4.241J / 11.330J Theory of City Form, Spring 2004
An aerial view of the Piazza del Commune in Assisi, Italy. (Image courtesy of Prof. Julian Beinart.)
Highlights of this Course
This class on the theory of city form contains a complete set of
lecture notes, and a vast set of
readings on the subject.
Course Description
Theories about cities and the form that settlements should take will be discussed. Attempts will be made at a distinction between descriptive and normative theory, by examining examples of various theories of city form over time. The class will concentrate on the origins of the modern city and theories about its emerging form, including the transformation of the nineteenth-century city and its organization. It analyzes current issues of city form in relation to city making, social structure, and physical design. Case studies of several cities will be presented as examples of the theories discussed in the class.