Cities affect every persons life; yet across the traditional divides of class; age; gender and political affiliation; armies of people are united in their dislike of the transformations that cities have undergone in recent times. The physical form of the urban environment is not a designer add-on to real social issues; it is a central aspect of the social world. Yet in many peoples experience; the cumulative impacts of recent urban development have created widely un-loved urban places. To work towards better-loved urban environments; we need to understand how current problems have arisen and identify practical action to address them.Urban Transformations examines the crucial issues relating to how cities are formed; how people use these urban environments and how cities can be transformed into better places. Exploring the links between the concrete physicality of the built environment and the complex social; economic; political and cultural processes through which the physical urban form is produced and consumed; Ian Bentley proposes a framework of ideas to provoke and develop current debate and new forms of practice.
#3225029 in eBooks 2004-08-02 2004-08-02File Name: B000PLXC9A
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. EssentialBy Jorge RangelThis is a must read for anyone seriously interested in music. Reichs legacy can be felt in younger composers like Marc Mellits and Nico Muhly. But his influence has broken the barriers of the classical music and it can be felt in the work of popular artists such as Radiohead; The Orb; Aphex Twin and Sufjan Stevens.Reichs writing is sincere and non-pretentious. Its also economical and extremely easy to read even for the musically illiterate and his essays offer a glimpse of his creative process; one that transforms and twists the tradition but; finally; respecting it.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. inerestingBy Tim RisherInteresting to read what Steve Reich has to say about his works; even in his own terse; non-florid way. This book is a collection of mainly program notes and transcriptions of short interviews he has given. As a result; it tends to get a bit repetitive; which I guess is appropriate! I alsoso wish it would be updated. That wouldnt be so difficult.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. ExcellentBy Christopher R AcquavellaExcellent insight into his early works. Highly recommended reading. Inclusion of scores and performance descriptions were especially nice addition to this book.