Design First Design-based Planning for Communities

Well-grounded in the history and theory of Anglo-American urbanism, this illustrated textbook sets out objectives, policies and design principles for planning new communities and redeveloping existing urban neighborhoods. Drawing from their extensive experience, the authors explain how better plans (and consequently better places) can be created by applying the three-dimensional principles of urban design and physical place-making to planning problems.
Design First uses case studies from the authors own professional projects to demonstrate how theory can be turned into effective practice, using concepts of traditional urban form to resolve contemporary planning and design issues in American communities.
The book is aimed at architects, planners, developers, planning commissioners, elected officials and citizens -- and, importantly, students of architecture and planning -- with the objective of reintegrating three-dimensional design firmly back into planning practice.
Focus and emphasis on planning by 3-D design
Clear and practical presentation of how communities can improve their town planning processes
Case studies illustrate the practice and implementation of ideas

Introduction: Key Principles, Concepts and Methods; I. History: a. Paradigms Lost: Dilemmas of the Anglo-American City in the 20th century, b. Approaches to Development Control: American and British Principles and Practice, c. Traditional Urbanism: Origins, Parallels and Developments of "New Urbanism"; II. Theory: a. Sources of Good Urbanism: European and American Models, b. Public Space versus Cyberspace: Why we need "Real" Urban Space, c. Urban Design Principles: Typologies andVariations, d. Land use, Transportation and Building Form: Zoning v. Design based Ordinances, e. Managed Growth and the Market Economy: PlanningStandards and Development Incentives, f. Community-based Design: Building Consensus by Working in Detail; III. Practice: a. Setting Goals: Public andPrivate Agendas, b. Anglo-American Variations: Private Property and the Communal Good, c. The Design Workshop: Participation, Process and Product,d. The Master Plan: Site-specific Solutions, e. Implementation Strategies: Urban Design Guidelines, Economic Development Strategies and Design-basedRegulations; IV. Case Studies: a. The Region: CORE (Centre of the Region Enterprise) City of Raleigh, N.C., b. The City: West Raleigh, City of Raleigh,N.C., c. The Town: Mint Hill, N.C., d. The Neighbourhood: Haynie-Sirrine, Greenville, S.C., e. The Urban Block: Cornelius N.C. Town Centre; V. Afterword

David Walters