3 Review(s)

The city: a place of hopes and dreams, destruction and conflict, vision and order. The first city atlas, the Civitates Orbis Terrarum, was published by Braun and Hogenburg in 1572 for the armchair traveller interested in a world that was opening up around him. Since then our fascination with foreign cities has not abated. This sumptuous volume looks at the development of the mapping and representation of the city revealing how we organize the urban space. From skyline profiles, bird's eye views and panoramas, to the schematic maps of transport networks and road layouts to help us navigate, and statistical maps that can provide information on human aspirations, cities can reveal themselves in many ways. Focusing on key points in the development of urban representation and including visions of the future of how we would be living today, this enlightening book illustrates some of the oldest, youngest, liveliest, and most contested cities in the world. Each map has a purpose and its design reflects this. Extended captions explain its relevance and elegance. For anyone interested in the city in which they live or with the desire to explore the history and culture of a metropolis overseas, this book is an enlightening companion.