JANE JACOBS - Urban Theory

Jane Jacobs (1916-2006)

Writer and critic - key work ‘The Death and Life of Great American Cities’ (1961)

Written as a critique and response to American urban renewal policies of the 1950’s. She criticised slum clearance and renewal for believing that social problems could be solved, by destroying the old and replacing with new.

Advocated a view of the city as an ecosystem, relating the city to a natural ecosystem. Suggesting that to be healthy cities required diversity to sustain themselves, and that this diversity needs to develop organically over time. Ascertained that everything in the natural world is in flux, nothing is static, and the same is true of cities. ‘it does not do to focus on “things” and expect them to explain much in themselves. Processes are always of the essence; things have significances as participants in processes, for better or worse’ (Jacobs,1961)

Jacobs identified two types of people ‘foot people’ and ‘car people’ – foot people experiencing city streets and interacting with the city, car people observing from a distance.

During the 50’s and 60’s planners were designing spaces predominantly to accommodate car transport, Jacobs was calling for a human approach to city planning, accommodating foot people.

KEY PRINCIPLES;

The Need For Mixed Primary Uses

Condition 1: The district and indeed as many of its internal parts as possible, must serve more than one primary function; preferably more than two. These must insure the presence of people who go outdoors on different schedules and are in the place for different purposes, but who are able to use many facilities in common.

The Need For Small Blocks

Condition 2: Most blocks must be short; that is, streets and opportunities to turn corners must be frequent.

The Need For Aged Buildings

Condition 3: The district must mingle buildings that vary in age and condition, including a good proportion of old ones.

The Need For Concentration

Condition 4: The district must have sufficiently dense concentration of people, for whatever purpose they may be there. This includes people there because of residence.