Urban Ecological Design

This trailblazing book outlines a tested interdisciplinary "process model" for urban design. Its goal is not to explain how to design a specific city precinct or public space, but to describe useful steps to approach the transformation of urban spaces. Urban Ecological Design illustrates the different stages in which the process is organized, using theories, techniques, images, and case studies.

The authors believe that environmental concerns demand that ecological and sustainability issues are addressed in urban design. It is, after all, the urban designer who helps to orchestrate human relationships with other living organisms in the built environment.

The overall objective of the book is to reinforce the role of the urban designer as an honest broker and promoter of design processes and as an active agent of social creativity in the production of the public realm.

Danilo Palazzo is Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Design at the Politecnico di Milano, Italy. His books include Sulle spalle dei giganti (Franco Angeli, 1997), Transforming the Places of Production (Olivares, 2002 with Fossa, Lane, Pirani), Urban Design (Mondadori Università, 2008). He recently wrote an essay for the Companion to Urban Design (Routledge, 2011).

Frederick R. Steiner is dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Texas, Austin, where he holds the Henry M. Rockwell Chair in Architecture. His books include Human Ecology: Following Nature's Lead (Island Press, 2002), The Living Landscape (Island Press, 2008) and The Essential Ian McHarg (Island Press, 2006).