EcoCities: Rebuilding Cities in Balance with Nature
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Product Description
Most of the world's population now lives in cities. So if we are to address the problems of environmental deterioration and peak oil adequately, the city has to be a major focus of attention. "Ecocities" is about re-building cities and towns based on ecological principles for the long term sustainability, cultural vitality and health of the Earth's biosphere. Unique in the literature is the book's insight that the form of the city really matters - and that it is within our ability to change it, and crucial that we do. Further, that the ecocity within its bio-region is comprehensible and do-able, and can produce a healthy and potentially happy future. The book describes the place of the city in evolution, nature and history. It pays special attention to the key question of accessibility and transportation, and outlines design principles for the ecocity. The reader is encouraged to plunge in to its economics and politics: the kinds of businesses, planning and leadership required. The book then outlines the tools by which a gradual transition to the ecocity could be accomplished. Throughout, this new edition is generously illustrated with the author's own inspired visions of what such rebuilt cities might actually look like.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book summarizes the environmental problems we have in our cities and offers solutions at the same time. It is very detailed, the statements are spot on; there is every useful help in there if you want to build a sustainable city. Recommended both for pro and newbie environmentalists! I also like the sometimes informal style the author uses - all in all, everyone should have this book who cares about the surroundings, the family and the future. Who doesn't?
This book is a lot more worth than it's price!
United Nations Messengers of Peace Dr. Jane Goodall was right: a copy should be in every school library!
This book is a lot more worth than it's price!
United Nations Messengers of Peace Dr. Jane Goodall was right: a copy should be in every school library!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
10 reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
A pattern of urban design we will rediscover
9 April 2007
Format:Paperback
EcoCities is a book I have returned to repeatedly and discovered new insights every time. Register is no utopian dreamer; he's addressing real problems in contemporary urban design and land use patterns that cannot be sustained in a lower-energy future. Register's personality comes through loud and clear in his writing--this is no dry treatment of the subject.
Through this book, Register helps us to envision with some specificity what urban landscapes light on automobiles but rich in biodiversity could look like. It's as if he's illustrating a series of before and after treatments of various spaces, but the before picture is now and the after is a future yet to be realized. Highly recommended reading for anyone who wants to help actively design their built environment towards sustainability.
Through this book, Register helps us to envision with some specificity what urban landscapes light on automobiles but rich in biodiversity could look like. It's as if he's illustrating a series of before and after treatments of various spaces, but the before picture is now and the after is a future yet to be realized. Highly recommended reading for anyone who wants to help actively design their built environment towards sustainability.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
One of the keys to Sustainability
11 Jan 2007
Format:Paperback
Along with books like Natural Capitalism and Cradle to Cradle, Ecocities takes its place among the most important environmental tomes of our day. In a nutshell, Richard Register's vision (replete with a plan to get us there) could transform our world. In fact a structural response like ecocities (and smart growth) may be the best tools available to bring us to our only destination, sustainability. In his thoughtful book, Register waxes poetic on the environmental crisis we face, shares a grand vision for addressing the crisis -- while simultaneously improving our everyday lives -- and wraps it up with a road map for getting there. His many illustrations spark the imagination and are guaranteed to put a smile on your face. If you haven't read it, just do. Buy this important book now.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Inspiring? Yes. Realistic? No.
21 Nov 2009
Format:Paperback
Richard Register is a dreamer, but his book will make you look at your city from a different perspective. The text makes extremely good points about clustering development into mixed use centers to preserve open space and reduce transportation costs. His comment that "proximity is the most efficient means of access" was profound- ie, the cheapest way to get someone to an amenity or job is to have the amenity and job nearby already. After reading the book, I started to see the possibilities of remaking my own town for reduced traffic and better pike and ped access, and intensification in the right places.
What was frustrating and distracting is Register's obsession with vertical structures. Throughout the book, we are treated to sketches of remade cities with additions gradually piled on top of existing buildings, festooned with pedestrian walkways and keyhole view sheds, leaving the city looking like a giant lopsided wedding cake. I buy his argument that we shouldn't limit ourselves to 4 story buildings, but it is silly to think people could just keep adding on levels to buildings regardless of structural capacity.
Also, he barely mentions how people would make a living in these new, mostly car-less ecocities. The assumption is that people work near home. Are we all tele-commuting? Producing local goods? Assigned to a local industry? This seemed to be a major fault.
What was frustrating and distracting is Register's obsession with vertical structures. Throughout the book, we are treated to sketches of remade cities with additions gradually piled on top of existing buildings, festooned with pedestrian walkways and keyhole view sheds, leaving the city looking like a giant lopsided wedding cake. I buy his argument that we shouldn't limit ourselves to 4 story buildings, but it is silly to think people could just keep adding on levels to buildings regardless of structural capacity.
Also, he barely mentions how people would make a living in these new, mostly car-less ecocities. The assumption is that people work near home. Are we all tele-commuting? Producing local goods? Assigned to a local industry? This seemed to be a major fault.
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