Garden Cities: Theory & Practice of Agrarian Urbanism

Okay, the introduction makes one think that the content could be enlightening but it is just a ver very general overview with no critique. It does not provide any valuable information.

Perfect transaction, perfect packaging, perfect delivery and most importantly perfect book! Amazing! More beautifull than expected!!! I'm really amazed by the book and its perfect state after a long journey from the USA to France!!! Kudos!!!!

While Duany may be good with architecture and general urbanism layout, this book really describes why he and architects should stick to architecture. He only really covers urban design once again and as an architect would say "shrubs it up" with garden vegetables, without really knowing what species of plants are needed for sustainable agriculture in urban areas. The book shows no real application and ecological system approach to actual urban agrarianism, it only has nice renderings and not actual built examples. He ignores people that would have given the book more credibility such as Ian McHarg who insists that agrarian methods should take place in valley systems and even his own forefathers such as Christopher Alexander who place agrarian practices within fingers into the urban areas. If you are looking for some noli maps and nice renderings that a well known architect has once again "shrubbed up" - buy Duany's book, however if you are looking for an actual book that covers agrarian urbanism, its systems, and productive ways to incorporate it into urban design, check out other sources. This book is just another failed attempt by Duany to cash in on a movement that Landscape Architects started as early as 1985, and urban farmers have been doing since 1893 when Detroit city officials mandated urban gardens during the Financial Panic of 1893. Better reads for this subject would be-"A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction.", "Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature", "Agricultural Urbanism: Handbook for Building Sustainable Food & Agriculture Systems in 21st Century Cities.", "Agriculture in Urban Planning" and "Design with Nature"

This book is a concise and very helpful over-view of Agrarian Urbanism. We want to build a community like this and we refer to and share the book, in addition to Suburban Nation, often!

Interesting concepts for our changing world