A procedural explanation for contemporary urban design

Abstract This paper presents an explanation of urban design that tries to make sense of the different tactics used by contemporary urban designers. It is argued that urban design is a second‐order design endeavour; that is, designers are only indirectly responsible for producing built forms and the spaces in between them; they design the decision environment within which others make decisions to add to or alter the built environment. The paper first reviews what has been established in the literature and in practice as the tactics used by contemporary urban designers. A case is then made for why the term second‐order design is a good explanation for these tactics. Finally, the conclusion considers the implications this attitude towards urban design could have for educating urban designers and for conducting research in urban design.

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