Complex problems do not always require far-fetched solutions, but in order to arrive at a solution a change of perspective may be needed. Making such a change in the study of the urban environment is what The City as a System advocates. Designers who want to improve the functioning of the city and solve tricky urban problems cannot afford to focus on its spatial manifestation alone, but should research the underlying system – the operation, use, and performance of the urban fabric. The metabolism of the city should be viewed as that of a living organism, where much of our resource use culminates. This has a crucial role in transitioning to a more sustainable living environment.
256 pages, 17 x 21 cm, paperback, Valiz (Amsterdam).