Cities Design and Evolution

Whydoesmodernplanningsometimescreateurbanenvironmentsthatarelessattractiveandfunctionalthanthe'organicurbanism'oftraditionalcities?"CitiesDesignandEvolution"takesupthechallengeofthisquestion,investigating'howcitiesareputtogether',bothinthesenseofhowthepartsareorganisedinrelationtothewhole,andhowtheyarecreatedorevolveovertime."CitiesDesignandEvolution"offersanengagingandoriginalnarrativethatinterpretsplanningphilosophiesfromModernismtoNewUrbanism,organictheoriesfromPatrickGeddestoLeCorbusier,andevolutionarythinkingfromCharlesDarwintoRichardDawkins.Thebookdevelopsanewevolutionaryperspectivethatrecognisesboththe'designed'and'organic'natureofcities,andprovidesarationaleandimpetusforfreshapproachestourbanplanninganddesign.Inwhatisthefirstbooktosignificantlyapplymodernevolutionarythinkingtourbanism,"CitiesDesignandEvolution"promisestostimulatethought,debateandactionconcerningthenatureofcitiesandfutureurbanplanning.Thebookshouldappealtoallwhoareinterestedincities,indesignandinevolution.