Karen Kice

Clare Lyster

Christopher Hawthorne

Michael Halberstam

Iker Gil

Inside Studio Gang Architects

Building

Logistics are central to contemporary urbanism. Looking at a city from the perspective of its systems rather than its form delineates a new framework for urbanism. This book undertakes an analysis of three major enterprises that heavily rely on sophisticated logistics - Amazon, FedEx, Ryan Air - and subsequently shows their impact on urbanism. Its underlying assumption is that logistical networks of this type today play the same role for urban development as canals and railways did in the 19th century. On the other hand, the negative effects of internet commerce are currently also widely discussed and counter-movements such as "Buy local" are an important trend.

How Networks Change Our Cities

Learning from Logistics

In the 19th century railroads and canals provided both structure and motor for city development. This role has been taken over today by the global flow of data and products, as the author argues. Flow of material and communication is the DNA of contemporary environments. This development has enormous and partially unfathomable implications for our city fabric. Logistics networks and their complex structure increasingly bear upon many urban spheres. Counter trends to the ubiquitous internet retail trade – to name one of the most palpable phenomena – are gaining momentum as well, exemplified by the criticism of labor conditions in e-commerce and the trend to buy regional products from local stores. The author describes the current development and its impact on architecture, landscape architecture and urbanism: Aspects such as today’s hypermobility of both products and people have repercussions in design work and create new paradigms for architecture and urban design. Concepts for the integration of these new issues are introduced by a number of exemplary urban design projects.

How Networks Change our Cities

Clare Lyster

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