Urban identity / Academy of Urbanism ; edited by Brian Evans, Frank McDonald and David Rudlin.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Evans, B. M. (Brian M.)

McDonald, Frank, 1950 January 24-

Academy of Urbanism (Organization)

Series:

Learning from place

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

City planning.

Urbanization.

Cities and towns.

Sociology, Urban.

Physical Description:

179 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), plans ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2011.

Summary:

Urban Identity is the second in the successful Learning from Place series that draws upon the wealth of experience in The Academy of Urbanism. This edition deals with the subject of urban identity and character. Why is it that all modern towns and cities look the same, as they become dominated by identikit buildings, multi-national, corporations, even arbitrarily imposed urban design rules. How can we preserve and foster the sense of local identity without falling into the trap of historical pastiche?

Four leading urban thinkers take this theme as the staring point for chapters on urban identity. The classical architect Robert-Adam delivers a broadside to modern architecture that he sees as the multi-national face of globalism. The architect and academic John Worthington ponders the difference between how a place is seen, its identity, and how it wants to be seen, its brand. The architects Anthony Reddy from Ireland and Frank Walker from Scotland explore the notion of local and national identity in architecture and design.

These chapters are interspersed with five chapters by leading practitioners inspired by the shortlisted places for the Academy's second annual awards. Chris Balch revels in the life of three great European cities while Brian Evans and Chris Brett celebrate three towns that are really great small cities. David Rudlin looks at creative quarters and what they contribute to the life of their host cities while Frank McDonald takes us on a journey down three great streets and David Taylor and Anthony Alexander applaud three urban places created and improved in recent years.

Like the first book in this series, Urban Identity brims with fascinating and sometimes controversial insights and opinions on urbanism Illustrated again by the drawings of David (Harry) Harrison and poems by Ian MacMillan and packed with photographs and plans of the places visited by the Academy as part of their awards scheme. Book jacket.

Contents:

Great cities don't just happen: they are made! Amsterdam, Barcelona & Berlin Christopher Balch 12

Identity 01: The Globalisation of Place / Robert Adam Adam, Robert 36

Small Cities: Kilkenny, St. Andrews & Winchester / Brian Evans Evans, Brian, Chris Brett Brett, Chris 46

Identity 02: Identity and Branding: What's in a name? / John Worthington Worthington, John 68

The three areas of a creative quarter: Soho, Temple Bar and Grainger Town / David Rudlin Rudlin, David 80

Identity 03: Regional Identity in Urbanism / Anthony Reddy Reddy, Anthony 100

Great Streets: Thoroughfares of urbanism: Buchanan Street, Regent Street & O'Connell Street / Frank McDonald McDonald, Frank 112

Identity 03: Identity at the Edge / Frank-Walker 130

Understanding Places: Peace and Winter Gardens, Tyne Quayside & South Bank / David Taylor Taylor, David, Anthony Alexander Alexander, Anthony 140

Endpiece: Looking beyond the Object / Kevin Murray Murray, Kevin 164.

Notes:

"This is the second anthology of place study published by the Academy."

ISBN:

9780415614023

0415614023

9780415614030

0415614031

OCLC:

659750795