JOSE LUIS SERT CAN OUR CITIES SURVIVE? an ABC of urban problems, heer analyst; Mer solutions(he arts, Ts authority and parade, its invention ane color ancl oc- ccosionol fantasy, were built not ont of experience but out of thought, ‘and appear fat’ and meager when measured against the demands whieh the soul makes upon architecture, AL will be considered strange that T should find in « program for civic betterment, such as that proposed by and iu part aehioved by the Congrés Internationaux d’ Architecture Moderne, the basis for ‘anew architecture: for that nevr architecture which will exhibit not ‘principle of logie or of aesthetics merely but the Lrue character ‘and dircetion of our evolving civie cultare. Housing and traffic contro, transportation, reereation, the distribution of industry and ccommere: these are homely themes not often thonght of 1a hay ing anything to do with the loftier arts of expression. Yet. these pructical arts, which are applicatious of seienee to economie and social problems, are of such a nature that they could not progress very far unsustained by a vision of humanily which transcends both, fart and seienee, Because our eities are compounded not of streets ‘and buildings merely, nor of agstegations of people mercly, but equally of the heart and content of socialy, soit may happen Uiat tho arts which serve that society may he compounded also from its ‘will and its aspirations. Not as something added on in the narne of art, but as an essential part of those processes by which material things are shaped and assembled for civie use, these will be given ‘tho meanings which architoeta — continuing. their immemorable it dlscover in the new attitudes of our collective life ay at. such times, when they share the methods and aims of science, that the arts attain their greatest poster over our hearts, Therefore I do uot despair of an architecture of cities —by which term T mean eities which are patterned not only hy those intellectual forces which seek to bend natural law to hun better- ‘ment but also by those spiritual forces which throughout humon history have left repeated imprints upon human environment. In this soy by Mr. Sert, which is essentially an inquiry into the nature of contemporary cities ania soarch for remedies for the frightful ills with which these are alicted, I perceive also, beyond scienee, beyond knowledge and beyond’ compassion, that new faith which, no less than seionoe, will shnpo and iMlumine the cities of tomorros: Joseph Hadmut Cambridge, Massachuselts February 27, 1942CONTENTS FOREWORD BY JOSEPH HUDNUT «6. cos A tga sou ag esEAULSUTD WETWEEN THE MEIC Tha the Grate Sct of oe, Harada Ton STAGING Grattan conectueiens Mt INTRODUCTION BY SIGERIED GIEDION . cece te Onbeyetan TO Linch aeits RENOUAINGS FeO GRInINON SHORES TE Grea Seta te . Pont¥ Pert RECREATION " AUTOWN-PLANNING CHAT: OUR CITHS AND TER TROMIMS nse stres restates cnrecnees 1 RECKEATION 19 Es A PRORUEM OF THE PRESET « . « Yay PRonLER Ana THN MATAR, + how oun eres res tam ore seas | le Port tt : DWELLING: THE FIRST URBAN FUNCTION ” Part ¥ FELLING WEEKEND AND VACATION RECREATION : % fuciern ans sx Shs OSSTSTDTTITT AL wenecevn nponeanioy ssn ne masesen B Pokccguinten er ommenoenine : Xf Toat noewewrs or rorutaTions ear fesire an sus OOse MONEY. = secre LL 22211 Tmyacarime axonuse 4 sex Peon i crs Die Pevtt Part It work wee vee ‘THE DWELLING PROBLEM IN CITIES 15 MORE THAN A SLUM ‘wons-puscas iv errs we PROBLEM «==» “ PLAGES OF WONK ARE BADLY DISTIUBUTED . . . . 108 Wises MISTINCTS, LOVING WTHOUY CONTEOL AVE CAUSED Past 1V REQUIREMENTS OF DWELLING AREAS = Pontvitt SELECTION OF SITES FOR RESIDENTIAL AREAS ee es ‘THE EVOLUTION OF THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION HAS HIAD POPCEATION DENSITIES SHOULD RE LNITTED | | Be ‘A DECISIVE INFLUENCE UPON URDAN STRUCTURES .. 1)Part X GENERAL MEASURES FOR TH DISTRIBUTION OF WORK= PLACES IN CUTIES . 18 skyscurnus. we ween I 20508 WAL AHION FO Orie CHAN Port X ‘TRANSPORTATION... .. [TRANSPORTATION WITBIN CITIES. Fue STHEETS SPEND BECOMES A TSELESS CONQUEST i ‘TIE vierms OF TuAF¥IE DisoMDeR |. > : M6 Part XI A'NEW URBAN STREET SYSTEM 1S REQUIRED... 2. 