Paradoxical Urbanism: Anti-Urban Currents in Modern Urbanism
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Book Overview
Modernist urbanism seems progressive, even Utopian: design for a better world through a democratic and humane built environment. But two currents undermine this vision from within: an Arcadianism which turns to a rural idyll as retreat from change and the effects of industrialization; and an instrumentalism by which the humane vision becomes prescriptive and anti-democratic. Malcolm Miles argues that these two currents undermine modernism's progressive vision. This book examines the roots of modernist urbanism in the seamless, self-contained systems of Cartesian space; and identifies contradictions within modernist urbanism in its instrumentalism and reliance on de-politicised professional expertise. Miles adroitly reviews the postmodern culture of industrial ruinscapes; and posits that if cities are to be places of proximity, diversity, mobility and agency, this will require a move from modernist instrumentalism to a creative and radically democratic co-production of the built environment.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9811563438
ISBN13:9789811563430
Release Date:September 2021
Publisher:Palgrave Pivot
Length:128 Pages
Weight:0.42 lbs.
Dimensions:0.3" x 5.8" x 8.3"
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