This book elucidates the continuing conflict between the conservation of the townscapes and associated lifestyles that have evolved over centuries in Europe and the impact of the mounting and dramatic, political, economic and spatial changes that accompany the globalising progress in the modern world.  Within the context of the changing European urban scene, the relevance for the need to preserve and renovate historical structures is considered just as essential a factor as changing ideas on modern urban design in the redevelopment of metropolitan centres.

A pragmatic, organic perception is shown as to what forms of urban culture are appropriate across Europe for the coming years. The book provides an exhaustive and detailed analysis of the theoretical and sociological background to particular architectural and planning innovations which are of particular significance. Additional detail is provided about selected buildings and pieces of townscape that demonstrate how the visual and communal aspects of particular locations have been affected.

The evolution of an historical perspective within European civic culture (c. 1800–1850)
The consolidation of an historicist/industrial hiatus in later 19th century Europe (c. 1850–1900)
The ascendancy of the international Modernist movement (c. 1900–1933)
The era of violent architectural and planning confrontation (c. 1933–1945)
The hegemony of bureaucratic Modernism in post-war Europe (c. 1945–1970)
The renaissance of building conservation and the emergence of the new Urbanity movement (c.1970–1990)
The European civic tradition at a crossroads: conflict and resolution between established practice and modern globalisation (1990–present)

This will be of especial interest to mature and postgraduate students of architecture, planning and building conservation and anyone with an interest in architecture and civic culture.

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