1) Part XI ACTOTAL VIEW OF THE CITY... 6-2-5 ws Past XIE MAIN BARIERS TO LARGE-SCALE PLANNING "IOUAY EXIGE REPRNING SCENE " THE PRINCIPAL, TASKS OF THN TOWN PLANNER Past XV MAN AND THE CITY . . ‘TowAKD Tie FUNCTIONAL crry Append ‘THE AIMS AND THE STATUTES OF THE CLAM... 2. ‘Ti JOS-PLANSING CHLART, BOUKFHE GLAM, CONGRESS, ATH, Inder gasILLUSTRATIONSHee T Remarc ae Geihs alent pear mac tates ence Se seree igetots eho aero ae i eh SEE eeINTRODUCTION In February 1928 I recsived a letter from Mme Hsiéne de Mandrot from La Sarruz saying that she would come to viet me at Zurich, ‘When I mat her at the station and before we left the platform, she begun to disclose the purpose of her coming. She wanted to invite ‘the outstanding eontomporary architects of Europo to meet at her castle of La Sarzaz, some miles north of Lake Geneva in the Canton de Vaud, Switzerland. ‘Mame de Mandrot had previously spoken with Le Corbusier and otlier friends in Paris. ‘The time seemed ripe forall the protagonists ‘of tho different architectural developments in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland to come together jn a meutzal, central place in Burope. A previous attempt by Ger- ‘man arehiteots to aceomplish such a union at. the ocension of the ‘opening of the Weistenhof Settlement in Stuttgart in 1927 had aot ‘been succesful Tn June 1928 the representatives of the different countries sat to- ‘ether in the Gothic chapel of the castle of La Sarraz, discussing ‘and building up what wos later called the Manifesto of La Sarraz (Gee p. 242). A common platform was found in the belief that plan- Bing and building could he greatly improved in spite of the heavy ‘odds Uiat had to be overoome. ‘Tho association thon formed wus ealled the Congrés Internati @ Architecture Moderne — ed form, the C.LA.M. The 1 sense of a "smarching to- gether." Tt isa congress based on collaboration, not a congress in which everyone merely contributes circumscribed knowledge from his own special field, as in the nineteenth century. Professor Karl ‘Macor of Zurich, the eminent toacher and architect, was chosen as the first president of the C.LA.M. In Furope in 1928 housing for the lower-income classes was in the ‘foreground, just as today defense housing stands in the foreground of building in the United States. The Congrose wished to be in- formed of developments in the various countries in this field of housing. ‘There were some seattered publications, but we wanted to be able to compare the proposals in the diferent countries with ‘ane another. In consequence, all C.1.A.M. plans were designed on ‘he same scale and used the sare method af presentation. This method, ‘which allowed close comparisons, was ued not only in the Second Congress in Frankfort on Main (promoted by Ernst May of the city of Frankfort) but ia all later work of the Congress. Am exe hibition of low-cost dwelling units thus beeamne the first child of the Frankfort Congress, and this was sent on tour from one country to another. It was then presented to the Eidgenoessischen Teel nische Hochschule in Zurich. ‘The graphic material, tho papers road in Frankfort, and the conclusions of the C.1LA.M. were published in volume called Die Wolnung fir Esisten:minimum (“Dwellings for Lowest Inoome”), which appenred in Stuttgart. in 1990 Ater that we could move a step further. The Third Congress, held in Brusecls in 1980 with tho help of the Belgian architect. Vietor Bourgeois, was concerned with the question of how to organize ‘whole groups of dvellings into neighborhood units in such a way ‘Uat human needs could be satisted, and with the further question of what logislative changes were necessary to allow warkable soli ons. (Lectures were given by Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, Richard Neutra, and others.) ‘Tho graphie material and the results of this Third Congress were published in Retionelie Rebanangetceisen (Rational Lot-Division”), published in Stuttgart in 1981. ‘The Congress of Brussols marks the point at which the study of city planning became an activity of the C.LA.M. City and regional planning, which from the first had been cousidered indispensable for any real solution of architectural problems, now became the conter of interest. To mark this point, the aewly appointed head of the Department of Town Planning in Amsterdam, Cornel van Eesteren, was chosen president of the C.LA.M., in sshich eapactt hae is still active ‘To gain insight into urban development, the difficult task of estab- lishing new symbols for the complicated functions of a modern city was entrusted to van Eesteren and the Dutch group. You will ad Aotails of the procedure in the present volume. Tt was the city ofAmsterdam which graciously offered to print for the C-LA.M. the plans in three colors whieh were necessary for the purpose, so tat ‘very group in every comntry had an example at hand with which to work. ‘The preparatory work was not at all easy, and demanded from each «group long and careful investigation bofore the plans could hedrav up. ‘The delegates from the various countries had therefore to meet several times — in Berlin in 1931, in Barcelona in 1982, in Paris in 1983. Tn 1998 ft. was agreed to hold the Fourth Congress, which was to deal with “The Functional City,” on board the steamship Palris IT a route from Marsilies to Athens and return. ‘Through