Editors Announce Volume II of "The Art of the New Urbanism," Invite Submissions

The second volume will cover 2010-2025, and will include master plans, finished renderings, process sketches, travel sketches, documentation drawings, architectural plans and elevations, diagrams, photography, computer graphics, and more; Interested parties are encouraged to submit their work through the August 15th deadline.

The just published book The Art of the New Urbanism, Volume 1, was edited by James Dougherty, an upcoming speaker at the 62nd International Making Cities Livable conference in Potsdam, Germany, and Charles C. Bohl of the University of Miami, with contributions from Victor Dover, Principal-in-Charge at Dover, Kohl & Partners. They have just announced an open Call for Submissions for Volume 2.

This beautifully illustrated volume serves as the first comprehensive visual compendium of the New Urbanism movement, covering its formative three decades. But it isn't just about pretty pictures: it's about visual communication and co-design, working with clients and the public to forge a humane vision articulated in graphical form, integrating the multiple and sometimes conflicting forces of human need, economic dynamics, technological constraints, and evolving political will. These drawings are not only essential guides to further implementation, but as this book demonstrates, they are frequently beautiful works of art in their own right.

The book is a testament to the remarkable progress of New Urbanism as a critical reform movement. As the book makes clear, its practitioners are engaging with citizens and users in a fundamentally different way, responding to their preferences and needs, through charrettes and other collaborative methods, and by building on the proven successes of nature, history, and traditional precedent.

While new technologies do play a role, they are never allowed to displace the fundamental relationship between human collaborators, including users. We’re also reminded that the core of any design process is visual communication, the common language of an iterative collaboration that emphasizes listening as much as talking.

While the results are often beautiful works of art in their own right, make no mistake, this is not “art for art’s sake” – a means to impose gigantic ungainly sculptures on an unwilling public, or to market dubious new schemes that, judging from history, are only likely to produce ever more unhappy results. On the contrary, this is a disciplined use of art aimed at reforming professions in need of it, and enriching the lives of people and place.

The expansive volume brings together over 200 hand-drawn and digital renderings, master plans, site illustrations, photographs, and precedent studies created by more than 100 architects and urban designers. Beyond merely showcasing these works, the book provides thoughtful commentary and essays explaining the design principles, techniques, and the role visual storytelling played in shaping walkable, sustainable communities—and in engaging both professionals and the public in the planning process.

Example images from The Art of the New Urbanism, Volume 1.

James Dougherty reports:

"We are in the process of preparing Volume 2, 2010-2025. There will be a new exhibition, concurrent with the printing of the new volume. We are seeking examples of all of the types of images that New Urbanists [and their allied movements] use in their work: master plans, finished renderings, process sketches, travel sketches, documentation drawings, architectural plans and elevations, diagrams, photography etc.  (While most of the book will focus on the more recent works, we are also going to devote some space in the book to seminal images from the prior era that we might have missed).

"The deadline for submissions was August 1^st, but we are holding the submissions portal open a bit longer and sending invitations to select designers and illustrators who we would still love to receive work from.

"There is a form there to fill in captions, titles, credits, permission to publish, etc. for each image. The artworks themselves can be as large as 20MB filesize. We recommend submitting images at as high a resolution as possible, but certainly no less than 300dpi. (The selected artworks will be both published in Vol 2 and printed at various scales for the 2026 exhibition.)

"Once the images are all received, the jury will convene and take on the the hard choices about which images/projects/practitioners to include, achieving a wide range of subject matter, scales, media, and the like. I foresee that if there is an image that the jury really wants to include but we need a higher rez file, we’d contact the submitters and ask them to rescan or submit a better file."

Interested parties can submit (up to ten artworks per person) via the portal at www.artofthenewurbanism.com

Another page from The Art of the New Urbanism, Volume 1.

Beyond the Architectural Style Debates: Why We Might Say "It’s the Geometry, Stupid” (?)

New research confirms the transcendent (and surprisingly cutting-edge) qualities of built environments that enrich our lives and promote our well-being – and that may be the key to the durable, flourishing, livable cities, towns and suburbs we must build for the future

ABOVE: A few examples of the endless rich geometries from around the world and across eras, including a contemporary example. Also included are several examples of naturally occurring geometries that are related. We naturally perceive these geometries as beautiful -- and as research shows, they promote our well-being, and the livability of our environments.

Amid the often-heated arguments over modern versus traditional architecture, we risk missing a deeper and more consequential truth: that the human response to the built environment is not primarily an issue of style, but one of geometry. New research shows that, from Kyoto to Cairo, from Renaissance Florence to indigenous villages in Africa and the Americas, traditional architectures around the world and across history all have exhibited commonly recurring geometric patterns—hierarchical scales, gradients of detail, symmetry and asymmetry in balance, spatial enclosure, and other perceptual cues that foster a sense of harmony, coherence, and livability.

