Lately I have been provoked to reflect on the shapes and forms of urbanism past and future, about the nature of compact and dense urban places, and about what makes the next city, or any city, literally sustainable. Let me explain.

This last weekend we had a chance to make a last-minute visit to the National Gallery here, to see a sensational exhibition entitled “Pride of Place: Dutch Cityscapes of the Golden Age.” Featured were dozens of wonderful paintings, maps, and drawings of 17th century Dutch cities. Unfortunately for my readers, the show closed May 3rd. There is, however, a terrific catalog if you’re inclined.

This was a time of a powerful and compelling urbanism in the Dutch low country: Amsterdam, Delft, Haarlem, The Hague and other cities were burgeoning with wealth, commerce, and an explosion of what Daniel Burnham would much later call civic loyalty.

by aandh