Citymakers: The Culture and Craft of Practical Urbanism

A crucial look at the diverse and rapidly evolving methods that make up urban practice today.

Citymakers is a useful and timely analysis of the state of urbanism today. Cassim Shepard, former editor of the online publication Urban Omnibus (urbanomnibus.net) examines the shifting dynamics and urgent needs of the economies, environments, and citizens of today’s cities, issuing a call to align civic participation with urban life.

Informed by the best examples of innovative urban theory and action globally, it profiles a selection of projects, perspectives, and the individuals responsible for them, whether they be local residents working in a community garden, an architecture firm, or City Hall. With chapters focusing on five primary areas of urban practice-public space, infrastructure, technology, housing, and communication-Shepard refreshes traditional concepts of urban intervention. He synthesizes narrative field reports from the front lines of urban practice with up-to-the-minute arguments about how and why to reframe our understanding of urbanism for the twenty-first century. In an era when civic-minded design innovation flourishes despite economic crisis, this book will provide a lasting document of new intellectual realignments, disciplinary coalitions, and innovative perspectives around cities.

Citymakers will mark an important moment in the broader mission of showing a wide public that cities are made by the creative choices of individuals. Highlighting the diversity, quality, and creativity of current projects that offer citizens new ways to interpret, imagine, or intervene in urban life and landscape is a means to encourage better choices in cities of the future.