Design of Cities Author:Edmund N. Bacon Design of Cities is a vivid account of the historical development of the city, from Athens to Brasilia. In his wide-ranging travels Edmund Bacon has made specific studies ranging from the small town to the metropolis, and in this book he combines his first-hand knowledge with visual insight to note "the parallels in currents of history." Thus ... more »he not only descirbes the historical background but interprets it in the context of city planning in general. In examining the work of great architects and planners such as Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Sixtus V, and Sir Christopher Wren, the author shows how any great work can influence subsequent development and can be continued by later generations. That the center of cities should and can e pleasant places in which to live, work and relax is illustrated in the photographs of such cities as Rotterdam and Stockholm. The author cites the work in his own city of Philadelphia, in which historic buildings worthy of preservation mingle with twentieth-century structures, and where provision is made for both pedestrians and automobiles in the city center. He analyzes the ideas of Le Corbusier and takes a close look at Brasilia.« less