Case Study: Historical Context of American Urban Planning

Introduction

The American urban planning movement grew out of 19th century desire of aristocrats to improve their surroundings (Stormann, 1991). One of the earliest movements was the "City Beautiful" movement of the 1890s, which sought to design cities with aesthetically pleasing spaces and promote civic pride. This movement peaked in the early 20th century and left a legacy of urban parks and public monuments throughout the United States. A second influential movement was the "Radiant City" movement, which emerged in the 1930s. This movement was founded by the Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier, who argued for a more rational approach to city planning. He proposed replacing traditional city layouts with grids of skyscrapers and parks, with more efficient transportation systems connecting them. His futuristic vision was greatly influential in the United States and Europe, but it also had its critics. Many urban planners argued that its focus on efficiency was too rigid and didn't take into account the needs of everyday city residents. In response, the modernist movement developed in the 1950s and 1960s, advocating for more livable cities that emphasized individual needs. It called for human-scale designs that provided people with access to housing, transportation, jobs, and other amenities. This approach has been widely adopted by urban planners today. This paper will describe and analyze the two planning theories, City Beautiful and Radiant City, in terms of weaknesses, problems and solutions.

Planning Theory 1: The City Beautiful

Description and Analysis of Planning Theory

The "City Beautiful" movement, which emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, sought to improve the physical and moral well-being of American cities through the implementation of grand civic centers and monumental architecture. The theory behind this movement was that beautiful public spaces would uplift the moral character of citizens and improve their social conditions. However, the "City Beautiful" movement has been criticized for its lack of consideration for the needs and desires of the city's residents, as well as its focus on aesthetics over functionality. Additionally, the emphasis on monumental architecture often resulted in the displacement of lower-income residents and neighborhoods.

Weaknesses of Planning Theory

Some of the weaknesses of the planning theory of this movement were that it focused primarily on creating grand civic spaces and monumental architecture, without considering the needs and desires of the city's residents. This often resulted in the displacement of lower-income residents and neighborhoods, and in the creation of spaces that were not accessible or usable by the majority of citizens. The "City Beautiful" movement placed a heavy emphasis on aesthetics, often at the expense of functionality. This often resulted in the creation of spaces that were beautiful but not functional, and that did not serve the needs of the city's residents. Additionally, it often involved the demolition of historic buildings and neighborhoods in order to make way for grand civic spaces and monumental architecture. This resulted in the loss of important historical and cultural heritage, and in the erasure of the city's past.

Ultimately, the main weakness of this planning theory was that it was based on grandiose visions of ideal cities, designed to evoke a sense of awe and civic pride. However, these designs often failed to take into account the needs of everyday city residents, such as access to affordable housing, transportation, and other amenities (Hess, 2006). In addition, the focus on aesthetics led to impractical designs that were not well-suited for the realities of urban life. Matthew 25:40 states: "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me." This verse speaks to the importance of treating all people with justice and compassion, which is a weakness of the City Beautiful theory. The movement was based on grandiose visions of ideal cities, but failed to take into account the needs of everyday city residents, such as access to affordable housing, transportation, and other amenities.

Problems with the Theory

One problem with the "City Beautiful" movement is that it failed to address the underlying social and economic issues that contributed to urban poverty and inequality. Another problem is that, it was not responsive to the needs of citizens, such as affordable housing, transportation, and access to services. The lack of practical considerations in the City Beautiful movement resulted in cities that lacked affordable housing, transportation, and other amenities (Stelter, 2000). This led to higher levels of poverty and inequality, as people in marginalized communities were denied access to vital resources. In addition, the focus on aesthetics led to inefficient urban layouts and traffic congestion, as well as increased environmental pollution and other negative impacts.

Solutions to Planning Theory

To ensure that urban planning is responsive to the needs and desires of the city's residents, it is important to involve the community in the planning process. This could involve holding public meetings, conducting surveys, and soliciting feedback from residents. To ensure...

…of hope, solidarity, and purpose among residents in cities. Support for this is found in Isaiah 58:12: "Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in." Therefore, a biblical approach to urban planning would prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable members of society, including the poor and marginalized, and would seek to address underlying social and economic issues rather than simply focusing on aesthetics or efficiency.

Conclusion

American urban planning has a long and complex history, with various movements and theories emerging over time. The "City Beautiful" and "Radiant City" movements are just two examples of the different approaches to urban planning that have been proposed in the United States. The "City Beautiful" movement emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a response to the rapid industrialization and urbanization of American cities. This movement sought to improve the physical and moral well-being of American cities through the implementation of grand civic centers and monumental architecture. The theory behind this movement was that beautiful public spaces would uplift the moral character of citizens and improve their social conditions. The "City Beautiful" movement had its roots in the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago, where architects and planners created the "White City" to showcase their ideas of urban planning. It was characterized by the use of Beaux-Arts architecture and formal planning, with the goal of creating a harmonious and orderly city. The "Radiant City" movement, on the other hand, emerged in the early 20th century as a response to the perceived failures of the "City Beautiful" movement. This movement proposed a more rational and functional approach to urban planning. The theory behind this movement was that cities should be organized around the needs of their residents, and that the design of the city should be based on principles of efficiency and rationality. The "Radiant City" movement was championed by the famous architect Le Corbusier, who proposed a new type of urban plan that involved the separation of different functions (residential, commercial, industrial) into different zones and the use of tall, modernist buildings. Both the "City Beautiful" and "Radiant City" movements have had a significant influence on American urban planning, and their ideas continue to shape cities today. However, both movements have also been criticized for their lack of consideration for the needs and desires of the city's…