The Form of Cities: Political Economy and Urban Design - Hardcover

by Alexander R. Cuthbert (Author)

The Form of Cities offers readers a considered theoretical introduction to the art of designing cities.

• Demonstrates that cities are replete with symbolic values, collective memory, association and conflict.
• Proposes a new theoretical understanding of urban design, based in political economy.
• Demonstrates different ways of conceptualising the city, whether through aesthetics or the prism of gender, for example.
• Written in an engaging and jargon-free style, but retains a sophisticated interpretative edge.
• Complements Designing Cities by the same author (Blackwell, 2003).

Back Jacket

The Form of Cities offers readers a considered theoretical introduction to the art of designing cities. It encourages them to go beyond abstract social science into the realm of human experience, aesthetics, and the creative process in order to understand why cities are how they are; and it demonstrates that cities are replete with symbolic values, collective memory, association, and conflict.

The book reviews existing theoretical interpretations underpinning the subject and suggests a new understanding based in political economy. It then refines this approach, elaborating particular ways of conceptualising the city, whether through aesthetics or the prism of gender. The result is an engagingly written text, eschewing jargon but retaining a sophisticated interpretative edge.

Author Biography

Alexander R. Cuthbert is Professor of Planning and Urban Development at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. He has studied architecture, urban design, urban planning, and political science and has a doctorate from the London School of Economics and Political Science. His previous publications include Designing Cities (Blackwell, 2003), which serves as a prequel to this book.