Design First: Design-based Planning for Communities

Well-grounded in the history and theory of Anglo-American urbanism, this illustrated textbook sets out objectives, policies and design principles for planning new communities and redeveloping existing urban neighborhoods. Drawing from their extensive experience, the authors explain how better plans (and consequently better places) can be created by applying the three-dimensional principles of urban design and physical place-making to planning problems.

Design First uses case studies from the authors’ own professional projects to demonstrate how theory can be turned into effective practice, using concepts of traditional urban form to resolve contemporary planning and design issues in American communities.

The book is aimed at architects, planners, developers, planning commissioners, elected officials and citizens — and, importantly, students of architecture and planning — with the objective of reintegrating three-dimensional design firmly back into planning practice.

·Focus and emphasis on planning by 3-D design
·Clear and practical presentation of how communities can improve their town planning processes
·Case studies illustrate the practice and implementation of ideas

Linda Brown is a writer, critic, teacher and professional painter. A fellow of the MacDowell Colony in New Hampshire, her paintings hang in many prestigious public and private collections, including the Federal Reserve and IBM. Her art criticism has been published in regional and national magazines, including Art Papers and Ceramics Monthly. Under a pseudonym, Brown has written three novels, published in the UK. She has taught graduate courses in art criticism with an emphasis on postmodern art and architecture, and has been a public art consultant on several community design workshops.