Minding the City: Field notes on meaning in performative urban space

Minding the City emphasizes the underdeveloped environmental performance of public spaces and proposes that they can play a more integrated role in combating climate change and creating a more meaningful experience of the city. It is influenced by recent insights from neuroscience that suggest a reformulation of urban design theory. The book uses case studies to illustrate how neuroscience insights can be applied to urban design to create better environmental performance and more meaningful urban spaces.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 08 February 2021
Publisher: Oro Editions

This captivating book delves into the realm of urban public spaces, highlighting their underdeveloped environmental performance and immense potential to combat the pressing challenges of climate change. By integrating neuroscience's recent insights, it proposes a transformative approach to urban design, emphasizing the bodily basis of mind and meaning. This reimagining of urban design theory opens up new avenues for creating more meaningful and immersive urban experiences.

Minding the City takes a bold step by shifting the focus of urban design away from abstract concepts and towards the tangible and visceral experiences of public spaces. It reminds urban designers that our understanding of the city is deeply rooted in our bodily experiences and urges them to incorporate these insights into their designs.

The book explores emerging insights from neuroscience, shedding light on the underlying bodily mechanisms that shape our perception, cognition, and emotional responses to the built environment. It discusses how these insights can be applied to urban design to create spaces that not only function efficiently but also evoke deeper emotional connections and a sense of belonging.

Through a series of case studies, Minding the City showcases how neuroscience is influencing our understanding and valuation of the built environment. It illustrates how sensory experiences, such as sight, sound, touch, and smell, can shape our perception of spaces and influence our emotional responses. It also explores the role of aesthetics in urban design, emphasizing the importance of creating visually appealing and harmonious spaces that enhance our well-being and sense of place.

In conclusion, Minding the City is a thought-provoking and visionary book that offers a fresh perspective on urban design. By integrating neuroscience's insights, it proposes a transformative approach to creating more meaningful, sustainable, and resilient urban spaces. It encourages urban designers to think beyond traditional design principles and to prioritize the sensory and aesthetic experiences of public spaces. This book is a valuable resource for policymakers, urban planners, designers, and anyone interested in shaping the future of our cities.

Weight: 662g
Dimension: 178 x 232 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781951541330