The Movement for Housing Reform in Germany and France, 1840-1914 (Cambridge Urban and Architectural Studies) [Hardcover]

Nicholas Bullock (Author), James Read (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 052122537X | ISBN-13: 978-0521225373 | Publication Date: March 29, 1985

This book was originally published in 1985. During the 1920s and 1930s, a series of housing developments was built in Europe, based on unprecedented levels of public finance allied to innovative policies of planning, and architectural design. How did these developments, which were the foundation of later social housing programmes, come into being? This study sets out to answer the question by looking into the evolution of the movement for housing reform in Germany and France, from the middle of the nineteenth century until the outbreak of the First World War. This book also examines the social and political nature of 'the housing problem', and traces the response through a series of central themes: the public health campaign; land reform and planning proposals; the elaboration of architectural types; and the search for fresh means of financing the construction of cheap housing.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

This study, originally published in 1985, examines the evolution for housing reform in Germany and France, from the middle of the nineteenth century to the outbreak of the First World War. This book also examines the social and political nature of 'the housing problem'.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 667 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (March 29, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052122537X
• ISBN-13: 978-0521225373
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,952,742 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a valuable study, but it lacks of breath, February 28, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Movement for Housing Reform in Germany and France, 1840-1914 (Cambridge Urban and Architectural Studies) (Hardcover)

This study still deserves reading even 20 years after its publication. It is a well written, very well documented analysis, with many illustrations, which has few equivalents even now. France and Germany are studied separately, and the general plan is quite analytic, not very original. The reader will also find many useful and suggestive remarks comparing the situation of these countries with english situation. An authoritative book, which will give a mine of informations and should so stay on the list of people interested by history of housing for many years. However the readers who look for exciting focus of analysis might be deceived. Many pages are concerned with the discussions of reformer, may be too much, what gives a picture quite technical and deprived of any sociological imagination. It lacks some breath even if there are chapters with insightful remarks on architectural evolutions of dwellings. Evolutions of private/public spheres, popular ways of living are not really discussed.
A good introduction (even a very good one), which gives detailed accounts of housing reform and informs on the historical context (notably economic, scientific and architectural), but readers eager of suggestive propositions will complement this by other readings. After all, this might well correspond to what the book was intended for.