Introduction

Allan Jacobs and Donald Appleyard's urban design manifesto is grounded in both a command of academic theory and their own practical experience in urban design. This chapter moves beyond observation and critique to set out goals for urban life and advance ideas for how the urban fabric of cities might be designed for more livable urban environments. It provides a number of goals that deem essential for the future of good urban environment: livability, identity and control, access to opportunity, imagination, and joy, authenticity and meaning, open communities and public life, self-reliance, and justice. Conservation encourages identity and control and, usually, a better sense of community, since old environments are more usually part of a common heritage. The chapter finally presents some physical characteristics that must be present if there is to be a positive response to the goals and values people believe are central to urban life.