Johnson-Marshall, Percy

Rebuilding Cities

Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh University Press, 1966. First Edition. Hardcover. "It is a commonplace that, as a building is made up of numerous components which enclose its various internal spaces to form rooms, halls, corridors, ducts, etc., so a city is an aggregate of a variety of buildings which enclose or frame its external spaces to form squares, closes, roads, paths, gardens, parks, and so on. But whereas a building is normally designed, with all its elements, to be an entity in space, a city...is almost invariably faced with the problem of replacing its components over a period." (from Chapter 2, "The Components of Planning," pg. 59) The now-classic, prescient work by Percy Johnson-Marshall (1915-1993), the distinguished British urban planner, designer & academician. With an introduction by Lewis Mumford (1895-1990), the great American urban architectural writer & critic. With emphasis on the trends, implementations & evolving results of the large-scale reconstruction of European cities that were greatly damaged or destroyed during World War II within a broader historical context; & with many images of historic, contemporary & prospective urban buildings & districts. This is the first UK edition published by Edinburgh University Press, simultaneously with the first American edition. A large, sumptuous production with illustrated boards, leather spine & corners, without dust jacket as issued. A most beautiful collectible volume; & an essential cornerstone (so to speak) of urban planning- architectural scholarship. In very fine condition with only the slightest wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of front, back covers & spine. Interior very fine with only small spot-stains at lower blank areas of shorter title & title pages; small sticker of bookbinder at lower left of inner front cover (likely as issued & we think adding to the venerability of this item). Very Fine. [Item #3994]

Price: $100.00