Benjamin Wellington reviews a new book by Mark C. Childs, which paints a picture of the city as the product of a complex and highly detailed design hierarchy, from regional topography all the way down to the arrangement of indoor spaces.
Architecture professor Mark C. Childs sees the city through the lens of the gestalt. For him, no design feature, however large or small, exists in isolation: "settlements are not just the sums of their parts; their poetry and
vitality comes from their collective composition – the interactions
among multiple designs."
So goes the thesis of his new book, Urban Composition: Developing Community through Design, which explores the interplay of elements at all levels of design. These elements produce not only the physical phenomenon of the city, but an ongoing dialogue of design and creation: "Great places emerge from the concinnity [i.e. harmony] of incremental acts of design.
Existing work frames new projects, which in turn inspire future works."
What does all this mean for design professionals? It comes down to context and hierarchy. "A building is more likely to change than the lot boundaries, which are
less permanent than the underlying topography. Additionally, a building
creates new spaces for interior design, from the division of rooms to
the arrangement of furniture. These layers of design define how
different design professions interact with each other. The interactions
between multiple designers operating at different scales leads to a rich
urban composition."
In this narrative, even public art plays a role in the patchwork of the city, subtly influencing the perception and value of landscape architecture. As Wellington concludes, "in the same way that a road layout influences how buildings are shaped, landscape infrastructure frames and guides our built forms."
FULL STORY: Cities Are More Than Just Buildings and Parks
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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ULI Northwest Arkansas
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