The City and the Super-Organism : A History of Naturalism in Urban Planning

This book traces how naturalism--the idea of a common theory uniting natural social systems--has contributed to major shifts in urban planning. Beginning in the 17th century, when the human body began to emerge as an inspiration for urban planning, the book examines the work of medical analyses of city life. Responding to the 19th century industrial revolution and 20th century modernism, the Second World War and mass motorisation, Dr Marco Amati shows how vitalism, eugenics, evolutionary theories and medical treatments were applied to understand cities and propose new urban forms. While critically evaluating the uses of naturalism, Amati also observes a renewed interest in the application of sciences to analyse city life, arguing that this is essential to help resolve challenges of human-induced climate change Prologue Sapiens as a Super-Organism Contents List of Figures List of Tables Introduction Between Naivety and Daily Use Why Use Naturalism in Strategic Planning? What Is Naturalism? Why Discuss Naturalism in Planning Now? The Urban Age and the Anthropocene The Biological Century What This Book Is About Tracing Naturalism Through Time How This Book Will Unfold A City for ‘Natural Man’ Introduction The Pathological City The City of Melioration The Physionomy of the City Guaranteeing a City’s Survival Conclusion From an Exterior to an Interior Urban Gaze Introduction Medical Topographies A Medical Topography of Paris Interiorising the Transmission of Disease in the City Conclusion The Vital City Introduction Mechanism Versus Vitalism Bergson’s Concept of Vitalism and Evolution Vital Energy or Élan Vital Evolution of Beings and Societies Applying a Mixture of Mechanism and Vitalism with Bergsonian Evolution to Describe Paris Conclusion Evolving the City Introduction Geddes’ Pragmatism in Relation to Scientific Theories of the City Geddes’ Concept of Synthesis and Cooperation Through Evolution Applying Geddes’ Synthetic and Cooperative Approach to Cities A Japanese Perspective on City Life Geddes’ Direct Influence Conclusion Urban Social Hygiene Introduction Treating the City to Treat the Nation Early Awareness of the Eugenic Potential of Cities Eugenics in the Garden The Chicago School and Urban Organisms Conclusion: Naturalism to Shape Reproduction in Cities and Cement New Disciplines The City of Organic Regularity Introduction Biology as a Source of First Principles Biology as a Series of Machines Cities and Their Biology Contributing to a Stronger State Enforcing Standardisation Through Sport Conclusion: Taking the Measure of le Corbusier Planning Natural Communities with Open Space Introduction Pragmatic Versus Theoretical Naturalistic Planning and the Region Using a Naturalistic Logic to Justify Growth Control Natural Communities Conclusion: Negotiating Naturalism and Scientism A Trans-Atlantic Precedent European Medicine for American Urbanism Introduction Victor Gruen’s Heart Medicine Eliel Saarinen’s Cancer Treatment Conclusion Conclusion: A Renewed Direction for Naturalism in Planning Cities and the Anthropocene The Translatability of Naturalistic Logics for Contemporary Cities How to Make Effective Use of Naturalism Avoiding Naïvety in Developing a Science of, for and About Cities References Index