THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC2224)

Project: Theorizing Architecture

Part I: Analyzing “Through the eyes" of an architect/urban designer/ theoretician

Members: Ch'ng Xing Yue

Chin Pui Man

Wesley Hew Xin Han

Tutor: Pn. Nor Hayati

Location: Puchong

Proposed site area

Photo source: http://www.ioiproperties.com.my/Bandar-Puchong-Jaya/?project=109

Urban Theorist: Jane Jacobs

Theory: The death and life of great American cities.

Under this theory, Jane Jacobs wants to introduce new city principles, giving a fresh new

perspective into the issues of urban planning. She listed her theory into four parts, which

are;

1. Examination of city planning errors

2. Study of the economics behind city error

3. Highlighting the decline with regeneration (Slumming and unslumming)

4. Suggestions for city errors Jacobs listed

In conclusion:

Jacobs saw the principles that underlie city planning as flawed and detrimental to

cities.

Small businesses are ruined and families become uprooted—Expressway

construction was cited as one factor.

Banker may consider a particular area to be a slum; however, it may actually be a

thriving neighborhood. Refusal of banks to give out loans to such areas, so the

vibrancy of the neighborhood is a result of community interaction.

Planners are more concerned with automobiles—they see cars as both a cause of

city decay and a needed commodity. Jacobs see cars as a symptom of city

problems, not the source.

References:

1. The Maryland Institute College of Art (February 2008). An Introduction to Jane

Jacobs, The Death and Life of American Cities. Available at:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e5se7e6700sa9cz/AADX7mE-

d08HljeoLckTmcZ6a/Jacobs-MICA.pdf?dl=0. [Last Accessed 3 April 2015].

2. Project for Public Spaces (e.g. 2011). Bigraphy of Jane Jacobs. Available at:

http://www.pps.org/reference/jjacobs-2/. [Last Accessed 4 April 2015].

3. Matthias Wendt (2009). The Importance of Death and Life of Great American

Cities (1961). Available at:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e5se7e6700sa9cz/AADtjd9UsdKe-

0YNRUot2L7Oa/The%20Importance%20of%20Dealth%20and%20Life%20Final

.pdf?dl=0. [Last Accessed 5 April 2015].

4. David Ellerman (March 2004 ). Jane Jacobs on Development. Available at:

http://www.giszpenc.com/globalciv/ellerman1.pdf. [Last Accessed 3 April 2015].

5. Gene Callahan (June 2003). Jane Jacobs, The Anti-Planner. Available at:

http://mises.org/library/jane-jacobs-anti-planner. [Last Accessed 4 April 2015].

6. Susan Bertolino (August 2012). The Death and Life of American Cities What Jane

Jacobs saw and what we see today. Available at:

http://www.slideshare.net/SusanBER/the-death-and-life-of-american-cities-

13946218. [Last Accessed 4 April 2015].