobile avant-garde architecture. This is largely due to the attitude logical fallacies), unclear conceptual frameworks, and incon- sometimes co-opted its concepts and ideas: they hide this by
use, and support public transportation—the promotion and of some of the leading contemporary architects, carried on sistent categories of theoretical thought. Moreover, a lot of using their own terminology, not that developed for New
increased use of trains and light rail, instead of more high- the wings of popular architectural and design media and sup- the unfavorable judgment centers on the fixation that urban- Urbanism. However, they appear not to notice this, and con-
ways and roads. The popularity and acceptance of this move- ported by most architecture schools and their curricula, in ism (i.e., the New Urbanism) has failed and “disappeared as tinue their criticism of the structure even while using it them-
ment, as well as the global adoption of its principles, have not seeing the fundamental differences between architecture a profession,” or that—in order to survive—it should invent selves. They are writing about urbanism without really being
shown that we are dealing with universal problems in our and urbanism. a kind of universal formula or “golden key” for solving urbanists, and thus belong to the category of “literary intel-
urban conditions. Nonetheless, each geographic and cul- As Andrés Duany and Dan Solomon (both also co- most of the acute global problems we are faced with today. lectuals.” Such critics are busy telling us that urbanism is not
tural context and matrix requires sensitivity and specificity founders of New Urbanism) have reiterated on numerous At the same time, urbanism has to attain some paragon urbanism, and what it cannot or should not do, or that it
when dealing with the complexities of urban form. occasions, “the attitude of the architects is that they hold the state, with a just society and equality for all (enhancing does not exist anymore. Yet at the same time these critics
The idea behind the New Urbanism design philosophy is sacred, untouchable ground, with their impenetrable archi- equity, diversity, and ultimately the survival of the planet) in explain to us what urbanism mustdo. This is simply a con-
to identify and deliver solutions that work in a twofold man- tectural masterpieces—works of art. Their buildings have the its capacity to support humanity. As a matter of fact, urban- tradiction in adjecto.
ner: first by defining sustainable and identifiable urban forms; sole function of defining space by their sheer presence and ism (including architecture, planning, and urban design) can Urbanism is the study of cities—their inner structures
and secondly by establishing and then supporting a real domination, and if done beautifullyand attractively enough, support these noble goals and work towards providing a and environments as well as developments and processes
sense of vibrant, livable communities. Within these concepts they will suffice as the sole magnets and attractors of every- good quality of life for all—but urbanism alone is not and within. It is also the practice of planning, arranging, design-
and solutions the neighborhood center becomes both a civic day citizens. The composition and the surroundings will not cannot be concerned with devising the means to do this. This ing, and creating human communities. It is, therefore, a dis-
focal point and an informal gathering place for the commu- matter anymore; even if they exist, they will be just a support- is not its task; rather, it is the task of sociotechnology and cipline that is here for the long haul. The notion of time as
nity’s people. The idea is that the long-term functional via- ing act for the main, grandiose spectacle in space—their social policymaking. an important dimension is essential; everything that is accom-
bility of New Urbanist projects is secured by the inclusion of building.” As Duany reflected in an interview, “traditional- More to the point, such sheer utopianism, abstract plished now is done for the future, as yesterday is gone, today
some critical components: the principle of mixed use, which ists and those associated with good urbanism hold people’s humanism, and ethical romanticism forces urbanism into is already here, and we only have tomorrow. This moment—
states that a variety of uses—such as shopping, leisure, and hearts, while critics, modernists, and other avant-garde indi- some areas that are simply unacceptable. Furthermore, they the here and now—is not the sole factor, and urbanism can-
community facilities—should exist alongside housing units, vidualists (architects) command most of the intellectual ter- are impossible to resolve within the field. We also come not be judged only by its present results. The key to its
1100 TIGRAN HAAS New Urbanism and Beyond 1111
