Abstract
In contemporary discussions of preferred urban form, many planners and designers advocate a return to the grid. Proponents of the grid see it as legible, accessible, efficient, traditional, and, perhaps, even egalitarian. This chapter examines the grid in the context of traditions which have used it as a dominant form in city building. A brief historical review shows that the grid has emerged in some societies seeking to diffuse authority among citizens, but appears most commonly in the context of centralizing or globalizing power. The author illustrates that the extraordinary symbolism of the grid as a “rational” built form imposed on landscapes can convey a range of meanings, both positive and negative.
This chapter is a revised version of Grant, J. (2001). “The Dark Side of the Grid: Power and Urban Design.” Planning Perspectives, 16(3): 219–241. Copyright © 2001 by Taylor & Francis Ltd. Reproduced with permission of Taylor & Francis Ltd.
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- 1.
Marcuse (1987) argues that in the American context the pre-capitalist grid was closed, while in capitalist economies it is open. The historical record elsewhere does not confirm this hypothesis. Closed grids occur in contemporary gated communities within capitalist societies, while pre-capitalist communities like Teotihuacan featured open grids. More relevant factors to consider in whether the grid is open or closed are the likelihood and technology of security, warfare and taxation, and the rate of population growth.
- 2.
In some cities, the street system reverted to an organic pattern outside the early core, while in other cases surveyors laid out new grid sections to accommodate growth.
- 3.
If evidence exists that suggests other cities planted by Alexander used the grid, then I would reclassify Alexandrian planning to the globalizing category.
- 4.
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Acknowledgements
This chapter was originally published as: Grant, J. (2001). “The Dark Side of the Grid: Power and Urban Design.” Planning Perspectives, 16(3): 219-241. I owe a debt of gratitude to Anthony Sutcliffe, who was editor of the journal when I submitted the paper. Tony sent me materials, pointed me to sources, and pushed me to refine what began as a less ambitious offering. Thanks also to Michael E. Smith (Arizona State University) who addresses similar concerns about urban form in history from the archaeological side of the question: Mike challenged me on some details and pointed me to alternative data and interpretations that have proven illuminating. Thanks to Darrell Joudrey for preparing the original maps.
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Grant, J.L. (2018). The Dark Side of the Grid Revisited: Power and Urban Design. In: Rose-Redwood, R., Bigon, L. (eds) Gridded Worlds: An Urban Anthology . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76490-0_5
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