The syntax of cities / Peter F. Smith

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Foreword -- Preface -- Part One. A psychological scenario: 1. Strategy and apologia -- 2. Environment as medium -- 3. The passive environment? -- 4. Monotony in reverse -- 5. Mind before environment -- 6. The attitudinal model -- 7. Left, right and centre -- 8. Images in still waters -- 9. Emotional needs and remedies -- 10. Viva vulgarity! and other limbic values -- 11. Line and shape -- 12. Colour and texture -- Part Two. Towards a concept of value: 13. The aesthetics matrix -- 14. Values in the aesthetic equation -- 15. Aesthetics and emotion -- 16. The aesthetics of symbolism -- 17. Idealized distance -- 18. Inductive space -- 19. The gate and the arch -- 20. The maze factor and urban accents -- 21. Socially intensive urban space -- 22. Epitome urbanism -- Part Three. From theory to practice: 23. The city and optimal mutation -- 24. Images and fantasies -- 25. The architect and the city -- 26. Recent endeavours -- 27. Interstitial tactics -- 29. Urban contracts -- 30. Encore to aesthetics -- 31. Towards the 'care and culture of man' -- References -- Index.

A reflection of this apparent contradiction is manifest in the ever more frantic search for surprises which will relieve the boredom of a welfared existence. In parallel with this is is the growing interest in conservation: the desire to retain a foothold upon history, as represented by buildings. The city reflects the paradoxes of human nature, and is often most enjoyable when least consistent. Even in its lowest incarnations, the city seems to satisfy an array of needs, many of which are emotional and beyond articulation. This book is an attempt to explore the different levels upon which the city may offer psychological rewards, with particular emphasis upon that highly specialized reward, the aesthetic response.