Great Streets

Great Streets examines the characteristics and qualities that make certain urban streets successful public spaces. Through detailed case studies and hand-drawn plans of streets from around the world, Jacobs documents and analyzes what elements contribute to streets that function well for people. The book contains precise measurements, drawings, and observations of 15 major streets, from the Champs-Élysées in Paris to the Ramblas in Barcelona. Physical features like building heights, sidewalk widths, trees, and street furniture are documented and compared across examples to understand patterns of effective street design. Urban designers, planners, architects and others interested in creating better public spaces can use this work as both inspiration and practical guide. The research establishes clear standards and metrics while demonstrating how cultural and historical factors influence street life. The work makes a case for streets as essential democratic spaces that foster community and define the character of cities. Through its systematic study of successful examples, the book provides a framework for evaluating and creating streets that serve as true public places rather than just transportation corridors.

Readers value the detailed street sections, plans, and analytical drawings that compare successful streets across cities. Architecture students and urban planners cite the book's usefulness as a reference guide for street dimensions and proportions. Likes: - Clear methodology for measuring what makes streets work - Rich historical context for each featured street - Hand-drawn illustrations that highlight key design elements - Practical examples from multiple continents Dislikes: - Some readers found the writing style dry and academic - Limited coverage of modern streets and contemporary design - Focus on historic European examples may not apply to all contexts - High price point noted by student reviewers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.25/5 (216 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (31 ratings) Notable review: "The drawings alone make this book worthwhile. Jacobs shows exactly how the best streets achieve their success through careful measurement and comparison." - Amazon reviewer "Too Eurocentric in scope, needs more diverse examples" - Goodreads reviewer

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🌳 Author Allan B. Jacobs spent seven years walking and measuring streets around the world to gather data for this book, covering more than 200 streets across multiple continents. 🏛️ The book features detailed, hand-drawn street plans that Jacobs created himself, showing precise measurements and architectural details of famous streets like the Champs-Élysées in Paris. 🌆 Many streets featured in the book are only 60 feet wide or less, challenging the modern notion that wider streets are better for cities and communities. 🗺️ Jacobs developed a unique methodology for analyzing streets, including factors like building height-to-street-width ratios, tree placement, and the number of doors and windows at street level. 🎨 The author's background as both a city planner and an artist allowed him to create detailed visual analyses that combine technical precision with aesthetic appreciation, making complex urban design concepts accessible to general readers.