The Humane Metropolis: People and Nature in the 21st-Century City

by Rutherford H. Platt (Editor)

Four-fifths of Americans now live in the nation's sprawling metropolitan areas, and half of the world's population is now classified as "urban." As cities become the dominant living evironment for humans, there is growing concern about how to make such places more habitable, more healthy and safe, more ecological, and more equitable―in short, more "humane."

This book explores the prospects for a more humane metropolis through a series of essays and case studies that consider why and how urban places can be made greener and more amenable. Its point of departure is the legacy of William H. Whyte (1917-1999), one of America's most admired urban thinkers. From his eyrie high above Manhattan in the offices of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Whyte laid the foundation for today's "smart growth" and "new urbanist" movements with books such as The Last Landscape (1968). His passion for improving the habitability of cities and suburbs is reflected in the diverse grassroots urban design and regreening strategies discussed in this volume.

Topics examined in this book include urban and regional greenspaces, urban ecological restoration, social equity, and green design. Some of the contributors are recognized academic experts, while others offer direct practical knowledge of particular problems and initiatives. The editor's introduction and epilogue set the individual chapters in a broader context and suggest how the strategies described, if widely replicated, may help create more humane urban environments.

In addition to Rutherford H. Platt, contributors to the volume include Carl Anthony, Thomas Balsley, Timothy Beatley, Eugenie L. Birch, Edward J. Blakely, Colin M. Cathcart, Steven E. Clemants, Christopher A. De Sousa, Steven N. Handel, Peter Harnik, Michael C. Houck, Jerold S. Kayden, Albert LaFarge, Andrew Light, Charles E. Little, Anne C. Lusk, Thalya Parilla, Deborah E. Popper, Frank J. Popper, Mary V. Rickel, Cynthia Rosenzweig, Robert L. Ryan, Laurin N. Sievert, Andrew G. Wiley-Schwartz, and Ann Louise Strong.

Included in the back of the book is a DVD of a 22-minute film created by Ted White, which serves as a companion to the text.

340 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

RUTHERFORD H. PLATT is Professor Emeritus of Geography at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and also is Senior Fellow at the Institute for Sustainable Cities, City University of New York (CUNY) He holds a B.A. in political science from Yale and both a J.D. (law) and Ph.D. (geography) from the University of Chicago. He specializes in public policy concerning urban land and water resources.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays/articles compiled as a response to William H. Whyte's The Exploding Metropolis. "The metropolis has indeed 'exploded,' most of us live in it, and so what are we going to do to make it more habitable?" That is the central question the book poses and it provides answers in the form of five sections, each containing 4 or so essays or articles about recent practices. I found it substantive in the details and, as a whole, inspiring. I enjoyed the use of William H. Whyte's work as a thread to tie it all together. I found the mix of authors - some peers of Whyte, an attorney, an architect, a student, etc. to be varied and refreshing. The prologue and epilogue by Platt tie it all together in a thought-provoking way.

[Evan Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compilation of contemporary writings that seek to emulate the ideas of the late great William Holly Whyte within the modern context. Topics range from conservation, brownfield redevelopment, public space, equity and environmental justice (plus more). The book gives interesting case studies, however, it is really just a hodge podge of writings. It is not the easiest of reads, yet the subject matter is very interesting and pertinent to the urban renaissance and re-naturalization occurring around the nation.