City Architecture

Thirty years after its publication, The Death and Life of Great American Cities was described by The New York Times as "perhaps the most influential single work in the history of town planning....[It] can also be seen in a much larger context. It is first of all a work of literature; the descriptions of street life as a kind of ballet and the bitingly satiric account of traditional planning theory can still be read for pleasure even by those who long ago absorbed and appropriated the book's arguments."

It’s time to break free from our Sunday-centric, formulaic versions of church and instead architect fresh kingdom ecosystems as an ancient yet new frontier for sustainable mission. The temptation for many church leaders is to take what’s worked elsewhere and use it as a paint-by-number. Yet Jesus showed us a different way. Every word he spoke and everything he did utterly broke the molds, rules, and laws that people had created to confine God and his kingdom.

Broadway takes us on a mile-by-mile journey that traces the gradual evolution of the 17th century's Brede Wegh, a muddy cow path in a backwater Dutch settlement, to the 20th century's Great White Way. We learn why one side of the street was once considered more fashionable than the other; witness construction of the Ansonia Apartments, Trinity Church, and the Flatiron Building and the burning of P. T. Barnum's American Museum; and discover that Columbia University was built on the site of an insane asylum.

99% Invisible is a big-ideas podcast about small-seeming things, revealing stories baked into the buildings we inhabit, the streets we drive, and the sidewalks we traverse. The show celebrates design and architecture in all of its functional glory and accidental absurdity, with intriguing tales of both designers and the people impacted by their designs.

Legal scholar and architect Sara C. Bronin examines how zoning became such a prevailing force and reveals its impact. Outdated zoning codes have maintained racial segregation, prioritized cars over people, and enabled great ecological harm. But, as Bronin argues, once we recognize the power of zoning, we can harness it to create the communities we desire, and deserve. Drawing on her own experience leading the overhaul of Hartford's zoning code and exploring the efforts of activists and city planners across the country, Bronin shows how new codes are reshaping our cities.

The world’s skyscrapers have brought us awe and wonder, and yet they remain controversial—for their high costs, shadows, and overt grandiosity. But, decade by decade, they keep getting higher and higher. What is driving this global building spree of epic proportions? In Cities in the Sky, author Jason Barr explains all: why they appeal to cities and nations, how they get financed, why they succeed economically, and how they change a city’s skyline and enable the world’s greatest metropolises to thrive in the 21st century.

Disability critiques of architecture usually emphasize the need for modification and increased access, but The Architecture of Disability calls for a radical reorientation of this perspective by situating experiences of impairment as a new foundation for the built environment. With its provocative proposal for "the construction of disability," this book fundamentally reconsiders how we conceive of and experience disability in our world.

California's 1849 gold rush triggered creation of the "instant city" of San Francisco as a base to exploit the rich natural resources of the American West. City of Wood examines how capitalists and workers logged the state's vast redwood forests to create the financial capital and construction materials needed to build the regional metropolis of San Francisco. Architectural historian James Michael Buckley investigates the remote forest and its urban core as two poles of a regional "city."

As New York came to a halt with COVID, Michael Kimmelman composed an email to a group of architects, historians, writers, and friends, inviting them to take a walk. Wherever they liked, he wrote—preferably someplace meaningful to them, someplace that illuminated the city and what they loved about it. At first, the goal was distraction. At a scary moment when everything seemed uncertain, walking around New York served as a reminder of all the ways the city was still a rock, joy, and inspiration.

La población urbana se duplicará en cuarenta años, algo que obliga a la transformación holística y sostenible del modelo de ciudad. Para Martha Thorne, decana de IE School of Architecture and Design y directora ejecutiva del Pritzker Architecture Prize, el gran reto de la arquitectura está en su capacidad para hacer metrópolis, que serán más densas y poseerán una alta calidad urbana y una mayor calidad de vida para los residentes.

The demolition of Penn Station in 1963 destroyed not just a soaring neoclassical edifice, but also a building that commemorated one of the last century's great engineering feats: the construction of railroad tunnels into New York City. Now, in this gripping narrative, Jill Jonnes tells this fascinating story - a high-stakes drama that pitted the money and will of the nation's mightiest railroad against the corruption of Tammany Hall, the unruly forces of nature, and the machinations of labor agitators.