the help of friends, this Greek steamer was placed at our disposal, and we Doped that the quiet Mediterranean would afford us three weeks f concentrated work. And, indeed, it turned out to he the most inspiced of all congresses. Our assemblies were held on the prome- nade of the Palris 17. Although not all participated in the discus- sions, the presence of musicians, poets, authors, and painters helped to keep the spirit of these discussions from being a closed and specialized one. In Athens, with the help of the Greek delegate to the CLAM. Stamo Papaciaki, and the Grevk group, who seared the sponsorship of the Gresk government, the discussions were held in the open ‘eourt of the University at the foot of the Acropolis, and in the lee- ture halls were exhibited the plans of the thirty-three ctios analyzed by the C.LA.M. The plans of London, Berlin, Paris, and Detroit, reaching from the eeiling to the floor of the hal, ung one beside the other, next to the smaller plans of Stackholm, Zurich, Athens, and the colonial cities. During our relurn and in Marseilles we formu Inted our point of view on city planning in the “Chart of Athens” (p. 246), or "Town-Planning Chart,” which is developod in a free form in Can Our Cities Survise? [At the assombly of the dolegates in London in 1984, Rudolf 8 (Zurich) submitted to the mecting a layout proposed by the Swiss group for the publication of a book on the Functional City. In La Sarcaz in 1936 the Dutch group (represented by Mart Stam) showed in an elaborate analysis of the c cities could be anelyzed in single monographs. For many reasons it has been impossible, until now, to execute this plan. 1n Septem- bor 1986, during the mecting of delegates at La Sarraz the French ‘and. Spanish groups tock over the suggestions and sample pages worked out by the Swiss and the Dutch group and continued to ‘work om them in Paris, where a great part of the material was col- leoted during the yenrs 1937-1988. Circumstanecs in Europe mak- ing the work snore dificult, J. L. Sert was finally asked by the Congress to complete the layout and write the ontire text of the book. Complete freedom was given him, and his later experiences, particularly in America, enlarged its material in many respects, ‘Tho accompanying text is exclusively the work of Mr. Set. ‘Tho last meeting of tho C.L.A.M. was held in Paris in 1937 and came shout through the initiative of Le Corbusier and his collaborators, with the sponsorship of the French government. In this Cangress ‘synthesizing propositions based on previous analytical studies were presented in four reports. A new theme was discussed during th ‘Congress, the reorganization of agrieultural areas, or, as the Fronch call it, Urbanisme rural, which strosvd the nex! of a planned or- ganization of these areas in different countries (p. 220), ‘The Sixth ‘Congress, which should have heen held in Lidge in Septernber 1939, ‘was ennceled on account of the war. Can Our Ciies Sureive? prosonts in a manner conprchensible to everyone the present state of our urban life and its earlier develop- ment. It traces as far as is possible today the paths of future de- ‘lopment: it points the way out of existing urban chaos. It shows ‘that oue cities have become unserviceable instruments but that at the same time they are eternal phenomena connoeted with every culture. “Civilization and ety are words from the same root.” Thus the C.LA.M. bogan by investigating tho smallest unit, the low-cost dwelling. Jt then proceeded to survey the neighborhood unit found in urban setUlements, and finally widened its seope to include an analysis of present-day cities, with suggestions as to what the approach should be in the attempt to solve the problems of human communities in our day.“The experience of the C.1A.M. since 1998, as represented fn this ‘olume, may prove to bo valuable for the reconstruction — and relublitation— work of the postwar period. From the begite ‘the sotvities af the CLAM. moved toward ealective work 11 —long before the events of the day showed wvery= body that there was no other way out of the chaatie state of oar itis ut planning, and planning from @ human point of sie. Panning on a human scale, in terma of the most elementary needs ‘of man, can only be accomplished under one condition: that the average man become aware what a reduced form of life he is oblige to lead because of the present state of our cities. Public opinion vrill then exert the pressure necessary to eet in motion the extensive ‘muchinory of administration thet alone ean bring about the changes requisite for am organi existence. Can Our Cities Surice? relloting the collective work of endeavors to offer guidance in the fulfillment of that aim. Sinfried Secreary of the CLAM,“Te mate