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Introduction
This essay tries a new approach to describing the historic urban development of cities by looking at Key Turning Points in their Development.
In this moment we are discussing ways to initiate a turnaround in mobility patterns, in energy provision and in urban development in general. It is considered that these turnarounds will significantely change the shape and look of cities worldwide in the future.
It may therefore be interesting to identify key turning points in the historic urban development of different cities in Europe and later on in other parts of the world and analize specific circumstances, actors and their intentions which influenced these turns. In most cases they have manifested themselves in the urban fabric of those cities which we can still see today – when carefully ‚reading‘ their shape.
The City of Munich as a Start
In the menu on the left you find the cities we have worked on so far. We recommend to start with Munich because it is there that we developed the concept for this essay.
From Munich to the Rest of the World
Starting from Munich to embrace the whole world seemed to be quite a challenge. So we engaged Chat GTP to give us some guidance: we asked what are the (key) turning points in urban development of cities worldwide? and got this answer:
„The urban development of cities worldwide has been shaped by a number of key turning points throughout history. These turning points have played a significant role in shaping the way cities are designed, planned, and inhabited today.
One of the earliest turning points in the urban development of cities was the rise of the ancient cities of Mesopotamia, such as Ur and Uruk. These cities were built around centralized systems of government and religious institutions, and were characterized by the use of large, monumental architecture and a grid-like street plan. The development of these ancient cities laid the foundation for many of the urban design principles used in cities today.
Another key turning point in the urban development of cities was the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution brought about a shift from agrarian societies to industrial societies, and led to the growth of large, sprawling cities. The rise of the factory system led to the creation of new types of neighborhoods and housing, such as the tenement and the worker’s cottage. The development of new transportation systems, such as the railway and the streetcar, also played a major role in shaping the urban landscape of cities during this time.
The 20th century saw a number of important turning points in the urban development of cities. One of the most significant was the rise of the skyscraper, which allowed cities to expand vertically, rather than horizontally. The skyscraper also led to the development of the modern office building, which greatly increased the density of office space in cities. The rise of the automobile also had a significant impact on the urban development of cities, as it led to the development of new types of transportation infrastructure and the creation of new suburbs.
The post-World War II era also saw a number of important turning points in the urban development of cities. One of the most significant was the rise of the modernist movement, which advocated for the creation of functional, rational cities. This movement led to the development of large-scale housing projects and the creation of new types of public spaces, such as the pedestrian mall. The rise of the environmental movement also played a major role in shaping the urban development of cities, as it led to the creation of new types of green spaces and the development of new sustainable design principles.“ [highlighted passages by GG]
With this ‚guidance‘ we started to adress neighboring cities of which we knew that their development had been shaped by significant turning points. The list of cities will be complemented in due time.
As a visual reader you may want to use this map to to access the cities so far dealt with in the essay:
