How was urban planning born?

Summary

This video explores the evolution of city planning from the early 20th century, when it became an academic discipline, combining fields like architecture, sociology, and design. The video highlights key figures like Daniel Burnham and Robert Moses, who wielded immense power in shaping cities like San Francisco and New York. It also examines the rise of urban sociology through the Chicago School and the shift towards more human-centered planning, exemplified by Jane Jacobs. The video concludes with insights from Walter Benjamin on the experience of modern urban life.

Takeaways

• 🏙️ City planning as a formal discipline emerged in the early 20th century, with no prior official academic field or government departments dedicated to it.
• 🛠️ Planning brought together elements from different fields such as architecture, sociology, design, and politics, creating a coherent discipline for shaping cities.
• 📜 The first official planning bodies appeared in cities like New York and London, leading to the creation of comprehensive and general city plans.
• 🌉 Daniel Burnham's plan for San Francisco was disrupted by the 1906 earthquake, though some elements of the plan were implemented in outer areas.
• 🛣️ Robert Moses became a powerful, unelected city planner, influencing New York City's infrastructure through major projects like highways and expressways.
• 🚧 Moses' work, influenced by modernist ideas, faced backlash from activists like Jane Jacobs, who advocated for more human-scaled, community-focused urban design.
• 🎓 The first academic planning department in the United States was established at Harvard University in 1923, setting the stage for planning as a formal profession.
• 🏘️ The Chicago School of Urban Sociology emerged in the 1920s and 30s, focusing on urban social dynamics, neighborhoods, and ethnographic research.
• 🗺️ The Chicago School's mapping techniques helped lay the groundwork for modern tools like GIS (Geographical Information Systems) in urban studies.
• 🚶‍♂️ Walter Benjamin's exploration of cities, particularly Paris, emphasized the importance of walking and observing urban life as a method of studying the modern city.

Q & A

What was the state of city planning before the early 20th century?

Before the early 20th century, there was no official discipline called city planning. It was not taught at universities, and there were no city departments of planning. Planning elements were dispersed among other disciplines like architecture, design, sociology, and politics.

What led to the creation of city planning as a formal discipline?

City planning emerged as a formal discipline in the early 20th century when people in various disciplines realized that a coherent approach to understanding and managing cities was necessary. This led to the establishment of city planning as a new, comprehensive field.

Who was Daniel Burnham, and what was significant about his plan for San Francisco?

Daniel Burnham was an influential planner known for his comprehensive urban designs. His plan for San Francisco in 1905 was significant, but much of it was never realized due to the 1906 earthquake and fire, which forced the city to be rebuilt quickly.

How did Robert Moses influence urban planning in New York?

Robert Moses was a powerful urban planner in New York, responsible for major infrastructure projects like the Long Island Expressway and FDR Drive. He was never elected but controlled vast public authorities, allowing him to reshape the city through road networks and highways.

Why is the image of Robert Moses described as emblematic in the script?

The image of Robert Moses is described as emblematic because it shows him as larger than life, symbolizing his immense influence over the city's landscape. He is literally portrayed as bigger than the city, reflecting his power to shape urban development.

What was the role of the Chicago School in the development of urban sociology?

The Chicago School of urban sociology, led by academics like Robert Park and Lewis Worth, played a key role in establishing urban sociology as a formal field. They studied various aspects of city life, such as class, neighborhood dynamics, and ethnic group patterns, using ethnographic methods and mapping techniques.

How did the Chicago School contribute to modern urban studies and GIS?

The Chicago School's use of mapping and visualization to study cities contributed to the development of geographical information systems (GIS). Their methodologies laid the groundwork for using computer technology to map urban data in the late 20th century.

Who was Walter Benjamin, and what was his approach to urban studies?

Walter Benjamin was a German philosopher and cultural critic who explored urban life through walking as a method of study. He believed in observing cities by losing oneself in them, as reflected in his unfinished 'Paris Arcades Project,' where he developed urban thought through personal experiences in the streets.

What impact did modernist movements like Le Corbusier's have on urban planning?

Modernist movements, including those by architects like Le Corbusier, influenced planners like Robert Moses. These movements promoted modern forms of urban development, often emphasizing large-scale infrastructure projects and redesigning cities to fit new, functionalist principles.

What was the reaction against modernist urban planning, and who led this movement?

The reaction against modernist urban planning, which focused on large-scale infrastructure and impersonal designs, was led by activists like Jane Jacobs. She advocated for more human-centered, small-scale approaches to urban development, emphasizing the importance of community and preserving neighborhood character.