Dickson D. Despommier proposes a visionary yet achievable plan for creating a new, self-sustaining urban landscape. He argues that we can find solutions through the concept of biomimicry: emulating successful strategies found in nature. A better city is possible if we heed the lessons that forests and trees teach about how to store carbon, grow food, collect rainwater, and convert sunlight into energy.

From the earliest corrals of the mid-1800s (Union Grounds in Brooklyn was a "saloon in the open air"), to the much mourned parks of the early 1900s (Detroit's Tiger Stadium, Cincinnati's Palace of the Fans), to the stadiums we fill today, Paul Goldberger makes clear the inextricable bond between the American city and America's favorite pastime. In the changing locations and architecture of our ballparks, Goldberger reveals the manifestations of a changing society.

We are living through a global catastrophe. Buildings affect how we feel, moment by moment, day by day. They have the power to lift us up and make us feel awestruck, playful, safe, and inspired, just as they can make us feel alienated and sad. But many of the places where we live, work, learn, and heal have become monotonous and disposable. We’re surrounded by cheap, boring buildings that make people stressed, sick, and unhappy. In short, much of our world has been crafted in a way that is hostile to human experience.

Escape into the verdure-clad pages of "Urban Canopy," where the intersection of ecology and modern living blossoms across a thriving landscape of knowledge. Imagine a future where cities breathe through verdant rooftops, communities draw together in luscious aerial gardens, and our very buildings pulse with life. "Urban Canopy" unveils the transformative power of green roofs in an urban world—towering oases that could redefine our skylines. Each chapter delves into a specific facet of this marvel, not just as a concept, but as a practical and approachable reality for the world of tomorrow...

Conceived in the Gilded Age, the Ferry Building opened in 1898 as San Francisco's portal to the world—the terminus of the transcontinental railway and a showcase of civic ambition. In silent films and World's Fair postcards, nothing said "San Francisco" more than its soaring clock tower. But as acclaimed architectural critic John King recounts, the rise of the automobile and double-deck freeways severed the city from its beloved structure. King's narrative spans the rise and fall and rebirth of the Ferry Building, introducing colorful figures who fought to preserve its character.

Embark on an extraordinary journey into the urban jungle with "The City Explorer's Handbook." This gripping and vibrant eBook offers an in-depth exploration of metropolitan delights and urban evolution. From homesteads to towering skyscrapers and the stark contrast between lifestyles, the investigation into city life begins. Learn about the brief yet rich history of cities and marvel at the modern marvels of urbanism. Discover how nature beautifully entwines itself into the urban realm, asserting its indispensable role. Experience the thrill of architecture, varying styles and periods, ...

Dive into the astounding "Secrets of the Subterranean City," a riveting eBook that cracks open the veil of mystery surrounding the world beneath our feet. Journey into enigmatic and labyrinthine passages hidden deep within Earth's crust, where every corner holds new secrets. As you turn each page, find yourself drawn into the ancient allure of Derinkuyu, a marvel of humankind's architectural genius, birthed into existence well before the advent of modern tools. This eBook intriguingly unravels the architectural splendor behind the city, dissecting its ingenious defense mechanisms, its ...

Step beyond the ordinary and soar into the extraordinary with "Skyline Sentinels" – your definitive guide to the marvels that pierce the heavens and shape the fabric of our cities. This unmatched exploration, divided into an enticing 14 chapters, takes you on a grand tour through the soaring spires of human ingenuity and architectural mastery that dot our global landscapes. Journey from the dawn of structural ambition in "The Dawn of Skyscrapers," where the cradle of high-rise architecture cradles your curiosity. Uncover the cultural shifts propelled by towering landmarks and the daring ...

A rich, illustrated - and entertaining - history of the iconic Grand Central Terminal, from one of New York City's favorite writers, just in time to celebrate the train station's 100th fabulous anniversary.