A Better Place to Live: Reshaping the American Suburb unknown Edition by Langdon, Philip [1997]

by Unknown Author

What is it about modern American suburbs that has led to so much dissatisfaction? How has the typical suburban design of the past fifty years exacerbated the stress of daily life, and what better alternatives can be found? With these questions in mind, Philip Langdon crisscrossed the country to see how suburbs are being built and to interview designers, developers, planners, and residents. The first results of his research were published in a 1988 cover story in the Atlantic. Since then, he has broadened his analysis to create this well-illustrated and highly readable book. Training his eye on houses, streets, parks, gathering places, stores, employment and transportation, Langdon shows how these elements can generate frustration and isolation or, under better circumstances, contribute to a more congenial way of life. He points out the underappreciated virtues of older suburbs and takes a close look at the neotraditionalist movement in community design, whose advocates seek to emulate the most pleasing aspects of older suburbs. Without ignoring the obstacles to change, Langdon shows how suburbs could be designed much differently than they are today - with networks of walkable streets, neighborhood stores and gathering places, compact town centers, and more varied and affordable housing. His book provides both an incisive critique of existing practices and an intriguing glimpse of some of the best work being done by a new generation of community designers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Architecture, Urban Planning, Urban Design, Urbanism

Paperback

First published June 1, 1994

About the author

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Reviews

[Jake Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading up on urban design for a project, out of what I have read this is the most complete, comprehensive look on urban design/decline in America. Not only are it's critiques of current US urban design robust, it's ability to thread the social impact and larger picture of US economics affirms the importance urban design has on daily life. The solutions along with good examples show too, maybe it is not hopeless to restore an older style of design in this country. The inclusion of many sources, many stories, and further reading also help frame the ideas presented as apart of a far larger flux of American society.

This is an incredibly easy recommend to anyone remotely interested in urban design, but also especially politics. Urban design can no longer be side-lined as a sub-issue, it must be a central focus among many other things in reanimating a viable political sphere for the normal American.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've read on the suburbs--problems and solutions. My hometown was even mentioned, as a negative example, naturally.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm rocking the suburbs, just like Quiet Riot did ...
No really, it's a great book so far. Langdon is the most positive writer I've encountered so far in my literary quest through the realm of urban criticism and (neo)traditionalist planning. He's even optimistic about the current ugly suburbs we deal with today. Forty years ago Leavittowns were becoming the scourge, but as time moves on, individual eccentricities come out of residents/citizens, trees grow, buildings are modified, and even the dully consistent neighborhoods such as those of Leavittown can become places of pleasantness and character.
There is a ways to go yet, but I'm enjoying the ride.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graduate school read. Makes you look at things differently.