What Cities Say: A Social Interpretation of Urban Patterns and Forms

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Emily Talen (Professor of Urbanism, Professor of Urbanism, University of Chicago)

What Cities Say

A Social Interpretation of Urban Patterns and Forms

Emily Talen (Professor of Urbanism, Professor of Urbanism, University of Chicago)

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English

Oxford University Press Inc
09 September 2024

Urban communities; Political science & theory; Urban & municipal planning

Cities come in all shapes and sizes, with different patterns and forms. Streets might be strictly gridded or curvilinear. Buildings might be tightly packed or spread out. Patterns and forms might reflect the highest aspirations, or they might simply be responses to mundane, utilitarian needs. So what do cities ""say"" about a society? What do patterns and forms reveal about social priorities and cultural preferences, or about who has power and who does not? In What Cities Say, Emily Talen provides a wide-ranging yet concise synthesis of the fundamental drivers of built form, its social and cultural meaning, and how we should interpret it. Including thirty-five distinct city patterns and forms, Talen develops a language of interpretation to understand the motive and meaning behind the city and its elements. Talen argues that meaning is often implicit, and even if it's more explicit, it is woven in haphazardly through city planning texts in often contradictory ways. To cut through the noise and ambiguity, she focuses on the persistent themes that inhere in built pattern and form, whether for complete cities or individual places. She makes ample use of digital resources to render these interpretations in explicit terms. By exposing these meanings, Talen asserts that we will be in a stronger position to articulate, and argue for, the kinds of cities we want. Richly illustrated and tightly presented, What Cities Say is essential reading for anyone interested in the values and ideas that serve as the foundation of how we construct our cities.

By: Emily Talen (Professor of Urbanism Professor of Urbanism University of Chicago)
Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 253mm, Width: 179mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 567g
ISBN: 9780197647776
ISBN 10: 0197647774
Pages: 312
Publication Date: 09 September 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Emily Talen is Professor of Urbanism at the University of Chicago, where she teaches urban design and directs the Urbanism Lab. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship. Talen has written extensively on the topics of urban design, New Urbanism, and social equity. Her books include New Urbanism and American Planning; Design for Diversity; Urban Design Reclaimed; City Rules; and Neighborhood.