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Summary: Manifesto for Urban Renewal
Review: Building the 21st Century Home by David Rudlin and Nicholas Falk is one of those books which change the way you look at the world. If you are interested in the ideas of Jane Jacobs, Peter Hall, or even just enjoy SimCity then this is the book for you. The book lays out how cities have developed, and why the way they are today, and then sets out a practical and convincing manifesto for change. It is strong on the environmental benefits of city living and has a sound basis in meeting the needs of communities, while recognising that what people aspire to, might not necessarily be what they want. Even the most sceptical of readers would eventually be convinced of the benefits of city living. My main criticism of the book is that it fosters an interest in what is a very wide ranging subject and fails to answer questions that would really be the province of another book altogether. Hopefully this book will inspire others to take positive steps to improve and participate in their urban environment. Despite describing the book as a manifesto it is written in an objective and fact based style ensuring that there are always examples and statistics to back up the argument. It is also an exceptionally attractive book, with well chosen illustrations and excellent line drawings of urban scenes which add greatly to the message and enjoyment of the book.
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