success lies in the long run and in the understanding of the alter the way we think and the way we shape our cities. The sitize—as well as establish guidelines and tips for—city lead- explorations of new urbanism, suburbia, transportation,
complexities and realities on the ground, while having a ability of urbanism to globally cope with the impact of high- ers, community activists, business people, researchers, stu- real estate, social capital, elements of urban design, sustain-
realistic vision of the future in mind. Urbanism is a histori- energy demands and high fuel costs may call for new urban dents, and regular citizens who seek to understand and ability and technology, complexity science, and the future
cal, sequential, and extremely complex discipline. Robert design approaches and adaptations—a change in both the improve the status of their cities, communities, neighbor- of cities. These essential readings show that we have not
Fishman pointed out recently that the “urban past is also an concept and layout of cities as we know them. hoods, and other urban places. come to the “end of urbanism” as some would like us to
integral part of the urban future, and that the traditional Urbanism as a discipline is needed: it is needed to assist, New Urbanism & Beyond concentrates on cardinal believe. On the contrary, we are in many ways at the begin-
vocabulary of urban design [that New Urbanism uses], which train, and facilitate people and communities, as well as issues confronting contemporary urbanism, urban and town ning of something new. These diverging and dynamic
gave identity and permanence to our cities throughout his- manage change with all the planning and design skills it pos- planning and design, and focuses on the key topics that will essays cover issues within the fields in which urbanism
tory, is as much part of our future as the urban past.” His- sesses. It needs to enable an environment that will forge pro- be of value to scholars, undergraduate, and graduate stu- operates: architecture, planning and urban design, land-
tory, identity, permanence, and complexity are all beasts of fessionals into a cadre, a coalition for urban change that can dents, as well as professionals and decision makers, in this scape architecture, ecology, urban development, and social
the long span, not a ballyhoo moment of avant-gardism, as merge development, design, and planning tools into new and all fields related to urban studies. The contributions and natural science in general. At times they expose the
many of the critics of New Urbanism would like to see it. integrative systems. It has to establish itself as a discipline of come from major theoreticians and practitioners in the highly varied modes of thinking that are consistent with the
Although urbanism is, as pointed out before, the study of new problem-solving paradigms that can equip architects, field today. The intention was to produce a first-class work multidimensional complexity and considerations of our
cities—their economic, political, social, and cultural environ- planners, and urban designers with sophisticated tools and of urban planning and design reference, with New Urban- cities—along with their many layers of social, political, cul-
ments and processes, as well as the practice of creating a sharper cultural awareness so that they can practice plan- ism as the recurring theme. This advanced primer will be tural, economic, technological, legal, experiential, and aes-
human communities—abstract concepts such as justice, ning and development anywhere in the world. If such pro- both an essential resource for practice as well as a useful aid thetic meanings.
ethics, solidarity, equality, diversity, and the more sophisti- fessionals and decision makers are not able to combat and in academic teaching: a solid, provocative starting point for New Urbanism & Beyond is the result of the summer
cated developments of them lie beyond the confines of urban- respond to this crisis in a proper way, then the prospect of wider exploration of the subject. In the past two decades in course, conference, and debates on New Urbanism held in
ism. More precisely, they are indispensable categories of making liveable cities and sustainable communities will not particular, urban design emerged as an academic specialty October of 2004 at the Royal Institute of Technology in
social, moral, and political thought, but they are devoid of succeed in the long run. Even though we might have techno- akin to, but somewhat distinct from, traditional architecture Stockholm. This was the largest ever gathering (after the
meaning or application until specific content is put into logical breakthroughs, the future will not allow us to keep and urban planning. Again, there are strong differences of famous Exploring New Urbanismconference at the Harvard
