This accessible critique of urban construction reimagines city development and life in an era of unprecedented building.
Exploring the proliferation of building and construction, Imrie sets out its many degrading impacts on both people and the environment. Using examples from around the world, he illustrates how construction is motivated by economic and political ideologies rather than actual need, and calls for a more sensitive, humane and nature-focused culture of construction.
This compelling book calls for radical changes to city living and environments by building less, but better.
Table of Content
Introduction: The Omnipresent Nature of Building
The Significance of Building and Construction
Building and the Construction State
Speculation and Building Booms
Disruption, Displacement and Dispossession
Demolition: Wasting the City and Teardown Building
Why Building More Housing Won’t Work
Building That Matters to People
Constructing for Species Survival
Building and Construction That Cares
About the author
Rob Imrie was previously Professor of Sociology at Goldsmiths University of London and retains a Visiting Professorship there. He has published widely on issues relating to architecture, urban design, and urban politics and regeneration.