"Architecture and the Urban Environment forms a critical appraisal of the place and direction of architecture and urban design in a new world order at the start of the 21st century. This practical guide highlights current social and natural resource issues and helps architects to formulate an approach to future design."

"Drawing on successful precedents in architecture and the design of urban social space, and comparing these to the less responsive products of consumer architecture today, Derek Thomas builds a narrative of architectural evolution in the post-modern period. Architectural and environmental goals for the future are defined, through analysis of international case studies from Europe, North America, the developing world, South America and Central Asia. To help architects deal with prospective changes in design context, a responsive value system is outlined, including end-user involvement in the design process and the use of environmental economics.

The author argues that this new and sustainable approach should be recognised as that of a New Age in mainstream architectural history."--Jacket.