them. What should be stressed here is the impossibility of using and abusing our natural resources and environment in opinion on whether or not it is an autonomous profes- Graduate School of Design in 1999) of what Professor
inventing an abstract, supersocial, superhistorical standard by the extravagant ways we have become accustomed to in the sional and academic field, separate from planning and Manuel Castells has called “some of the brightest urban
which all urban endeavors can be judged. Urbanism is a com- last millennium. architecture. New Urbanism, as the movement that has minds of today.” This work has even gone a step further, and
plex discipline in flux. It has nothing to do with final solu- The future of Urbanism holds a vision of a long-term, inte- revived urban design, has attracted attention in the aca- assembled almost allthe brightest urban minds of today. This
tions, catastrophes, deaths, endings, etc. Rather, it is involved grated, systems approach to developing and achieving demic literature of several other disciplines and in popular is not an anticipatory work, a book of dreams, or a nostrum
with values, complexities, dynamics, etc.—which imply com- healthy cities and communities by jointly addressing physi- literature. All of that has been followed by a remarkable for the future design of cities and our communities; it is sim-
parison and cautious relativism. That is why urbanists tend cal, economic, environmental, and social issues. What we number of publications that have emerged from all sides to ply a solidly grounded collection of ideas and thoughts
to express their judgments (moral/social ones) in words of a need is a broad coalition of progressive ideas at a systems theorize and analyze the urban condition, proposing new addressing our urban condition (and beyond) written by an
comparative nature, with terms such as modern, new, tradi- level—one that will offer a synthesis of skills, innovation, and approaches to its design challenges. exceptional group of individuals never assembled before in
tional, conservative, etc., rather than in uncompromising knowledge. This coalition needs to recognize and handle This is a unique collection of essays—untarnished, in one place. It is a coherent and consistent series of proactive
absolutes like just, unjust, good, bad, etc. the dynamics of human change and diversity in the built envi- their raw form—coming from some of the leading urban lessons on how the evolution of urbanism will alter the way
The current processes of globalization, city marketing, ronment on all scales—from urban to regional to global. We thinkers of today. This group of authors originates from an we live, work, build, and communicate in our cities, commu-
localization, commercialization, and medialization are, via also need stronger, more clear-cut urban planning and design array of disciplines akin to urbanism, including advocates nities, and neighborhoods—an unpretentious, balanced set of
fascinating new forms of visual phenomena and marketing theories, procedures, and tools for dealing with the uncertain- and sound critics of New Urbanism, as well as those who essays with a vision of contemporary and future urban form
energies, transforming and reurbanizing cities across the ties of the future. Yet, maybe the most significant conclusion lie somewhere in between. The book is organized into and its influence on everyday life patterns in our brave new
globe. The challenges that will shape the outcome of our here would be that the majority of our real-world problems eleven topical sections grouped according to pertinent, twenty-first-century world.
cities will be experienced through a wave of exploding pop- do not fit into the domain of just one discipline. To solve this contemporary themes ranging from theories of urban form, April 2007, Stockholm
ulation growth, transformation of networks, and economic and break through the traditional boundaries between archi-
disparity and prosperity where consequences for the environ- tecture, planning, and urban design, new cross-disciplinary,
ment and on the long-term social well-being of inhabitants collaborative, and integrated approaches need to be devel-
will become primary. Changes and advancements are already oped if we are going to achieve the goal of a more sustain-
at our doorstep in the form of global philosophies, technolo- able urban condition. Hopefully this book represents an
gies, economics, communications, infrastructure, and in important effort towards that goal. What we do today will
rapid demographic shifts, not to mention shifts in people’s surely affect tomorrow, and future generations will be living
attitudes and behavior. As Manuel Castells points out, “we with the results of our actions. So, simply put, we cannot
are currently contemplating the emergence of new social afford the luxury of failure.