Yet too often, debates rage about the “correct” style that is appropriate to our time. So many of those debates over architecture devolve into shouting matches over who is “pastiche”, who is “arrogant”, who is “modern”, who is "reactionary", and so on—but it seems these arguments miss the point. Perhaps, paraphrasing the famous slogan of the 1992 Clinton campaign about the economy in the US, we could say, it’s not the style, “it’s the geometry, stupid.”

Cutting-edge research across multiple disciplines, including neuroscience, environmental psychology, urban planning, and architecture, is revealing that certain geometric qualities of the built environment are deeply connected to our health, our well-being, and our sense of beauty and enjoyment. These qualities go beyond style or historical period. Instead, they reflect a kind of spatial logic, found across many cultures and eras: patterns of complex symmetry, web-network relationships, integrated scales, fractal complexity, and coherent structure featuring "organized complexity"—all of which mirror characteristics of the natural world.

These qualities are found in abundance in many traditional architectures around the world and through history. Unfortunately, they are all too rare in contemporary environments, where technocratic or artistic prerogatives dominate - often with harmful consequences for health and well-being.

Studies show that environments exhibiting the geometric properties of natural environments tend to reduce stress, promote cognitive restoration, and improve well-being. They're also more likely to be perceived as beautiful or harmonious. This isn't merely a matter of taste—it’s a matter of how our brains and bodies respond to the spaces around us, and whether that's conducive to our well-being, or harmful.

These geometric characteristics also shape how we engage with our environment in practical and ecological ways. Neighborhoods that embody such qualities often include human-scale proportions, walkable street networks, and diverse, textured façades. Their appealing characteristics encourage walking, cycling, lingering, and outdoor activity -- behaviors that are not only healthier for individuals, but also for communities and the planet. They reduce car dependency, lower emissions, and allow people to live well in more compact, resource-efficient neighborhoods. The form and pattern of these places—tree-lined streets, public squares, and intricate streetscapes—often mimic ecological systems themselves, with diverse, layered, and interconnected structures that support resilience and adaptability.

Importantly, these qualities also foster stronger social interaction, an important antidote to the social isolation and divisiveness that is increasingly common today. When people feel comfortable, stimulated, and safe in their environment, they are more likely to spend time outside their homes—walking, lingering, talking to neighbors, and engaging in public life. Urban form that supports this kind of sociability tends to include pedestrian-friendly streets, places to gather, mixed-use buildings, and visual cues that draw people out and invite engagement. The geometry of these places—whether a graceful curve in a pathway or the nested rhythm of doorways and windows—subtly guides our movements and interactions. The result is not just a more aesthetically pleasing city, but one that cultivates stronger social ties and a greater sense of belonging.

As this body of evidence grows, it challenges the assumption that beauty and function are separate, or that style debates are the most important design issue. Instead, the focus is shifting to measurable structural properties of spatial geometry that support life—biological life, social life, and ecological sustainability. The possible combinations of these geometries are vast, as we can see from the endless varieties of beautiful traditional architecture around the world. This research opens up a powerful path forward: to design cities not merely as collections of buildings, but as living systems shaped by the same structural principles that have guided nature and culture for millennia.

Nor is this a mandate to reproduce only the successful forms of the past—although revival is certainly a time-honored practice, resulting in so many of the most beloved and enduring places in human history. Our contemporary attitudes forbidding it have resulted in a vast impoverishment of the rich genetic material available for placemaking. But there is also ample space for innovation, for a mix of the new and the old, and for new artistic expressions -- so long as they are aimed at enriching the lives of people and place.

There is also a hard truth in these findings for those of us working to build contemporary environments: too often, we have let our artistic prerogatives and ideologies, or our technical concerns, obscure the fundamental human properties needed in our built environments. The evidence is clear that we have to do better. It's ultimately a matter of professional responsibility, and an imperative for professional reform in our time.

At the 62nd International Making Cities Livable conference in Potsdam, Germany (October 15-19, 2025), we will hear from several leaders in this exciting new field of research, as well as practitioners, policymakers and educators who are driving forward reforms. Here are a few of them:

Dr. Alexandros Lavdas, from EURAC Research in Bolzano, Italy, will discuss how organized complexity in urban form—hierarchical scaling, richness, and coherence—engages the brain in ways that promote comfort, interaction, and emotional connection. Drawing from neuroscience and urban theory, he shows how these spatial properties foster both individual and social flourishing.

University of Cambridge researcher Cleo Valentine will present new findings on how certain visual patterns in building façades—especially repetitive, high-contrast designs—can induce subtle neurological stress known as allostatic loading. Using AI-generated façade studies, her work shows how the visual environment can contribute to chronic physiological strain, adding to our understanding of how architecture affects health at a biological level.

