The Art of City Making [Paperback]

Charles Landry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2006

City-making is an art, not a formula. The skills required to re-enchant the city are far wider than the conventional ones like architecture, engineering and land-use planning. There is no simplistic, ten-point plan, but strong principles can help send good city-making on its way. The vision for 21st century cities must be to be the most imaginative cities for the world rather than in the world. This one change of word - from 'in' to 'for' - gives city-making an ethical foundation and value base. It helps cities become places of solidarity where the relations between the individual, the group, outsiders to the city and the planet are in better alignment. Following the widespread success of The Creative City, this new book, aided by international case studies, explains how to reassess urban potential so that cities can strengthen their identity and adapt to the changing global terms of trade and mass migration. It explores the deeper fault-lines, paradoxes and strategic dilemmas that make creating the 'good city' so difficult.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This truly inspirational tour de force takes readers on a tremendous global journey of discovery to put the art back into city-making. All those involved in the future of cities should read this monumental work - your imagination will be freed. Practical guidance combined with visionary insights and challenges weave through every chapter ...' Clive Harridge, President, Royal Town Planning Institute, UK 'Charles Landry has been a long term contributor to 'the art of city-making'. In his new book he provides a clear insight into this lost art and the way forward as our cities must become attractive, sustainable and financially viable living environments.' Professor Rob Adams, Director, Design & Culture, City of Melbourne, Australia 'This book has power and art to evolve Asian and Japanese cities creatively, and it is a bible for people interested in the future of a city.' Dr Masayuki Sasaki, Dean, Professor of Graduate School for Creative Cities, Osaka City University, Japan 'City-making is a difficult art, and Charles Landry has captured its essence. His world view is valuable to people everywhere who care about cities. All of his books sit highlighted and dog-eared near my desk, and this one will be no exception.' Carol Coletta, President, CEOs for Cities, USA, and host and producer of the Smart City radio programme

About the Author

Charles Landry is founding director of COMEDIA, a cultural planning consultancy. Author of the highly influential The Creative City (Earthscan, 2000), he is an international authority on city futures and the use of culture in city revitalization.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844072452
• ISBN-13: 978-1844072453
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #522,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On how to become a better city, May 6, 2008

By 

J. Klerks (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of City Making (Paperback)

If you are looking for a check list or the do's and don'ts on how to become a better city, this book is not for you. In a way Landry is more of an urban psychiatrist who's challenging cities and their inhabitants to make up their own minds on how to become a better urban society. The book is chock full of examples, stories and insights on the matter (hence the size) which a well informed Landry uses to picture the bigger and positive image without being pushy about anything, although the 'being creative' gets a bit repeative after a while. All in all the book is an easy to read and feel good story about cities that want or should want to be a good city.