Urban Planning Theory since 1945
- Nigel Taylor - University of the West of England, UK
He outlines the main theories of planning, from the traditional view of urban planning as an exercise in physical design, to the systems and rational process views of planning of the 1960s; from Marxist accounts of the role of planning in capitalist society in the 1970s, to theories about planning implementation, and more recent views of planning as a form of `communicative action'.
An interesting, useful and clear book on post-war British planning practices. The emphasis given to practical urban planning processes certainly helps to reason in more concrete terms.
The book is not only a handbook of theories, but it is also possible to understand the ideological and philosophical struggles between theories as well as the search for a better praxis on participatory and shared processes.
At the same time, a structured technical analysis enables to track consistently the historical evolution of the legislation and the different approaches. Although it is a theoretical text, the practical aspect is not secondary: the entire flow of theories and related processes is instead analyzed with clarity and rigour.
Nigel Taylor’s book is an enjoyable overview of what can be an overly complex and embattled subject area. His clear account of post-war planning is an excellent starting point for students negotiating the politically complex minefield of Britain’s attempts at modern urban and regional development.
A really clear and simple intorduction to different aproaches to planning. It outs accross some very complex ideas in an easily understandable manner.
