1. ArchDaily
  2. Kevin Lynch

Kevin Lynch: The Latest Architecture and News

How Do the Critics of Yesteryear Think About Urban Density?

How Do the Critics of Yesteryear Think About Urban Density? - Featured Image
Corvidae Coop, Seattle, designed by Allied8 Architects. Image Courtesy of Allied8 Architects

This article was originally published on Common Edge.

In the 1960s and 1970s, a series of critiques of the modern city appeared. Jane Jacobs’s attack on those intent on redeveloping New York City was the most immediately impactful, loosening the grip of Robert Moses and his followers, but others had a broader influence on practicing architects and planners. As an observer of San Francisco Bay Region’s cities, I wondered if their books from this period would shed light on current issues of adding density in urban contexts.