1 post tagged “jane jacobs”
Saw a panel of folks debate the legacy of Jane Jacobs on Tuesday night. It turned out to not be much of a debate, as all the panelists agreed about her legacy. That legacy, if I understand correctly, was to humanize urban planning, convincing designers to start from careful observation of the complex systems that underpin a modern city, building their plans w/in that ecosystem instead of razing it and imposing rigid order.
The book that sparked my interest in Jane Jacobs, "The Death and Life of Great American Cities", was an amazing read. I read it in small towns in Missouri, where the contrast gave it clarity.
Jacobs's analysis of the way cities work is profound, and her energetic, often snarky prose makes it enjoyable. My experience of the city has been improved by reading it, and I'd keep it around as a reference to what to look for in neighborhoods should I choose to move again.
I've also heard that "Systems of Survival" is good, but haven't tried it yet. If I ever get through the euro-history tome I'm working on, I'm looking at that one next.
