The Endless City [Englisch] [Gebundene Ausgabe]

Compiling the materials from the Urban Age Project lecture series, it offers a compendium of most of the London School of Economics' urban thinking of the last decade. It has some shortcomings, but ultimately offers a nice emphasis on urban environments as a complex compendium of physical and social entities with an emphasis on density analysis, and surely represents a particular and influential discourse.

I would like to clarify that since I graduated from one of their early programs 10 years ago this feels rather close, and I'm equally grateful for the influence it had in my thinking but also my criticism may also be part of a broader experience around how the LSE develops these intellectual explorations.

The book offers an interesting and important approach to the notion that an urban shift in population is the defining trend of our age. A series of takes on world cities that were the focus of the lectures articulates half of the book with some interesting pieces, although the choice and representation of these enclaves could be questioned, and surely there are some glaring omissions that would add a much needed depth to the debate.

A collection of short essays representing some issues follows. While there is some interesting material it feels a bit perfunctory with a list of usual suspects and little debate. Likewise the final sections on interventions and positions feel like a brief collection of case studies that barely illustrate with enough depth what the project tries to get at.

However the book works well as in introduction, or expansion for some readers, to offer a common ground in important contemporary urban issues. Depth is what one will not find here, but to be fair it may not be what they had in mind, and as an introduction it is hefty enough. Maybe too hefty for something that feels at time like a perfunctory compilation. But on a personal level I feel that much has not changed and where the volume lacks the most is in offering an actual critical arena, or the tools to expand a debate that by its own nature feels often too controlled and predictable.

The best part of the book is its data resource. When they compare the 6 mega cities with good graphic data, the result is really compelling. I sent this book as a gift to my boss, also recommend to my Chinese colleagues. Hope next edition could make a smaller one so it's easier to carry and read.

The abundant and well-presented data regarding six major and diversified cities is very interesting and up to date.

The analysis and comparisons between cities are enlightening.

Unfortunately, as is often the case in urban planning matters, the work falls a little short with respect to action and implementation.

One hopes however that this is only the beginning of a series and that other cities will be similarly covered in the future.

Very substantial, this book is strongly recommended for anyone interested in the field of urban planning.