Conservation and the City

The magnificence of many cities has seemingly eroded in recent years as their central role in society has diminished. The suburbanization of our communities has stretched public resources even thinner, and there is a growing belief that cities must change, or they will wither and die. One of the key problems now facing cities is how to cope with these changes while retaining the structures built by previous generations.Conservation and the Cityis a study of conservation and change throughout the built environment -- city centers, villages, even -- and how the processes of conservation interact with the planning system. Using detailed case studies ranging from reconstructing facades to building heritage tourist attractions, Peter Larkham examines some of the key social, economic and psychological ideas which promote and sustain conservation.Conservation and the Cityseeks to understand urban conservation, and in doing so presents possible solutions formanaging change in the built environment of the future.

Peter J. Larkham is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Planning, University of Central England.