a good book - that every architecture student / professional must read!

1. B O O K R E V I E W
PPT by S.HARINI, M.ARCH 2016-2018, SEM I

2. PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
TITLE : THE URBAN PATTERN
City Planning and Design
{Fifth Edition}
AUTHOR : ARTHUR B.GALLION, FAIA & SIMON EISNER, AICP
PUBLISHER : CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt.Ltd.
cbspubs@vsnl.com, Ph: 23283259 , www.cbspd.com
ISBN : 81-239-0915-2
FIRST INDIAN
REPRINT : 1986
REPRINT : 1996, 2000,2003,2004,2005
COPYRIGHT : 1986 by van Nostrand Reinhold company Inc. USA
PRICE : RS. 225 /-
NO OF PAGES : 645
CATEGORY : ARCHITECTURE - URBAN DESIGN AND TOWN PLANNING
AUDIENCE : STUDENTS OF ARCHITECTURE & ACTIVE PROFESSIONALS

3. INTRODUCTION
‘If you can look into the seeds of time,
And say which grains will grow and which will not,
Speak then to me…’
- Shakespeare
Ah , What a Quote! Holds good even today, poses a question, a curiosity, a surprise and excitement too!
This quote aptly welcomes the reader to prepare himself to the journey of reading the book “ THE URBAN PATTERN”!!
To my excitement, I didn’t even get bored to miss out or fast read even a single paragraph in the entire book!!!
And yes, no one can predict the city’s growth pattern. The author of this book guide us to prepare ourselves to the best and worst
outcomes of the city’s growth and effectively plan for generations to come.
DEVELOPMENT
AUTHOR’S PURPOSE IN WRITING THIS BOOK:
No one can fail to observe that, despite the marvels of human inventive genius and the material comforts enjoyed by many, the
spiritual and cultural lives of many people in the modern world are still impoverished. All the thought and money that have been
devoted to planning have not substantially improved the total environment. The authors of this book do not presume that
planning by itself will solve all of the ills of the urban community or that planning by itself will be adequate to preserve or
conserve our natural resources. The author guide us in creative planning and active implementation to begin to achieve an
environment conductive to the good life to which we aspire.
SUBJECT MATTER OF THE BOOK:
The fifth edition of The Urban Pattern is designed for students and for persons active in professional offices.the book and the
concepts contained encourages readers to fulfill their professional potential and expand their abilities to better serve the public
they represent, consistent with the highest ethical standards. The reorganization and additions to the book are a response to the
changes that have taken place in recent years in the urban design profession is of interest to both novice and professionals.

4. The fifth edition of The Urban Pattern responds to many of these new opportunities and concerns. It focuses on areas where
innovation and experimentation affect the public and private sectors, notably the crisis in housing availability. It also examines growth
management regulations, which some communities require as they begin to feel the stress of growth without the substantial economic
base required to support the needs and demands of new residents.
The environment within and around urban areas is also discussed, with respect to the increasing concern for health and security in
those urban areas subject to careless treatment of resources. Environmental impact studies are cited as the current method of
determining the extent of potential problems and the efforts essential to mitigate them. The role of geography in determining the
location and nature of urban centers is explored as well.
.
Policy planning, the current emphasis of many university programs in urban planning, is reviewed with reference to the policy
statement of the American Planning Association.
The chapter dealing with implementation has been greatly expanded as well, and now includes the role of zoning, land subdivision,
capital improvements, and the installation and maintenance of the infrastructure.
The planning process is delineated and the various persons and groups involved are cited. The relationship between the public and
private sectors is described, and the potential struggles between the regulators and regulated are illustrated. Additional examples of
new towns and national capitals are part of the expanded chapter dealing with these important communities in all parts of the world.
Additional material on art in the cities, urban design, and historical preservation is included.
AUTHORS STYLE OF WRITING:
Throughout the book, the language is very simple and easy to understand. And that is the reason I didn't stop reading the book.
The sequence of the contents has to be appreciated that it creates interest to know “what happens next?”
The author follows a cohesive manner through out the book and the clarity of writing makes me understand the contents without any
confusions – and of course no back reading too!
The author describes each typology and terminology with precise case studies that makes the reader understand the scenario
even more better and clearer. As in novels , this books takes us virtually to the place where it happened.

5. CONTENTS OF THE BOOK:
Part I
THE CITY IS BORN
•The dawn of urbanization
•Location and types of urbanism
•The classic city
•The medieval town
•The neoclassic city
•Colonial expansion: America
Part II
THE CITY IN TRANSITION
•The industrial revolution
•The city of contrasts
•Betterment of living conditions
•Improvement in housing
•Environmental concerns
•Search for the good city: “New Utopians”
•Rebuilding our cities
•Land and real estate
•Modern trends I: The twenties and thirties
•Modern trends II: World war II and after
Part III
THE PLANNING PROCESS
•The basis of planning
•Public planning
PART IV
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
•The comprehensive plan
•Elements of land use
•The housing element
•Commerce and industry
•Circulation
•Conservation
•Seismic safety & Noise
Part V
IMPLEMENTATION
•The implementation process
•The zoning plan
•Subdivision practices
•Development issues
•Growth management
Part VI
NEW HORIZONS
•Urban design
•Art in the city
•Regional concepts
•The new towns
•Metamorphosis
•Epilogue
•Bibliography & Index

