Bedside Essays for Lovers

by Daniel Solomon

In this provocative collection of essays, renowned architect Daniel Solomon delves into the complexities of what makes a city vibrant. Acknowledging that a city is not a static thing, he argues we need to pay more attention to nurturing what he calls “continuous cities.” In such a city, he says, “new buildings, new institutions, and new technologies don’t rip apart the old and wreck it. They accommodate, they act with respect, and they add vibrant new chapters to history without eradicating it.”

Continuity, he explains, is the way to promote sustainability— and contrary to what the advocates of “modern architecture” claim, he insists that honoring the traditional ways of city building still provides a solid foundation for places to grow, evolve, be modern.

However fond you are of your city, or however much you feel it needs improvement, this short collection of essays offers an enticing vision of the future. All of our cities have a past worth examining, a richness of experience that can shape the future in wonderful, surprising ways. Solomon’s prose is thought-provoking and inspiring, well worth keeping close by wherever you do your reading—be it your bedside, couch, a park, or on the metro.

68 pages, ebook

First published May 29, 2012

Reviews

[Maggie Hesseling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this little book. Not only was it funny and entertaining, it has incredibly interesting facts. Not only that, I was pleasantly surprised to learn something new about my hometown- Amsterdam. Easy to follow, for those of us who aren't familiar with the basic concepts of spacial planning. It's insightfulness and clarity make it accessable for all. Solomon is a city lover, and he understands other city lovers.