Eric Mumford - Böcker

This book examines the emergence and evolution of the discipline of urban design as articulated through the work of Josep Lluís Sert (1902–1983), one of its most influential practitioners. Sert was noted for his city planning and urban development projects in Europe, South America, and the United States, and the master plans of his later career were significant for their integration of natural landscape features into the urban building scheme.  With essays by leading scholars and a wide selection of archival materials, illustrations, plans, and maps, this book provides a timely look at the man who advocated the idea of “urban consciousness” and an architecture that dealt with the total environment--well before these concepts became commonplace. Published in association with the Harvard University Graduate School of Design

A comprehensive new survey tracing the global history of urbanism and urban design from the industrial revolution to the present  “An engaging read for urban planners and non-designer urbanists. . . . The extent and detail of Mumford’s geographical coverage of the topics are exceptional.”—Christopher Auffrey, Journal of Urban Affairs  Written with an international perspective that encourages cross-cultural comparisons, leading architectural and urban historian Eric Mumford presents a comprehensive survey of urbanism and urban design since the industrial revolution. Beginning in the second half of the 19th century, technical, social, and economic developments set cities and the world’s population on a course of massive expansion. Mumford recounts how key figures in design responded to these changing circumstances with both practicable proposals and theoretical frameworks, ultimately creating what are now mainstream ideas about how urban environments should be designed, as well as creating the field called “urbanism.” He then traces the complex outcomes of approaches that emerged in European, American, and Asian cities.  This erudite and insightful book addresses the modernization of the traditional city, including mass transit and sanitary sewer systems, building legislation, and model tenement and regional planning approaches. It also examines the urban design concepts of groups such as CIAM (International Congresses of Modern Architecture) and Team 10, and their adherents and critics, including those of the Congress for the New Urbanism, as well as efforts toward ecological urbanism. Highlighting built as well as unbuilt projects, Mumford offers a sweeping guide to the history of designers’ efforts to shape cities.