The Heart of Our Cities [antikvár]

Introduction Planning a Book on Planning What better opportunity could there be for planning a book on planning than a leisurely ocean voyage? I did this some years ago aboard the Leonardo da Vinci, flagship of the Italian Line, as it cut its path through the Atlantic toward Europe. Here, midway between the bustling North American continent with its busy and oftentimes dizzy activity, with its sprawling cities of comparatively recent vintage, and old Europe which, though once again prosperous, remains more sedate in its ways; midway between my active work as an environmental architect and a holiday period; midway between daily routine and relaxations, I started the task. A big ship is a good place to think about the fate of our cities. Carrying 1,255 passengers and nearly as many crew members, this beautiful vessel with its truly functional design is a city in itself, one which is carefully planned tb the last detail to function and operate in order to offer comfort and convenience. On it are solved daily problems of administration, of housing, of food storage and preparation, of health, of entertainment, of social functions. This city has its own shops, hospitals, and its own power station.