Developments in American Town Planning Theory Since 1945

The end of WWII not only sparked great social and economic changes, but also changes to town planning theory and processes. In this week's reading, Nigel Taylor summarises these changes, and evaluates whether they can be defined as paradigm shifts (enduring world views) or not.

First Shift: Planners as Creative Designers to Scientific Analysts and Rational Decision Makers

Second Shift: Planners as Technical Experts to Managers and "Communicators"

Shift from Modernism to Postmodernism

A Modernist Building in Deakin ACT- simple and functional
Source: Google Maps 2011

A postmodernist Building- Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain- complexity and difference
Source: Innovative Buildings 2010

Since about the 1960's there has been a shift in western culture from modernism to postmodernism, and this has impacted the planning profession. The pictures above illustrate types of buildings common to each era, but also represent the shift in planning theory and processes. Jane Jacobs expressed desire for complexity within cities (a postmodernist view) in comparison to the likes of Ebenezer Howard and Le Corbusier who advocated for a simple (modernist) style.

Using Kuhn's definition of a paradigm shift, Taylor concludes that the shifts in planning are not classified as paradigm shifts because there has been a continuation of many elements instead of the complete overthrow of ideas. Although they may not be technically called paradigm shifts, the changes in urban and regional planning have been extensive. The profession has evolved from that of simply design oriented, to a complex, dynamic profession encompassing specific knowledge and skill across a range of areas as well as communication skills.

 I think it's possible that further shifts in planning may be influenced by factors such as the information techonology boom, or the impending risk of climate change. 

Modernism and Early Urban Planning

This weeks reading by Richard LeGates and Frederic Stout focuses on modernism and early urban planning, and explores the ideas of many people that have helped shape planning including: Frederick Olmsted, Ebenezer Howard, Daniel Burnham, Patrick Geddes, Lewis Mumford, Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright to name a few.

The video shows a clip from the 1939 Documentary The City, narrated by Lewis Mumford, an advocate of the benefits of urban and regional planning. The clip shows how the industrial revolution created a multitude of problems (overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, health problems) and ultimately  how planning evolved from the need to address these problems.

The first movement that aimed to respond to these unsatisfactory conditions was The Parks Movement- which aimed to provide healthy outlets for the city's poor and working class in the congested cities. Central Park in New York, co-designed by Frederick Olmsted, is an example of the success of this movement. Originally designed to provide the expanding city with open space, the park today an iconic location integral to the lives of many New Yorkers.

People Enjoying Central Park
Source: CentralPark.com 2008

Expanding on the notion of planning as a means to improve health conditions, the Garden City Movement, pioneered by Ebenezer Howard, emerged.

Letchworth, Heartfordshire in 1903- The First Garden City
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica 2011

Garden City Plan- characterised by 6000 acre towns

surrounded by a green-belt. The movement aimed for

'slumless and 'smokeless' cities, unlike those during the

Industrial Revolution.

Source: Listverse 2010

The City Beautiful Movement began in the 1890's, which then gave way to the City Scientific Movement that focused more on function than asthetics. Edward Bassett worked on the idea of the Master Plan as a core document of city planning agencies, and in doing so led to beginning of the professionalisation of planning.

Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright, although both had very different ideas, were part of the 'Utopian Modernism' idea.

Le Corbusier's Plan for Paris
Source: Sedulia's Quotations 2011

Frank Lloyd Wright's design of Broadacre City- with a minimum of one acre per person

 This week's reading highlights how planning has changed greatly over time, and will no doubt continue to change as we face new challenges- climate change as one example. As an aspiring planner, it's inspiring to notice how the accomplishments of this early city planning still impact the lives of people today.

How Plans Work

As a planner, it's important to have an understanding of how plans actually work, so that they can be effectively implemented. This week’s reading, by Lewis Hopkins provides an overview of the various components of plans.

Five different ways in which plans work are identified, they include: agendas, policies, visions, designs and strategies. A strategy is indentified as the most inclusive and therefore fundamental concept of plans because they take into account the future when making decisions in the present. This fits nicely with the idea of sustainability, which refers to development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. There has been much emphasis placed on the importance of striving for sustainability in recent times, in relation to the environment, economy and society. The use of plans with a strong strategy aspect could help achieve this goal.

Daniel Burnham's Visionary Plan of Chicago
Source: Local Ecologist 2009

Whilst there are five components of a plan, there are two main tools used to put plans into practice- investment and regulation. The term investment conjures up images of businesses and banks, but it is a key part of the planning process. Investment patterns impact where people choose to live, and are an important aspect of planning. If you think about why you chose to live where you did, chances are the presence of key infrastructure such as shops, schools and transport influenced the decision. Often we only realise the effects (whether positive or negative) that investment decisions have on society after they have occurred, so trying to estimate the impact of investment on behaviour patterns is important.

It’s all very well to have a plan that looks good on paper, but having criteria to evaluate whether plans work is essential. Assessing whether the plan achieved the intended purpose, was cost effective and whether it complied to external criteria such as ethics are all important to the evaluation process.