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Michael Dennis

Temples and Towns: The Form, Elements, and Principles of Planned Towns

Temples and Towns: The Form, Elements, and Principles of Planned Towns

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  • More about Temples and Towns: The Form, Elements, and Principles of Planned Towns

This book explores the historical evolution of urban form, principles, and design, serving as a compendium of city design and a polemic for the recovery of the city. It covers various urban planning strategies and discusses anti-urban modernist architecture and its impact on the disintegration of the city. It concludes with efforts to recover the city and the potential contribution of urbanism to the contemporary ecological crisis. The book is project-oriented and extensively illustrated, promoting a visual understanding of architecture and urban design.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 504 pages
Publication date: 26 October 2022
Publisher: Oro Editions


This comprehensive work explores the historical development of urban form, principles, and design, serving as a valuable compendium and reference for city planning. It also serves as a passionate advocacy for the revival of cities and contemporary urban architecture. The book begins by delving into the planned cities of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, spanning from approximately 500 BC to the late-medieval Bastides, the Ideal Renaissance cities, and the Baroque new towns. It then proceeds to examine the urban planning strategies of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Furthermore, the book addresses the anti-urban modernist architecture that led to the disintegration of cities and the subsequent efforts in the late twentieth century to reclaim and revitalize urban spaces. It concludes by exploring the potential contribution of urbanism to the contemporary ecological crisis.

The book is designed to be project-oriented, with extensive illustrations that enhance the reader's understanding of the topics discussed. It can be approached graphically, textually, or both, allowing for a multi-dimensional exploration of architecture and urban design. This approach aligns with the long tradition of illustrated treatises, where theory is seamlessly embedded within the projects, with occasional assistance or clarification provided by the text.

Architecture and urban design are physical arts that thrive on visual representations, making graphic representations an essential tool for understanding and appreciating these disciplines. The book's abundant illustrations provide a visual feast, showcasing the evolution of urban forms, principles, and designs across different eras and cultures. They serve as a valuable resource for architects, urban planners, students, and anyone interested in the intricate relationship between human settlements and the environment.

In conclusion, this book is a remarkable achievement that offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the history, principles, and design of urban spaces. It serves as a valuable resource for professionals, students, and enthusiasts alike, providing a deep understanding of the factors that shape our cities and the opportunities for creating sustainable and thriving urban environments in the future.


Dimension: 266 x 266 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781957183022

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