Reviews

Abstract

The need for critical interpretation of sustainability theory for specific urban situations and the existing shortage of interconnection between research and practice points out the relevance of the book “Realms of Urban Design: Mapping Sustainability”. The book bridges the contemporary findings in theory of sustainability, and resilience as well, in the disciplines of urban design and urban planning on one side, with the application of sustainability principles, methods and tools into professional practice on the other side. The book includes 11 thematic chapters that address particular topics contributed by different researchers. The themes of chapters comprise exploration of the topical spatial problems and processes occurring in the cities and in-between spaces; the social dimension brought to urban design by activating the communities and participatory contribution; and the customary marginal urban typologies that need transformation and regeneration, like informal urban landscapes, brownfields, industrial territories and business zones. The chapters cover topics of various scopes and scales: from critical review of theory of urban sustainability and resilience treated as the planetary-wide processes, through adaptation of the issues to urban environment and especially to specific urban spatial situations and social interactions, to detailed illustrative case studies, mostly from western Balkan region. The common thread through the chapters is the focus on the aspects of sustainability, and resilience as well, and every chapter interprets the core topic from different point of view, discussed in a particular urban typology, dimension, and scale, accomplished with the up-to-date practical solutions, and supplemented by personal attitude of the authors. The significant value and relevance of the book lies precisely in these peculiarities, as the book shares the applicable multi-layered and all-around knowledge on sustainability in urban environment.