herectobled a the et itn by Se estat of the Fort 85) nel Fh I] Ong ‘Wut Taton Brown (Engen) Le Cobusier Prane) Cong van Pesce lad) Maceo Fry (gland) ‘Signin Clin Settee Wale Cope USA) GATEPAG Group Spain) Io Lanter Hain (USA) Koco Limpers olan) MARS Group sland Ande Noon (rome) ‘Werner i Bove (terand) Richard J ewe (084) CharloaePertarl race) ‘tart Stam end Roda Steiger Sittin een ad Simon Syne Pad) dre Fore Cn Spe) neque Weoos ent) “The Sin Dah ond Frc ro the CIAAM hare Actnontdgrsenat~T ae deeply tu to Prafinor ts Dra the Shoo f Archie ot Hae Min Rath Go ofthe Aetectral Libary at Barend, te Bm Sell Shmonds Raabe, Seceany of the Hareard svt the Maple of Dah Arita, Lond for thee ready hel i mp rare ork besPART ONE A TOWN-PLANNING CHART Our Cities and Their Problems "Our analylical sludiee of elie give us the nec sary assurance lo acl al once in accordance with our findings. “The C.LLA.M. hae become a sasl laboralory of urbanistie ond archilelural problems. “The sole object of our effors is to derelop archi fectural and lown-planning methods thal are ap- propriate to both the neads and the lechnical means of our day, 20 at to contribute toward giving men healthier and happier surround ings.” — From the report by Cornel yan Eesteran (president of the CLAM.) to the Fifth CongressURBAN PROBLEMS AND THE LAYMAN ‘Today urban problems affect @ great part of the world’s population, 10 per cent of it living in cities of aver 100,000 inhabitants, Ia the United States the proportion is 56.5 of the natioa’s total popula- tion.’ Yet fan planning, or the re-ereation of cities to fill man's mest urgent needs, is sill fo many of us a kind of mysterious science, while the most imeediate urban problems, those affect- ing the everyday lives of nearly all people, are largely ignored by the layman, And why should this he so? Perhaps partly because these problemas, ‘when presented in books, are usually discussed in abstruse scientific Tanguage aa in bulky texts intended for the specialist. 80, what- ‘ever man may fee! toward hie urban environment, he has had little ‘occasion to become acquainted either with the grave problems created by his cities or with their far-reaching consequences; and the knossledge that technical means are at hand to contribute toward solving these problems escapes him. Iu this light may be ‘expliined the widespread attitude of resignation before the per- sistence of a disorganized and chaotic city life, People belie that cilier must necersarily continue lo be whal ey are Aware of the menace of desth and destruction which hangs over cities in these fateful days, aud considering the tremendous Tabors of plonning and reconstruction which will be required later, wre believe it worth while to show our cites ax they are today and at the same time to state the posibilites of their surviving the ‘risis into which the world has heen phinged. Jn both test and illustration, the present work, addressed to lay- ‘men as well 3 to specialists, examines those turban problems which should be known to sll who would like to enjoy a better life in a healthful city. Penetrating the outward aspects of the city of to- day, iteveals how certain “utopias” of yesterday have become the iamodiate possibilities of the present Our Changing Cities — Cities have undergone great changes uring the modern era. ‘These changes have taken place, and are ‘taking place, in such rapid succession that few people have a fall and deur idea of their nature, their magnitude, and the eonse- {quences that may follow from them. Within the brief span of the last hundred years, the Industrial Revolution has subjected citios to the influences of the mast: varied innovations. Among these are: ‘mechanized production mechanized transportation now building technics now ideas on health and recreation vulnerability from the air As a resull, the basic character of cities and the lives and needs of their nhobitants ure no longer tho sumo us they werv a eontury ago. New Means of Research — Through the airplane and the camera we have acquired a complle and procis ew of our cites from alone, Air views have revealed to man a ew “urban facade,” a perspee- tive which has never befare been known, Recent years have also seen the development of the feld of slaisice and its employment as a seieatifie method. This has enabled ws (o tusemble date on all aspects of eity problems —o valuable basis for research, unobtainable forty yours ago. Urban Biology —Tt has heeome necoseary to resort to all the ricans of research at our disposal, both old and new, in order to know our cities thoroughly. This knowledge should not be sought inthe manner ofthe past, ignoring the mobility, the changing strac- ture, and the future possibilities of cities, but by considering cities