AUTHOR: Ray Gindroz, Donald K. Cater, Paul Ostergaard, Rob Robinson, Barry Long, Jr.
PUBLISHER: W.W. Norton & Company
DATE: 2003
PAPER: Virgin fiber
PAGES: 208
PRICE: $49.95
With war stories and bold illustrations, the architects at Urban Design Associates
provide detailed instructions on how to transform blighted urban areas into an
aesthetically pleasing communities. This Pittsburg-based firm created the architectural
plans for city redevelopment in communities from Cincinnati, Ohio to Winston-Salem,
North Carolina to Riverside County, California. Readers will learn to do the same with UDA’s
time-tested, 10-part "charrette" process.
The charrette brings together local residents, government officials, real
estate developers and other stakeholders to guide the design process.
Using the community’s "best addresses" as an ideal, UDA produces a
unique pattern book that describes preferred neighborhood building arrangements
and architectural styles. The plans emphasize the area’s natural features by
making parks and public space an integral part of each project.
UDA has one cardinal rule that guides these working sessions: "No matter
how many encounters you may have with participants, the first time you meet
people, you are asking questions, not giving answers." Judging from the work
presented in this full-color manual, they are asking the right questions.
Their designs are scaled for pedestrians and they incorporate building sites
that can accommodate single-family homes, multi-family residences, civic
buildings and commercial space.
The book is stuffed with specifics--everything from consensus building tips
to digital filing guidelines. Architects, engineers, planners and developers
are the obvious target audience for this trade book. But, new urbanists and city
enthusiasts everywhere will also enjoy it as an entertaining and instructive reference.
--Avery Yale Kamila
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