This book pioneered the concept of townscape. 'Townscape' is the art of giving visual coherence and organization to the jumble of buildings, streets and space that make up the urban environment. It has been a major influence on architects, planners and others concerned with what cities should look like.

Gordon Cullen

Acknowledgements; Introduction; Introduction to 1971 Edition; Casebook: Serial vision; Place; Content; The functional tradition; General Studies: Squares for all tastes; Cross as focal point; Closure; Line of life; Legs and wheels; Hazards; The floor; Prairie planning; Rule of thumb; Street lighting; Outdoor publicity; The wall; The English climate; Casebook precedents; Trees incorporated; Change of level; Here and there; Immediacy; Endpiece; Index