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What has informed Neo-traditional Planning?: an analysis of Rationalism, Neo-traditional Planning, and "A New Theory of Urban Design"

University of British Columbia

This thesis examines how Neo-traditional Planning has been formed and influenced by European Rationalism and why Christopher Alexander's "New Theory of Urban Design" should be referred to in the literature pertaining to Neo-traditional Planning. There are two rationales for conducting a literature review of Rationalism, Neo-traditional Planning, and " A New Theory of Urban Design". The first rationale is that the current literature is inadequate in explaining the important influence that European Rationalism has had on North American Neo-traditional Planning. The second rationale is that the literature is deficient in that it does not cite Christopher Alexander's "New Theory of Urban Design" as an alternative to Neo-traditional 'Master Planning.' The thesis provides the theoretical basis of Rationalism, Neo-traditional Planning , and " A New Theory of Urban Design" by examining the main proponents of the various theories: Leon Krier and Aldo Rossi with regard to Rationalism; Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater -Zyberk and Peter Calthorpe with regard to Neo-traditional Planning; and Christopher Alexander with regard to a "New Theory of Urban Design." Academic literature in planning, architecture, and urban design were sources used to gather information on the above theorists. The thesis shows how Neo-traditional Planning has been formed and influenced by Rationalism by examining four specific topics: the influence of Leon Krier and Aldo Rossi, mixed-use development, Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk's traditional neighborhood development codes, and Aldo Rossi's typological theory. Lastly, after describing Christopher Alexander's "New Theory" and its basis in both Rationalist and Empiricist theory, the thesis compares Alexander's work with that of the Rationalists/Neo-traditionalists. With an ever increasing number of Neo-traditional developments being built, this thesis suggests that if the planning and design literature made planners more aware of all the influences and theories that Neo-traditional planning is based on, as well as all the alternatives to Neo-traditional Planning, more informed decisions could be made as to what is the appropriate design strategy for a particular community.

Thesis/Dissertation

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2009-03-10

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/5836

Planning

University of British Columbia

UBCV

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