6. TERMINOLOGIES IN THE BOOK THAT WERE NEW TO ME:
1. BLIGHT - economic blight, structural blight.
2. Taxation in reverse
3. Red Tape
4. Spot zoning, up zoning, down Zoning
5. Difference between comprehensive plan and comprehensive planning
6. Ghetto / ghettoization
7. Down towns
8. Fee simple
9. Key money
10. Freeways
11. Multimodal transportation system
12. Cookie cutter pattern
13. Eclecticism
14. Gentrification
IDEAS IN MY MIND THAT GOT CHANGED:
Urbanism and City came into existence with the advent of civilization – No. It started right from the caves.
We can plan the city’s expansion – No. cities will continue in the direction they are going. We can plan for the
infrastructures for effective sustenance of the city.
Political powers do not contribute to the city’s growth – No. Cities will improve in response to enlightened leadership.
Is safety a key factor for the success of a city?
Yes. Danger of accidental or planned conflicts result in cities without people or cities with brutalized people without
essential life supports.

7. SOME OF THE QUOTES / PHRASES/ INCIDENTS IN THE BOOK THAT ATTRACTED ME:
Decline of Greek city:
“ love of money left no one the smallest space to such an extent that the mind of each citizen passionately absorbed in this one
purpose, could attend to no other business than to the gain of each day”
‘riches and rich men being held in honor virtue and honest men are at a discount’‘ no one can become rich quickly if he
remains honest’
- Plato
Hammurabi code ( babylon):
F the wall of a building should fall and kill the occupant’s son, the life of the builder’s son would be sacrificed in retaliation.
Evidence of attention to building regulations in the classical city age:
Reference to laws restricting building encroachments, prohibitions against projection of upper floors beyond first floor walls, right
of way, water drains not allowed to empty into streets, windows not permitted to open onto street.
Xenophon’s tip for housing in his book “Memorabilia” : [recurring for 2400 yrs till date!]
when one builds a house must he not see to it that it be as pleasant and convenient as possible? And pleasant is to be cool in
summer and warm in winter. In these houses then that look towards the south the winter sun shines down into the paestades, which
in summer passing high above the heads and over the roofs it throws them in shadows.
Spaces need not be grand but has to be human for its success.
New technologies offer exciting possibilities for handling and processing data, but do not give us the wisdom required to resolve
the great dilemmas that confront in civilization.
“ where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?” “ where is the knowledge we have lost in computers?”
“ where is the information we have lost in data?” where is the data we have lost in computer?”
Communication technologies should bring people in contact, between the outer space and earth, but they create person to
person conflicts, misunderstandings, suspicion and fear.
People have drawn inward, close to their habitats by way of radio, television etc, never before in history have people been
so closer to each other yet apart!

8. AUTHOR’S CONCLUSION:
• Patterns of urbanism are same world over.
• Texture of fabric vary from country to country.
• Basis elements of urbanizing do not vary.
• Urban areas be large or small need places for residences, commerce & industry, recreation and open space, place for
transportation & communication.
• As long as cities exist, they will depend on surrounding rural areas for their existence.
• Destruction of urban places in one form or other continue to exist.
• The urban pattern should result in better civilized environment.
• Cities and urban places to be dedicated to assuring internal peace and freedom from aggressive competition within the
habitants.
AUTHORS BIBLIOGRAPHY: { some of the many in 35 pages!}
1. Outline Of Town And City Planning – Thomas Adams
2. Greek And Roman Towns – R.C. Bosanquet.
3. The Condition Of Man And City Development – Harcourt Brace
4. The Ideal City –Rose man Rose
5. The Middle Way – Childs Marquis
6. The Tenement House Problem – De Forest & Veiller
7. New Cities For Old – Louis Justement
8. Housing And Citizenship – George Gray
9. Story Of Utopians – Lewis Mumphord
10. The Making Of Urban America –John W. Reps
11. Can Our Cities Survive – Jose Cert
12. The Price Of Slum Clearance – Clarence Stein
13. 13. The Birth And Death Of Great American Cities – Jane Jacob
14. Image Of The City – Kevin Lynch
15. The Future Of The City – Peter Wolf
16. Land For Industry – D.A. Muncy
17. The Shame Of The Cities – Lincoln Steffens
18. The Seven Myths Of Housing – Nathan Strauss

9. EVALUATION OF THE BOOK:
Achievement of the goal:
The author of this book aimed to teach the students and young professionals about the knowhow, process and ethics in city
planning and the urban design, each describe by case studies. After thorough study of the book, the reader is able to understand
the nuances and techniques for effective city planning. The author has achieved his goal for sure and of course his efforts hasn’t
gone waste.
Intended Audience:
Right from the beginning, till the end of the book, the author has not deviated from the subject matter and is more precise in
what he intended to tell the audience. Every aspect is so crisp and clear the author orients the audience in a channelized way.
Though the intended audience are students and young professionals, this book is an eye opener for planners, environmental
activists, urban designers , socialists and economists too!
Argument:
The reprint ( 1986) of this book is meant for India and developing countries. If it is so, why didn’t the author cite case studies
of Indian cities so that the subject is more relevant to Indian context?
Developing countries largely follow the developed countries ( westernization). If that is the case why didn’t the author quote
the pros and cons of city development in America, that the Indian cities can adapt the positive factors in their infrastructure
development accordingly?
Further Recommendations:
The latest edition of the book is fifth edition – 2005.
It is now 2016 and is due for further editions. 10 years of urban development and prevailing trends all over the world will
definitely add more weightage to the book so that it doesn’t get outdated in history!