The City and the Super-Organism:A History of Naturalism in Urban Planning

by: Marco Amati (Author)

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Publication Date: 20 Nov. 2021

Language: English

Print Length: 219 pages

ISBN-10: 9811639760

ISBN-13: 9789811639760

Book Description

This book traces how naturalism―the idea of a common theory uniting natural social systems―has contributed to major shifts in urban planning. Beginning in the 17th century, when the human body began to emerge as an inspiration for urban planning, the book examines the work of medical analyses of city life. Responding to the 19th century industrial revolution and 20th century modeism, the Second World War and mass motorisation, Dr Marco Amati shows how vitalism, eugenics, evolutionary theories and medical treatments were applied to understand cities and propose new urban forms. While critically evaluating the uses of naturalism, Amati also observes a renewed interest in the application of sciences to analyse city life, arguing that this is essential to help resolve challenges of human-induced climate change.

About the Author

Review “The book is overall a great tool to think about the complex narrative relationship between city planning and the sciences, its risks and potentials, which can inform today’s understanding of trends such as ‘urban acupuncture’ … .” (Margherita Tess, Urban Studies, Vol. 60 (6), 2023) Review “Increasingly, we find environmental issues are also urban issues and vice versa. Just as scientific thinking is used to understand nature and environmental problems, it can also be employed to analyze and plan cities. In The City and the Super-Organism, Marco Amati takes us through a critical history of scientific thinking―naturalism, as he calls it―in urban planning, demonstrating its role in the design of cities, and evaluating its benefits and many pitfalls. Amati claims that the use of biological sciences in urban planning, coupled with the social sciences, will be crucial to the future of cities and planetary survival. This is a vital and timely contribution to urban studies in the context of our current climate crisis, and the existential threat of the pandemic. Essential reading for students, teachers, and practitioners of city planning and urban design.” (Tanu Sankalia, University of San Francisco, USA) From the Back Cover This book traces how naturalism―the idea of a common theory uniting natural social systems―has contributed to major shifts in urban planning. Beginning in the 17th century, when the human body began to emerge as an inspiration for urban planning, the book examines the work of medical analyses of city life. Responding to the 19th century industrial revolution and 20th century modeism, the Second World War and mass motorisation, Dr Marco Amati shows how vitalism, eugenics, evolutionary theories and medical treatments were applied to understand cities and propose new urban forms. While critically evaluating the uses of naturalism, Amati also observes a renewed interest in the application of sciences to analyse city life, arguing that this is essential to help resolve challenges of human-induced climate change.
About the Author
Marco Amati teaches urban planning at the Centre for Urban Research at RMIT University in Melboue, Australia. His research interests include understanding urban planning history and mapping the benefits of urban forests. Read more