This is a book about cities or, more precisely, about the physical form of cities. It starts presenting the main elements of urban form – streets, urban blocks, plots and buildings – structuring our cities and the fundamental actors and processes of transformation shaping these elements. It then applies this analytical framework to describe the evolution of cities over history as well as to explain the functioning of contemporary cities. After the initial focus on the ‘object’ (cities) the book describes how different researchers and different schools of thought have been dealing with this object since the emergence of Urban Morphology, as the science of urban form, in the turning to the twentieth century. Finally, the book tries to identify what are the most important (and specific) contributions that Urban Morphology has to offer to contemporary cities, societies and economies.
This is a book about cities or, more precisely, about the physical form of cities. It starts presenting the main elements of urban form – streets, urban blocks, plots and buildings – structuring our cities and the fundamental actors and processes of transformation shaping these elements. It then applies this analytical framework to describe the evolution of cities over history as well as to explain the functioning of contemporary cities. After the initial focus on the ‘object’ (cities) the book describes how different researchers and different schools of thought have been dealing with this object since the emergence of Urban Morphology, as the science of urban form, in the turning to the twentieth century. Finally, the book tries to identify what are the most important (and specific) contributions that Urban Morphology has to offer to contemporary cities, societies and economies.
Provides an informative overview and introduction to the study of cities
Highlights the added value of a morphologically-based design to planners, architects and urban designers
Foreword written by Jeremy W. R. Whitehand
Presents case studies of New York, Marrakesh and Porto
Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Vítor Oliveira
Agents of Change Approaches to the Study of Urban Form Architecture Cities Geography Theory and Practice Urban Form Urban Morphology Urban Planning Urban Transformation urban geography and urbanism
“This book constitutes a manual of urban morphology, essential for students who are beginning their studies in this field, as well as for seasoned researchers, especially those who are interested in a new look at concepts and methods. … Urban Morphology would be suitable for undergraduate or graduate courses in geography, sociology, urban studies, planning, and architecture.” (Fátima Loureiro de Matos, Journal of Urban Affairs, May, 2018)
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