Abstract
This dissertation explores Urban Design from an interdisciplinary perspective and suggests important interfaces between Urban Design and two disciplines; Futuristics and Communication. In the process of establishing the interfaces, the potentials for adding futures and communications "tools" to the resources available to the urban designer are explored. Two appendices offer the urban designer a resource starting point for exploring the wide range of futures and communications tools which may be applied to a particular urban design situation. The dissertation, after overviewing possibilities for the interfaces, explores urban design as a discipline, focusing on its interdisciplinary nature and the wide range of considerations which are implicit in quality urban design. Next, current urban design methodology is related to a brief history of the evolution of logical systems, exposing a serious inconsistency. Much of current urban design methodology relies on a basically "problem-solution" mentality. At the same time, the issues in urban design, namely urban environments, are fluid combinations of multiple variable interactions which defy "problem-solution" approaches. Three general urban design methodologies are identified and it is recommended that effective urban design must include elements of the three methodologies: conceptualization, definition and implementation. This comprehensive urban design methodology is then interfaced with futuristics and communications..
Usnick, Russell Einer (1977). Toward a philosophy of urban design : interfacing urban design, futuristics and communication. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -368998.