Rural by Design: Planning for Town and Country

by Randall Arendt

For America's suburbs, small cities, and rural areas, new challenges demand new solutions. Author Randall Arendt meets them in an entirely new edition of Rural by Design.

With 80 percent new material, the second edition of this planning classic shifts the focus to infilling neighborhoods, strengthening town centers, and moving development closer to schools, shops, and jobs. New chapters cover form-based codes, visioning, sustainability, low-impact development, green infrastructure, and more, while 70 case studies show how these ideas play out in the real world. Readers -- rural or not -- will find practical advice about planning for the way we live now.
"It has been a decade since I read the first edition, and I was struck by how useful the information is to rural and urban alike. In many ways the title of the book is a misnomer, because this book is a great tool for new urbanists, small town enthusiasts and those that want to preserve and enhance the open space we all need."
n Christopher Parker, Assistant City Director of Planning and Strategic Initiatives, City of Dover, NH
"The second edition of Rural by Design is worth the 20 years necessary for its update. Arendt's latest work is thorough and well researched.. This is a must -have book for every planner's library. The concepts are transferable and clear, and the rationale is directly on point and understandable to all audiences."
Rick Bernhardt, FAICP, Executive Director, Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County Planning Department
"Randall Arendt has managed to take a great book and make it even better. This newest version has been expanded to make it even richer in content, including nearly doubling the number of case studies and graphics. It has also evolved to remain relevant to current planning philosophies."
Philip Walker, AICP, Principal, The Walker Collaborative, Nashville, TN  

See all reviews in their entirety elsewhere on the amazon website.

Genres: Urban Planning, Nonfiction

544 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2014

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great textbook or reference book for those interested in urban and rural planning, zoning, and living.

[Du · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an early copy of the second edition, and below is my review of that:

A seminal planning book, Rural By Design, by Randall Arendt, was recently released in an updated version, by the American Planner’s Association’s Planners Press. If you have an interest in Planning as a form or a function, this book is one, which will be educational, entertaining and evocative. Not only has the text been updated to include a much more comprehensive and current review of planning options, but the layout and formatting of the text is a delight to read.

In this edition, Mr. Arendt has successfully pulled together many diverse areas of planning practice and most importantly he is communicating their value and their impacts in a vibrant and highly readable manner, which should help people better understand planning as a function and the value of placemaking.

It has been a decade since I read the first edition, and as I read the text and browsed the clear illustrations, I was struck by how useful the information is to rural and urban alike. In many ways the title of the book is a misnomer, because this book is a great tool for new urbanists, small town enthusiasts and those that want to preserve and enhance the open space we all need.