In this Book
- The Humane Metropolis: People and Nature in the Twenty-first Century City
- Book
- 2006
- Published by: University of Massachusetts Press
summary
Four-fifths of Americans now live in the nation’s sprawling metropolitan areas, and half of the world’s population is now classified as "urban." As cities become the dominant living environment for humans, there is growing concern about how to make such places more habitable, more healthy and safe, more ecological, and more equitable—in short, more "humane."
This book explores the prospects for a more humane metropolis through a series of essays and case studies that consider why and how urban places can be made greener and more amenable. Its point of departure is the legacy of William H. Whyte (1917-1999), one of America’s most admired urban thinkers. From his eyrie high above Manhattan in the offices of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Whyte laid the foundation for today’s "smart growth" and "new urbanist" movements with books such as The Last Landscape (1968). His passion for improving the habitability of cities and suburbs is reflected in the diverse grassroots urban design and regreening strategies discussed in this volume.
Topics examined in this book include urban and regional greenspaces, urban ecological restoration, social equity, and green design. Some of the contributors are recognized academic experts, while others offer direct practical knowledge of particular problems and initiatives. The editor’s introduction and epilogue set the individual chapters in a broader context and suggest how the strategies described, if widely replicated, may help create more humane urban environments.
In addition to Rutherford H. Platt, contributors to the volume include Carl Anthony, Thomas Balsley, Timothy Beatley, Eugenie L. Birch, Edward J. Blakely, Colin M. Cathcart, Steven E. Clemants, Christopher A. De Sousa, Steven N. Handel, Peter Harnik, Michael C. Houck, Jerold S. Kayden, Albert LaFarge, Andrew Light, Charles E. Little, Anne C. Lusk, Thalya Parilla, Deborah E. Popper, Frank J. Popper, Mary V. Rickel, Cynthia Rosenzweig, Robert L. Ryan, Laurin N. Sievert, Andrew G. Wiley-Schwartz, and Ann Louise Strong.
Included in the back of the book is a DVD of a 22-minute film created by Ted White, which serves as a companion to the text.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Title Page
- p. iii
- Copyright Page
- p. iv
- Acknowledgments
- p. ix
- Part I: “The Man Who Loved Cities”
- pp. 21-24
- Whyte on Whyte: A Walk in the City
- pp. 25-31
- Holly Whyte’s Journalism of Place
- pp. 32-34
- The Energizer
- pp. 35-36
- Sowing the Seeds
- p. 37
- The Wit and Wisdom of Holly Whyte
- pp. 38-39
- A Metropolitan New York Biosphere Reserve?
- pp. 102-121
- Green Futures for Industrial Brownfields
- pp. 154-168
- Part IV: A More Humane Metropolis for Whom?
- pp. 183-185
- Race, Poverty, and the Humane Metropolis
- pp. 187-196
- Fortress America: Separate and Not Equal
- pp. 197-205
- Sustainability Programs in the South Bronx
- pp. 220-230
- Part V: Designing a More Humane Metropolis
- pp. 231-233
- The Smile Index
- pp. 235-239
- Criteria for a Greener Metropolis
- pp. 261-277
- Building the Right Shade of Green
- pp. 278-296
- Green Urbanism in European Cities
- pp. 297-314
- About the Authors
- pp. 323-326
Additional Information
ISBN
9781613761519
Related ISBN(s)
9781558495531
MARC Record
OCLC
607828130
Pages
340
Launched on MUSE
2012-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No