"Andre Viljoen has put together a book of the most profound importance at this point in history. How will we feed our cities beyond the age of cheap oil? Does the old concept that the cities are for people to live in and the countryside is for growing food in still have any relevance when our cheap transport system is no longer able to function? Viljoen argues not. We should view our cities as much in terms of being productive spaces as we view our rural areas"
Review by Rob Hopkins 26 Apr 2006
Transition Culture
"an astounding book"
Debora Solomon 7th June 2006 on Transition Culture
"CPULs is a compelling vision for urban planners and (landscape)architects. The book is loaded with truly useful facts and case studies yet somehow remains a riveting read for lay-folk. ....... I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I hope that its concepts are embraced by those who are in a position to implement urban planning of this nature. The notion of CPULS deserves to feature prominently in design and architecture curricula, informing a new generation of people designing our cities and potentially our well-being through our access to healthy food".
Debora Solomon 9th June 2006 on Culiblog
'This is an important book that both challenges and contributes to current urban thinking. It is both inspiring and practical, reminding of us that sophisticated high density urban life can benefit from looking to examples from such places as the traditional Chinese city or current practice in Cuba to ways in which we can develop a more ecological and healthy way forward. If we are to be serious about sustainable urban development then these questions of greening the city and of local food production and distribution, are of immense importance. This is not a grand plan, but one that can be applied to both old and new areas in an incremental manner. It is now up to all of us to apply the lessons learnt with a sense of urgency wherever we may live.'
George Ferguson, President of RIBA, Director of Acanthus Ferguson Mann, UK
Continuity and productivity are intrinsic qualities of landscapes, which urban regions must reinstate for psychological, environmental and economic reasons. As an alternative to sprawl or hyper-density, Viljoen, Bohn, and Howe's vision is important, fleshed out enough to be debated productively. Reinforced with diverse essays by thinkers from differing countries and backgrounds, this book provides tangible concepts for regional adaptation.
Kim Sorvig, Sustainable Landscape Construction: A Guide to Green Building Outdoors (Island Press, 2000), Research Assoc. Professor, University of New Mexico, School of Architecture & Planning, Contributing Editor, Landscape Architecture Magazine
'This Book is a 21st century breakthrough in defining an urban design/planning conceptual approach to re-incorporating a productive landscape, including agriculture, into the human settlement (CPULs)."
Jac Smit is president of the Urban Agriculture Network and founding member of the global Resources Center for Urban Agriculture. He is a frequent conference presenter and is frequently published in a wide diversity of media.
