ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the challenging task of understanding the relationship between class, culture and space in our contemporary urban landscape as the economy has transitioned from “Fordist” industrial capitalism to advanced capitalism. It covers the first half of the author's original article, where he gives a well-structured explanation of the current trends in the production and consumption of the built environment. The chapter bridges the literature on economic restructuring and on the culture of consumption and explores the influence of global restructuring on the built environment. It addresses the processes of both decentralization and gentrification in defining six elements that influence the “restless urban landscape” of advanced capitalism. These include: gentrification; historic preservation; postmodern architecture; mixed-use development and multiple-use development; high-tech corridors; and master planned suburban and exurban development.
