2006 Volume 10.1
Editorial comment
Information explosion and intellectual challenge
Articles
Morphological change through residential redevelopment: Detroit, 1951-2000
B.D. Ryan {+}Abstract [Full paper, PDF, 1.8MB]
ABSTRACT: This study examines the morphological changes that occur when residential redevelopment takes place in severely deteriorated inner-city areas. Six large redevelopments completed between 1990 and 2000 in Detroit, Michigan, USA are examined. Seven morphological characteristics of the new housing are compared with those of the housing that existed in 1951.
Applying macro urban morphology to urban design and development planning: Valletta and Floriana
D.W. Chapman {+}Abstract [Full paper, PDF, 2.7MB]
ABSTRACT: The paper examines the macro urban morphology of Valletta and Floriana, and lessons that may be drawn to inform future urban design and development planning there. The macro-morphological regions are outlined, and this sets the context for an analysis of the ways they, and the topography, plan units and the fixation lines of the fortifications, interrelate to create distinctive urban forms and spaces. This provides the context for discussion of the ways the analysis of these complexes of urban form and space could contribute to urban design and development planning more widely in practice.
Mapping urban morphology: a classification scheme for interpreting contributions to the study of urban form
P. Gauthier and J. Gilliland {+}Abstract [Full paper, PDF, 2.4MB]
ABSTRACT: Urban morphology is a thriving field of enquiry involving researchers from a wide diversity of disciplinary, linguistic and cultural backgrounds. While this diversity has helped advance our understanding of the complexity of urban form, confusion and controversy has also arisen over the various theoretical formulations forwarded by researchers from different philosophical and epistemological backgrounds. With the aim of improving intelligibility in the field, this paper proposes a straightforward scheme to identify, classify and interpret, or ‘map’, individual contributions to the study of urban form according to their respective theoretical or epistemological perspectives. Drawing upon epistemological discussions familiar to the readers of this journal, the authors first distinguish between cognitive and normative studies. A second distinction is made between internalist studies that consider urban form as a relatively independent system, and externalist studies in which urban form stands as a passive product of various external determinants. Using these basic criteria, it is possible to interpret and synthesize a multitude of contributions and map them using a simple Cartesian grid. The paper highlights how contributions from seemingly different theoretical approaches to urban morphology are intrinsically similar in their treatment of urban form as an object of enquiry.
The study of urban form in Canada
J. Gilliland and P. Gauthier {+}Abstract [Full paper, PDF, 2.3MB]
ABSTRACT: This paper examines contributions to the study of urban form in Canada by French and English researchers working in a variety of disciplines, especially architecture, planning, geography, and history. Instead of discussing contributions purely along traditional linguistic or disciplinary lines, the authors use a novel classification scheme to identify and categorize significant works according to their particular epistemological perspective, before describing noteworthy contributions of various academic disciplines by key authors and research themes. The most significant contributions to the study of urban form in Canada have come from two largely isolated camps: first, architects/planners, mostly from Québec, who examine form as a relatively independent system and work in the tradition of the so-called ‘Italian school’ of process typology; and secondly, predominantly anglophone urban and historical geographers who deal with built forms and urban morphogenesis as a product of external forces. Recent work suggests that the ‘two solitudes’ may be coming together.
Viewpoints
Crisis in the typological process and the language of innovation and tradition K.S. Kropf
The morpholograph and the spirit of place B. Guy
Linking urban landscape characterization and urban morphology A.J. Birkhamshaw
[Viewpoints, PDF]
Reports
Urban regulation and models in Europe A.-S. Clémençon
Conference on vernacular architecture H. Davis
Annual Meeting of CISPUT, 2005 M. Gallarati
[Reports, PDF]
Book reviews
S. Satoh and Jokamachi-toshi Study Group (2002) Jokamachi-toshi (Japanese castle towns) T.A. Thornton
N. Baker and R. Holt (2004) Urban growth and the medieval church A. Simms
A.E. Mosher (2004) Capital’s Utopia: Vandergrift, Pennsylvania C. Parrott
L. Podalsky (2004) Specular city: transforming culture, consumption, and space in Buenos Aires D. Kozak
[Book reviews, PDF]
Book notes
[Book notes, PDF]
Notes and notices
- ISUF Conference 2006
- Urban Environment
- Approaches in urban morphology
- M.W. Beresford
- Building Futures
- Ville Recherche Diffusion
- Anglo-Japanese post-war reconstruction
- PhD programme at the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts
