Streets and the Shaping of Towns and Cities

Michael Southworth, Eran Ben-Joseph

Island Press, Jun 27, 2003 - Architecture - 197 pages

The topic of streets and street design is of compelling interest today as public officials, developers, and community activists seek to reshape urban patterns to achieve more sustainable forms of growth and development. Streets and the Shaping of Towns and Cities traces ideas about street design and layout back to the early industrial era in London suburbs and then on through their institutionalization in housing and transportation planning in the United States. It critiques the situation we are in and suggests some ways out that are less rigidly controlled, more flexible, and responsive to local conditions.

Originally published in 1997, this edition includes a new introduction that addresses topics of current interest including revised standards from the Institute of Transportation Engineers; changes in city plans and development standards following New Urbanist, Smart Growth, and sustainability principles; traffic calming; and ecologically oriented street design.

About the author

Michael Southworth is professor of city design and planning at the University of California, Berkeley.

Eran Ben-Joseph is assistant professor of landscape architecture and planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Streets and the Shaping of Towns and Cities
• Authors: Michael Southworth, Eran Ben-Joseph
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Island Press, 2003
• ISBN: 1559639164, 9781559639163
• Length: 197 pages
• Subjects: Architecture / General; Architecture / Urban & Land Use Planning; Business & Economics / Development / Sustainable Development; Transportation / Public Transportation