landscapes, in which individualized persons strive to cope The aim of this book is to provide a comprehensive, state-
with the responsibility of constructing their networks of of-the-art overview of ideas and thoughts on urbanism—
communication on the basis of who they are and what they architecture, planning, and urban design—from some of the
want.” The emerging economic, demographic, social, and leading urban minds of today. New Urbanism is taken as the
market trends will affect major cities, which will in turn auto- leitmotif, as it is an international, cutting-edge movement to
matically have an impact on regions and communities, alter- reform the design of our built environment by raising the
ing the requisites for future urban planning and design. quality of life and standard of living through creating better
People will still continue to move to our towns and cities urban places. The texts herein also aim to offer a better
from the hinterlands. There are many factors in play here, so understanding of how cities can thrive in a new era; their
many “knowables,” but also many “unknowables” that will timeliness goes directly in line with the current efforts to sen-
1122 TIGRAN HAAS New Urbanism and Beyond 1133
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M
ost of us share a general, intuitive understanding of erated. Without it, nothing valuable can ensue. With it, the
the qualities we would like to have in the neighbor- neighborhood has a very strong chance of life.
hood around us. It is not very complicated. Building that fabric—successfully, in modern society—is
A sense of privacy—we are left alone when we want to be what this paper is about.
alone. Friendly people who know you, and whom you greet
and occasionally talk to. Safety—safety from violence, from
theft. Physical safety from traffic and noise. Safety for children. WWhhaatt iiss aa GGeenneerraattiivvee CCooddee??
Safety at night. A beautiful place—one that lifts your heart
when you walk around or look out of the window. Intimate A generative code is a system of explicit steps for creating
and personal. Trees and gardens. Water, perhaps. A place to such a fabric. It defines the end product, not by specifying the
sit in public that is really a wonderful place. Streets and pub- end product itself, but by defining the steps that must be used
lic places where everyone feels at home, instead of ones where to reachit. Unlike a process that defines the end product and
no one feels at home. A uniqueness of the neighborhood, so then leaves the details of getting there to the developer, the
we know it both when we are home and when we get home. processes initiated by a generative code assure that the end
And, of course, we also hope for these qualities in a newly product will be unique each time it occurs, and will be
built neighborhood, or in a refurbished neighborhood. This unique in exactly the ways that matter.1 FFIIGG..11 Eishin
is the dream, one might say, of every developer. A developer The generative codes we are concerned with here are the Campus,street
entrance.
with a conscience, who dreams of building neighborhoods, processes specific to the environment—our world and its con-
who hopes and wishes to build something for people that has struction, especially in areas that we may roughly call “neigh- FFIIGG..22 Eishin garden
these qualities. borhoods.” They are, to be more precise, codes that are with cherry trees.
Yet we all know that developers rarely—if we are more hon- capable of driving or guiding the organic unfolding of a neigh-
est, perhaps never—reach this ideal. There is something about the borhood (new, existing, or partly existing, greenfield or brown
way that things are set up in the contemporary process of build- field) in such a way that the neighborhood and the people who
ing houses that prevents it, perhaps even virtually forbids it. do and will live and work in it have a good chance of flour-
The reason is not hard to find. Making a neighborhood ishing personally, economically, and ecologically. Like the
that has these qualities is a human process. It is generated by example of biological generative code, such a code is necessar-
a long chain of human events, involving respect for people, ily highly complex (in its effects) though simple (in its struc-
respect for one another, respect for land and place, and ture). It is necessarilydynamic. It specifies processes, happening
respect for age-old ways of making things: the origin of under a variety of types of control, that will contribute to the
every genuine human structure. Above all it comes from the proper unfolding of the whole, and delineates the interaction
land, and it comes from the people. of the people concerned in such a way that what results may,
When successful, it binds land and people together into a with good fortune, become a living neighborhood.
social-spatial fabric or tapestry. The list of qualities at the An example of a generative code in another context is the
beginning of this section are that fabric or tapestry of which thing known in surgical medicine as a “procedure.” It defines
we are dreaming. We will never get that kind of neighbor- a surgical operation in such a way that it can be learned and
hood unless we consciously set out to make that fabric. The transmitted. Those who have learned it are able to apply the
fabric must be generated by the processes we use, and in the procedure to widely different individuals, each with unique
processes we support, which try to build houses and public circumstances, producing unique results according to the
space and neighborhoods—it is this fabric that must be gen- idiosyncrasies of the patient.
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