Why Cities Look the Way They Do

Richard J. Williams argues that the look of cities is shaped by social, cultural, financial, and political processes and the way ordinary citizens interact with them, rather than just by design. He explores how financial capital spawns empty towering skyscrapers and hollowed-out ghettoes, how zoning of once-illicit sexual practices results in the reinvention of culturally vibrant gay villages, and how abandoned factories have been repurposed as creative hubs in a precarious postindustrial economy. The book also shows how popular urban clichés and the fictional portrayal of cities shape the way we read and see the bricks, concrete, and glass that surround us.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 192 pages
\n Publication date: 03 May 2019
\n Publisher: Polity Press
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We often assume that the appearance of cities is solely the result of the deliberate efforts of architects, planners, and builders. However, what if the visual character of cities is influenced by a broader range of social, cultural, financial, and political factors, as well as the ways in which ordinary citizens engage with them? What if the city itself is a dynamic and evolving process rather than a static design?

Richard J. Williams delves into this intriguing question by examining the urban landscape after the completion of construction. In his book, "Why Cities Look the Way They Do," Williams explores the myriad processes that shape the contemporary global city.

This book tells the story of remarkable but unexpected urban landscapes. It explores how financial capital leads to the construction of empty towering skyscrapers and the creation of desolate ghettos. It also uncovers how the zoning of once-illegal sexual practices in marginal areas of the city results in the transformation of culturally rich gay villages. Furthermore, it sheds light on how abandoned factories have been repurposed as vibrant creative hubs in the context of a precarious postindustrial economy.

Moreover, this book delves into how popular urban clichés and fictional portrayals of cities influence our perception and understanding of the physical structures that surround us. It challenges our assumptions and encourages us to view the city as a complex and multifaceted phenomenon.

"Why Cities Look the Way They Do" is a thought-provoking and original work that appeals to anyone interested in understanding the contemporary city. It offers a fresh perspective on humanity's greatest collective invention, shedding light on the complex interplay between design, social, cultural, financial, and political processes, and the ways in which ordinary citizens shape the urban landscape.

\n Weight: 332g\n
Dimension: 140 x 214 x 18 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780745691817\n \n