Professor Justin Hollander will explore how spatial design influences cognitive function, emotional comfort, and mental clarity. His research in cognitive architecture shows that complexity, coherence, and legibility in urban form can reduce stress and support better memory, navigation, and mental restoration—critical benefits for dense, walkable neighborhoods.

Dr. Nikos Salingaros will highlight how fractal geometry—patterns found in nature and in traditional architecture—supports human well-being through biophilic responses. His work shows that mid-level fractal structures can reduce stress and enhance our experience of beauty, helping to reframe ornament and geometry as essential to human-centered design.

These and many other speakers will dive into the new research, and its practical implications for design, building and governance today, aimed at making cities livable. Their work shows that the geometry of our built environments—and the beauty we perceive—is deeply connected to our human biology, behavior, and ecological well-being. Their insights point to a new paradigm in design—one that supports livability life-affirming spatial qualities, with specific tools and strategies to drive forward positive change.

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For more information on the 62nd IMCL conference, October 15-19, 2025, please visit https://www.imcl.online/potsdam-2025.

Lennard Institute Announces Complementary IMCL Membership Program For All Attendees at 40th Anniversary Conference in Potsdam

Benefits in the no-obligation program include a discount for the 25th Anniversary INTBAU World Congress during the following week; optional membership carries no obligation

ABOVE, the beautiful IMCL Potsdam locale offers many lessons for livable cities, towns and suburbs, including walkability, bike infrastructure, public space, markets, mixed-use development, and much more. In addition, attendees from around the world will share their own rich lessons for effective actions in making cities livable at the conference.

POTSDAM, GERMANY - Preparations are proceeding for the 62nd International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) conference in the beautiful and instructive locale of Potsdam, Germany, October 15-19, 2025. This conference comes at a critical time, as the professions and disciplines of the built environment are at a global watershed moment – challenged as never before to meet the pressing needs of the urban future. Europe in particular is stepping into a newly energized role as a global leader in meeting the challenges of the future.

The Lennard Institute has announced that all attendees at the conference will be given a complementary membership in the new IMCL membership body, an honorific position with no cost or obligation. Membership is optional but attendees will be automatically enrolled unless they opt out. Members may designate themselves "Member, IMCL" or "Member, International Making Cities Livable" and may use the honorific "IMCL" after their names.

Perhaps more important, members are eligible for discounts and other program benefits, including a 20% discount to the 25th Anniversary INTBAU World Congress, taking place in London immediately following the IMCL conference (22-24 October). Tours and other activities will be offered between the two events. We will announce other benefits in the near future, including additional content and activities.

The theme of the Potsdam conference is, “What Is the Architecture of the (LIVABLE) Future?” This is a watershed moment in urban history, when the professions of the built environment are challenged as never before to meet the pressing needs of the urban future. The architecture profession in particular is confronted by demands to be more relevant to contemporary challenges and needs. One manifestation is a growing movement of citizens unsatisfied by “modern” business-as-usual building designs, and demanding an architecture that integrates the richer qualities of history and nature. At the same time, new findings from the sciences are discrediting old orthodoxies, and illuminating the unmet human factors of our urban world.

Featured topics will include improving public space and walkability, balancing transport, targeting effective climate action, identifying new financial tools and strategies, and exploring fascinating new research on cognitive architecture, neuroscience, complexity, and of course, AI, its role and challenges.

As always, we will gather to share peer-to-peer knowledge in a beautiful, convivial setting, with both formal and informal opportunities to interact and share knowledge. We will not just discuss the challenges, but explore case studies of those who have made impressive progress, and their specific tools and strategies. We also examine other case studies from around the world, as well as the latest research on urban challenges and successes.

Our last conference in Cortona, Italy in November 2024 included city leaders from the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Attendee comments included “Truly a great conference,” “Fabulous sessions… Wow!,” “It was terrific,” “Thank you for hosting this magnificent event!” and “Thank you for the great conference sessions… [and] the knowledge sharing and inspired messages from people from around the world.”

Our 62nd conference venue will be the MAXX Hotel Sanssouci, at the gates of the beautiful Sanssouci Park, and within walking distance of much of Potsdam's rich urban and architectural history -- including fascinating new projects now under way. In addition to the conference, we will also have opportunities for study tours and exploration of the rich history of the city and its region – not only its 20th century upheavals, but many centuries of architectural and urban history.

The location is easily accessible from the Berlin Brandenburg Airport via the S-Bahn train and other modes, and the neighborhood offers many excellent hotel choices at a range of prices. October is an excellent time to travel in Germany, with lower-cost travel, fewer crowds, and generally beautiful crisp autumn weather. There are excellent opportunities for convenient side trips to other parts of Germany and Europe.

ATTENDEE SPACE IS STRICTLY LIMITED by the conference venue size, and attendees will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please register as soon as you are able. For more information, please visit https://www.imcl.online/potsdam-2025.

We hope you can join us in the beautiful Berlin and Potsdam region!