ABSTRACT
Urban life has always conveyed at one and the same time an idea of superior quality in the mode of living and also a hint at the difficulties and social problems in the process of organization and growth. This duality of contrasted characteristics of urban life has led philosophers, preachers, and politicians to express preferences for the small town or at least a not too large city. Such a middle-of-the-road solution appears less and less practicable. A better quality of urban life suggests abundant and widespread physical and cultural amenities made available to the city dwellers. The contemporary process of urbanization has not often provided for such amenities in the various cities and metropolitan areas. Although it has been accompanied by a rise in the standards of living and generalized affluence for a majority, urbanization has caused in recent years more pollution, not only of the air and water, but also of the landscape.
