The Endless City [Hardcover]

Ricky Burdett (Author), Deyan Sudjic (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0714848204 | ISBN-13: 978-0714848204 | Publication Date: March 20, 2008

More and more people are moving into towns and cities to live and work, which is altering the urban/rural balance of countries worldwide. THE ENDLESS CITY is an unparalleled study of the growth of six of the world's international cities (New York, Shanghai, London, Mexico City, Johannesburg, and Berlin), exploring key structural, social, and economic factors. This book was overseen by the London School of Economics, and features extensive research and coherent texts by world-renowned professionals in the field of urban planning and development. The information is presented in a comprehensive and visually compelling sequence, enabling quick and efficient reference as well as offering material that is exciting to study. Each city is examined individually in its own chapter as well as being analyzed comparatively in an observational chapter. THE ENDLESS CITY is authoritatively edited by Ricky Burdett and Deyan Sudjic in collaboration with the London School of Economics and the Urban Age Project, an expanding international organization seeking a new urban agenda for global cities.

Editorial Reviews

Review

''A 500-page tour de force.'' --Washington Post Writers Group

''The sheer scope of this book, with nearly 35 contributors, is magnificent--covering topics from global capitals and employment dynamics to 'vertical ghettos' and satellite photos of 'urban grain.''' --Dwell

''Photographs, diagrams, and statistics add up to a captivating, if alarming, portrayal of metropolitan life in the twenty-first century.'' --Condé Nast Traveler

About the Author

RICKY BURDETT is Centennial Professor in Architecture and Urbanism at the London School of Economics (LSE). He is an advisor on architecture to the mayor of London, the BBC, and the Tate Organisations. He was Director of the 10th Venice Architectural Biennale (2006). DEYAN SUDJIC was formerly editor of BLUEPRINT and DOMUS magazines, and Director of 'Glasgow 1999: UK City of Architecture and Design' and the Venice Architectural Biennale 2002. He is architecture critic of the Observer, and he has written many books, including THE 100 MILE CITY (1992), BLADE OF LIGHT: THE STORY OF LONDON'S MILLENNIUM BRIDGE (2002), and RON ARAD, published by Phaidon.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press Inc. (March 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714848204
• ISBN-13: 978-0714848204
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.7 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #491,769 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice volume around recent trends in global urbanization., March 9, 2010

By 

Daniel Lobo (Washington, DC More often than not.) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Endless City (Hardcover)

Compiling the materials from the Urban Age Project lecture series, it offers a compendium of most of the London School of Economics' urban thinking of the last decade. It has some shortcomings, but ultimately offers a nice emphasis on urban environments as a complex compendium of physical and social entities with an emphasis on density analysis, and surely represents a particular and influential discourse.

I would like to clarify that since I graduated from one of their early programs 10 years ago this feels rather close, and I'm equally grateful for the influence it had in my thinking but also my criticism may also be part of a broader experience around how the LSE develops these intellectual explorations.

The book offers an interesting and important approach to the notion that an urban shift in population is the defining trend of our age. A series of takes on world cities that were the focus of the lectures articulates half of the book with some interesting pieces, although the choice and representation of these enclaves could be questioned, and surely there are some glaring omissions that would add a much needed depth to the debate.

A collection of short essays representing some issues follows. While there is some interesting material it feels a bit perfunctory with a list of usual suspects and little debate. Likewise the final sections on interventions and positions feel like a brief collection of case studies that barely illustrate with enough depth what the project tries to get at.

However the book works well as in introduction, or expansion for some readers, to offer a common ground in important contemporary urban issues. Depth is what one will not find here, but to be fair it may not be what they had in mind, and as an introduction it is hefty enough. Maybe too hefty for something that feels at time like a perfunctory compilation. But on a personal level I feel that much has not changed and where the volume lacks the most is in offering an actual critical arena, or the tools to expand a debate that by its own nature feels often too controlled and predictable.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Picture Book with Real Substance, April 18, 2009

By 

S. F. Elliott (Chicago) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Endless City (Hardcover)

I had great expectations for this book and they were fulfilled. Beyond the outstanding visual communication I was pleased to find myself fully reading the written portions and valuing them. The writing was not just fluff and filler. Thank you for advancing my knowledge and producing a wonderful addition to my library.

- Steve

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great data and comparison, March 4, 2009

By 

Bei Jiang - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Endless City (Hardcover)

The best part of the book is its data resource. When they compare the 6 mega cities with good graphic data, the result is really compelling. I sent this book as a gift to my boss, also recommend to my Chinese colleagues. Hope next edition could make a smaller one so it's easier to carry and read.