Townscape

by Gordon Cullen

Townscape is the art which can transform a group of three of four buildings from meaningless muddle into a meaningful composition; or a complete town from a workable diagram on paper into a three-dimensional living environment for human beings, satisfying to those who live in it, work in it, or simply look at.This book is a lively revelation in word and picture of the principles which underlie all successful town planning in all ages and climates, and of the widely varied range of effects which the planner can evoke by the careful manipulation of component parts.The author, whose townscape articles have appeared in 'The Architectural Review,' begins by illustrating and describing the basic ingredients of townscape.. closure, surprise, and so on... continues by showing these ingredients as assembled in the wider context of town scene, and finishes by revealing the full poetry of townscape, first in studies of existing towns, and then in proposals for new projects.

315 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1961