- Strong Towns by Charles L Marohn Jr
- The Affordable City by Shane Phillips
- The High Cost of Free Parking by Donald C. Shoup
- Walkable City by Jeff Speck
- Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs
- Emergent Tokyo by Jorge Almazán
- Soft City: Building Density for Everyday by David Sim
Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity by Charles L Marohn Jr
“Strong Towns” by Charles L. Marohn Jr. challenges traditional urban development patterns. Marohn advocates for a more sustainable approach to city planning, focusing on small-scale, incremental growth, and fiscal responsibility. He emphasizes that cities should prioritize resilience and adaptability to ensure long-term prosperity. (Amazon)
Charles L. Marohn Jr Strong Towns Promotional Material (Strong Towns)
The Affordable City: Strategies for Putting Housing Within Reach (and Keeping it There) by Shane Phillips
“The Affordable City” by Shane Phillips explores strategies for creating and maintaining accessible housing in urban areas. The book delves into approaches to address the housing affordability crisis, emphasizing the importance of policy, engagement, and smart urban planning to ensure housing remains within reach for all. (Amazon)
The Affordable City Promo Material Showcasing Book Cover and Author (Smart Growth America)
The High Cost of Free Parking by Donald C. Shoup
“The High Cost of Free Parking” by Donald C. Shoup highlights the hidden costs and negative impacts of providing free parking in cities. Shoup advocates for market-based pricing, efficient parking policies, and the idea that parking should pay its own way to create more sustainable and livable urban environments. (Amazon)
The High Cost of Free Parking Lecture Series Promotional Material (Better Tomorrow Speaker Series)
Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time by Jeff Speck
“Walkable City” by Jeff Speck makes a compelling case for designing cities with a focus on walkability. Speck outlines practical strategies to create pedestrian-friendly urban spaces, emphasizing their positive impact on sustainability, health, and the economic vitality of downtown areas across America. (Amazon)
Walkable City Promotional Material (Rethinking The Future)
Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs
“Death and Life of Great American Cities” by Jane Jacobs is a seminal work in urban planning. Jacobs emphasizes the importance of diverse, vibrant neighborhoods and community interaction. She critiques conventional urban planning and advocates for a bottom-up, people-centered approach to city design to foster healthier, more sustainable, and thriving urban environments. (Amazon)
Jane Jacobs Promotional Headshot (Huffington Post)
Emergent Tokyo by Jorge Almazán
“Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City” explores the dynamic and evolving nature of Tokyo’s urban landscape. The book delves into the city’s unique ability to adapt and grow organically, examining the role of spontaneous design in shaping its architecture and infrastructure. It emphasizes the fluid and emergent qualities that define Tokyo, challenging traditional notions of urban planning and showcasing the city as a living, breathing entity shaped by its inhabitants and their diverse interactions with the built environment. (Amazon)
Cross-Section of Micro Bars and Shops in a Tokyo Neighbourhood (Jorge Almazán)
Soft City: Building Density for Everyday by David Sim
“Soft City: Building Density for Everyday Life” by David Sim explores the concept of “soft city” as a humane and people-centric approach to urban design. Sim argues for creating dense urban environments that prioritize human experience, social interaction, and well-being. The book emphasizes the importance of designing cities that are responsive to the needs of individuals, fostering a sense of community, and promoting a sustainable and enjoyable urban lifestyle.
An image from the chapter “Getting About and Getting On.” Courtesy of Gehl.