Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
Overview
Community design has grown in importance in the public policy agenda over the past decade. This book focuses on the author's experience and work in Minnesota where a design team of architects, planners, and economic and community development practitioners provided planning and design assistance to local communities. The book explores the advantages of a systems approach to community design and uses the work of the Minnesota team to consider the issues involved in the implementation of successful community design.
Synopsis
Arthur Mehrhoff's Community Design represents a unique way of analyzing a community and the steps needed to help design a sustainable community. In this important contribution, Mehrhoff, through his work with the Minnesota Design Team, seeks to "help communities take control of shaping a sustainable future of their own by means of information, insight, and civic dialogue." He urges readers to rethink the shape and shaping of their communities by looking at "community" in a more holistic and multidisciplinary manner. Mehrhoff tackles such topics as defining community, understanding the history of a community, understanding the issues and problems affecting a community, examining the visual aspects of a community, and obtaining citizen opinion throughout the process of becoming a sustainable community. Small communities everywhere can replicate the process discussed in this book. Community Design is well written and thought-provoking and provides a nice blend of theory and practice.
This book should be useful to all students, academics, local policy makers, and citizens who are interested in creating a common sustainable vision for their communities.
Booknews
Presents a way of analyzing communities for the purpose of designing a sustained community. Readers are encouraged to rethink the shape and shaping of their communities by looking at "community" in a holistic and multidisciplinary manner. Discusses defining community, understanding its history and problems that affect it, examining its visual aspects, and obtaining citizen opinion throughout the process of becoming sustainable. For students, academics, local policy makers, and citizens interested in creating a vision for communities. Mehrhoff teaches American studies and local and urban affairs in the Center for Community Studies at Saint Cloud State University. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)