From the Inside Flap
Gordon Cullen Visions of Urban Design David Gosling Gordon Cullen was a key motivator and activist in the development of British theories of urban design in the post-war period. Illustrated with over 300 works selected from the thousands of drawings Gordon Cullen made during his lifetime, this anthology documents his influential career as an urban theorist, artist and illustrator from 1930 to 1990. The majority of his beautiful drawings have never been published before except in professional reports, and this book contains numerous drawings executed for the pleasure of observation as well as those produced for his many consultancies. With the assistance of family and friends, the author charts his life and work and comments on his contribution to twentieth-century urban design. His graphic techniques and their application and influence are examined as well as his attitude to the symbolism of objects in the environment.
From the Back Cover
* This book is a major publishing event for everyone who cares about the quality of our cities and wants to do something about it. Gordon Cullen's name is already known internationally because of his book Townscape; but David Gosling has now brought together such an astonishing range of Gordon Cullen's urban design drawings and writings that a new generation of architects, urban designers and policy makers, in both America and Europe, will experience his genius as though for the first time. Cullen fought bitterly against the ravages of our towns, neighbourhoods and commercial streets brought upon us by highways, billboards, wires and subtopia. However his lasting contribution lies not in his protest, but in his belief that the quality of our cities can be regained by focusing on the quality and human scale of place. This book is rich in the freshness and range of Cullen's visual and verbal descriptions - all the way from the craftsmanship of our heritage to the detail of his urban design recommendations. David Gosling's writing brings the sensitivity and eagerness of this remarkable man to life with unforgettable vividness.
David Lewis Distinguished Professor of Urban Studies Carnegie-Mellon University, USA
* This book is a loving account of Gordon Cullen's half-century career. Presented in chronological order, the book's detailed material will be welcomed by both students and scholars as a complement to Cullen's own influential publications. The book sets a rich context for his extraordinary drawings and pioneering theoretical constructs which continue to provide an important foundation for urban design. Cullen's reliance on the study of vernacular settings, his focus on the pedestrian's experience, on the kinetic aspects of design and many other concepts, all come to life again as David Gosling recounts his life and interactions with the planning and architectural professions. As such, the book serves as a critical history of urban design since it emerged in the 1960s.
Anne Vernez Moudon Associate Dean for Applied Research Professor of Urban Design and Planning University of Washington, USA
