The Case for Embracing Urban ‘Messiness’
Also today: Mamdami warns Wall Street boom won't save NYC's finances, and builders push for "Trump Homes."
It might look chaotic, but the jumble of storefronts in Osaka’s Dotonbori district represent one model for a vibrant urban community.
Photographer: Alfredo Martinez/Getty Images
While rules and regulations allow cities to function, a new book cautions against overly prescriptive planning and makes a case for embracing urban “messiness.” Through a series of essays, Messy Cities: Why We Can’t Plan Everything argues that leaving room for spontaneity can deliver more livable and vibrant neighborhoods. Think street eateries in East Los Angeles, the mix of formal and informal shops set up by immigrants in Toronto’s Kensington Market, and the medley of storefronts in the streets of Tokyo.
In a conversation with contributor Rebecca Greenwald, two of the book’s editors, Zahra Ebrahim and Leslie Woo, break down what they mean by “messiness.” The book isn’t advocating for chaos and confusion, they say, but a more organic, bottom-up approach to city-building. Today on CityLab: In Praise of Urban Disorder