Transformation of the European Civic Tradition since c. 1800

Transformation of the European Civic Tradition since c1800 explores what happens when centuries of urban tradition collide with the forces of modernity. For generations, Europe’s towns and cities evolved organically, their streets, buildings and public spaces reflecting the history, culture and lives of the people who inhabited them. Then came industrialisation and with it a revolution in the way cities were built, planned and experienced. Over the next 150 years, war, economic upheaval and the rise of International Modernism transformed the European urban landscape. Historic townscapes were swept aside in the name of progress, while planners and architects promoted radically new visions of the city. Yet the modernist experiment eventually came under scrutiny, prompting a renewed appreciation of traditional urban design and the distinctive character of Europe’s historic towns. This book explores the dramatic conflict between preservation and progress, tradition and modernity, and examines how it has shaped the cities we live in today. It will be of especial interest to students of architecture, planning and building conservation and anyone with an interest in architecture and civic culture.