Cities and Buildings: Skyscrapers, Skid Rows, and Suburbs

Creating the North American Landscape

by Larry R. Ford

In this text, Ford offers an account of the relationship between urban architecture - especially vernacular architecture - and the spatial arrangement and development of cities in North America. From office towers in the central business district to commercial strips in the edge city, Ford shows how changes in the built environment parallel changes in urban economies and human culture. Focusing on ordinary structures rather than famous landmarks, the book aims to provide a guide to understanding the changing character of any urban landscape.

Genres: Urbanism, Architecture

328 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1994

Reviews

[Josh Fogelson]

Great history of downtowns, skid rows, single family homes, and apartment buildings. I learned a lot, and I have an undergraduate degree in urban studies. I especially enjoyed the history of apartments and multi-unit buildings, as well as Ford's concepts of downtown's zone of discard and zone of assimilation. Does not feel too oudated in 2019.

[Charles]

Boring title, epic look at the architecture of American cities and what it reveals about our history and values. I took a class with this professor in college and it was one of those handful of classes that you never wanted to miss because they were so entertaining...full of information and humor, just like the book.

[Annie Sampson]

This book was required of me to read, and generally speaking this wouldn't be the first book I'd pick up. That being said, I enjoyed reading most of it, and it was more interesting than the title and cover artwork would let on.

[Frank Kinder]

Pretty good insight into city evolution