Urban Block

Theblock is no more than the land and building area defined by streets. It is thenature of the interface between the two, which has a critical impact on thequality of the spaces between those buildings. The importance of theblock to city life is well rehearsed, and in any case, we seldom find ourselvesin the business of making cities from scratch. But we are in the business ofmaking new houses, neighbourhoods and new local centres, and we need lots ofthem: 250,000 a year to be imprecise. Against the background of a burgeoninghousing shortage in the UK, there are varied issues to be reconciled.The Urban Block charts the fall and rise of the perimeter block as the staple ofurban form and structure from ancient times. It takes you through theprocess of understanding, defining, structuring and designing the block. Carefullyselected urban and suburban case examples explain “do's and don'ts” of goodblock layout and will help you to produce better masterplans, while staying intouch with commercial realities. This is an essential guide for urbandesigners, masterplanners and architects that will allow you to produce qualitystreetscapes in a contemporary context.