The Urban Section ─ An Analytical Tool for Cities and Streets

The design of streets, and the connections between streets of different character, is the most important task for architects and urbanists working in an urban context. Considered at two distinct spatial scales – that of the individual street – the Street Section – and the complex of city streets – the City Transect – Urban Section identifies a range of generic street types and their success or otherwise in responding to climatic, cultural, traditional, morphological, social and economic well being.

Using comparative studies a profile of best practice in street and city design is identified, showing methodologies in both the analysis of, and design for, successful streets and public places – place-making.

In uniquely dealing with both the historic and contemporary description and analysis of urban ‘streets’ around the world, the work is of both academic and professional interest to architects, urban planners and designers, highway engineers, landscape and urban design advisers in both the public and private sectors; students, amenity and civic societies, city authorities and government agencies.

Robert Mantho is an architect, teacher, and researcher. He is the Stage 2 Leader at the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art.