Garden suburbs were the almost universal form of urban growth in the English-speaking world for most of the twentieth century. Their introduction was probably the most fundamental process of transformation in the physical form of the Western city since the Middle Ages.This book describes the ways in which these suburbs were created; particularly by private enterprise in England in the 1920s and 1930s; the physical forms they took; and how they have changed over time in response to social; economic and cultural change.Twentieth-Century Suburbs is concerned with the history; geography; architecture and planning of the ordinary suburban areas in which most British people live. It discusses the origins of suburbs; the ways in which they have been represented; the scale and causes of their growth; their form and architectural style; the landowners; builders and architects responsible for their creation; the changes they have undergone both physically and socially; and their impact on urban form and the implications for urban landscape management.
#2879915 in eBooks 2014-04-04 2014-04-04File Name: B00JIPSTEW
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Important History With Flawed Presentation!By JorgeHenry J. Kaiser was to shipbuilding what Henry Ford was to automobile production. But; Kaiser went one step further and proved that he could build a virtual self serving city for 40;000 inhabitants in barely a years time. In 1940 Kaiser had won a contract to build ships for the British Government. When the United States entered World War II in December 1941; this need for ships multiplied. Kaiser needed workers and suitable housing for them. With three shipyards on the Portland/Vancouver waterfronts; Vanport was the answer. Construction began in August 1942 and by August 1943; almost to the day the city was ready. Supplementing the completely furnished living units; it had commercial/shopping centers; schools; a day care center; a hospital/clinic; fire and police services; a movie theater; a cafeteria; recreation centers and park like areas. The collection of photographs of Vanport published in this book is sufficient for its excellence rating. Conversely; the textual contents are substandard; repetitious; and in at least two examples; just plain erroneous. With regard to the record setting construction of the SS Star of Oregon; sadly torpedoed near Trinidad-Tobago on August 20; 1942; the book contains the comment that "...it was headed home after traveling thousands of miles for the United Nations (the Allies ?) when it was sunk..." The organizing conference for the United Nations convened in San Francisco on April 25;1945 with the official founding occurring on October 24;1945. The United Nations did not exist in 1942. Furthermore; with regard to the May 1948 flood the text states that flood stages all along "...the Columbia River Basin; stretching from Vancouver; British Columbia; to Montana; Idaho; Washington; and Oregon..." were causing increased apprehension among residents. Vancouver; British Columbia; is part of the Fraser River Basin. These errors are either just the result of poor editing or failure of attention to accurate detail. But when they do occur they raise questions of accuracy as to other comments also. But; maybe most importantly this book does detail an important part of our Nations response to the worlds tyranny of World War II and the imaginative efforts that were vital to our successful concluding of that conflict. The Wars end with the closing of the shipyards and lay offs of the workers brought an almost immediate decline in Vanports population with a portion of the buildings even being dismantled and removed. Less than six years from its inception the flood of 1948 destroyed what remained.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great North Portland HistoryBy D. GriguhnWonderfully detailed book about an historical event that happened in Portland Oregon. Having grown up in North Portland; it was interesting to learn about this disaster through mostly old photographs.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Quick-to-read HistoryBy Siobhan HarkinThis book is a very readable and fast way to learn about the Vanport; Oregon (on Columbia River) Flood of 1948 that wiped out this second largest city in Oregon (at the time.) Photographs and captions on every page give a complete picture of the history of this town built for shipbuilders and their families during WWII; the lifestyles of the residents; and the disastrous flood which wiped away the town after less than two years. Well researched; well-written; with loads of historic photographs.
