Urban Morphology

Vítor Oliveira is Professor of Urban Morphology and Urban Planning at Lusofona University of Porto, Portugal, and Senior Researcher at the Research Centre for Territory Transports and Environment at University of Porto, Portugal. He is an architect and has a MSc in Planning and Design of the Built Environment and a PhD in Planning and Civil Engineering. He is a member of the Scientific Council of the Portuguese-language Network of Urban Morphology (PNUM) and of the International Seminar on Urban Form (ISUF). He is editor of the journal “Revista de Morfologia Urbana” and a member of the editorial board of the journal “Urban Morphology”.

“This book constitutes a manual of urban morphology, essential for students who are beginning their studies in this field, as well as for seasoned researchers, especially those who are interested in a new look at concepts and methods. … Urban Morphology would be suitable for undergraduate or graduate courses in geography, sociology, urban studies, planning, and architecture.” (Fátima Loureiro de Matos, Journal of Urban Affairs, May, 2018)

• Introduction.- Motivation.- Object of study.- Structure of the book.- The elements of urban form.- The concept of urban tissue.- The natural context.- The street system.- The plot system.-  The building system.- Other elements.- The actors and processes of urban transformation.- Actors responsible for urban transformation.- Processes of urban transformation.- The city in history.- The Greek City.- The Roman city.- The Medieval city.- The Renaissance city.- The Baroque city.- The nineteenth century city.- The cities of the twentieth century.- The contemporary city.-  New York.- Rome.- Sana’a.- The study of urban form: different approaches.- Classics in urban morphology.- Different morphological approaches.- Comparative studies of urban form.- From theory to practice.- Urban morphology and planning.- Urban morphology, building typology and architecture.- Relationships with other fields of knowledge.- Urban morphology and society.- Urban morphology and economy.- Urban form and energy.- Conclusions.